What do we learn from Gertrude's farewell to Ophelia (5.1.227-230)? Would Polonius have been surprised if he had heard this?

After Ophelia goes mad and the inner-turmoil begins,
Gertrude is saddened by what has happened to Ophelia.  Ophelia loved and respected her
father, Polonius.  Polonius was a good father to her but asked her not to trust or to be
involved with Prince Hamlet.  Ophelia was upset at first because it was obvious how much
she loved Prince Hamlet.  Polonius felt that Prince Hamlet couldn't be trusted and
forbid Ophelia to see or speak to Prince Hamlet.  Ophelia is hurt by this decision, and
decides to obey her father's wishes.  Ophelia is also asked by Laertes to stay away from
Prince Hamlet.  Opelia loves and respects her father and brother, so she decides to obey
both of their requests. 

At the same time, Prince Hamlet
learns that his uncle Claudius has killed his father. He sees his father's ghost appear
and wants revenge.  Prince Hamlet begins to feel uneasy about the Kingdom of Denmark and
about everyone in the kingdom. He begins to act differently and begins to figure out
what revenge will be had on the new King Claudius.  Prince Hamlet goes to attempt to
confide in Ophelia but he senses somethign isn't right with her.  Prince Hamlete doesn't
know that Ophelia is forbidden to speak to him and she's not acting herself either. 
Prince Hamlet senses this and also senses that they are not alone and treats her
disrepsectful and not with love.  Polonius sees this and goes to King Claudius and Queen
Gertrude with his observations.  The King and Queen are surprised but notice he has been
acting strange.  Queen Gertrude says that his strangeness is because of the death of his
father (her deceased husband) and because of her re-marriage in a quick time to King
Claudius (Prince Hamlet's uncle) and that all of these changes are causing him to be in
grief.  Polonius disagrees and asks for them to take a second
look. 

The King, Queen, and Polonius decide to have Ophelia
meet with Prince Hamlet.  They will be spying on their conservationa and meeting to see
if Prince Hamlet has gone mad like Polonius accusses him of.  They will be watching
Prince Hamlet's moves and actions.  Little do they know that Prince Hamlet is watching
everyone else's moves and actions because he doesn't know who he can trust
anymore. 

Prince Hamlet and Ophelia run into each other and
Ophelia is kind and warm to him.  Prince Hamlet senses that they are not alone and that
she is lying so acts out on her.  Prince Hamlet yells and curses at her leaving her
shocked.  King Claudius and Queen Gertrude see this and believe that Prince Hamlet
indeed has gone mad and that Polonius is right.

Ophelia is
upset that Prince Hamlet spoke to her like this and Prince Hamlet was proving his point
to the rest. Prince Hamlet is in love with Ophelia but he never gets a chance to tell
her until he sees her funeral.

Queen Gertrude saw herself
in young Ophelia and wanted her to be Queen oneday.  Queen Gertrude wanted Ophelia and
Prince Hamlet to share the love of oneanother and
Denmark.

Polonius would be surprised to know that Queen
Gertrude went along with spying on Prince Hamlet and putting Ophelia in a difficult
situation.  Queen Gertrude should have stuck up for her son and for Ophelia because she
knew their love was real, instead she was misguided and lead by her new and evil
husband, King Claudius. 

What does the mariner's not being able to speak signify in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?

In Part IV of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Mariner tries to pray but only a "wicked whisper came, and made/My heart as dry as dust."  The Mariner had killed the albatross showing a disregard for nature; his dead men lie on the rotting deck and when the Mariner looks at the rotting sea he sees "a thousand thousand slimy things."  It is not until the Mariner watches the water snakes in their rich attire of blue, glossy green, and velvet black and enjoys their beauty "Oh happy living things! no tongue/Their beautymight declare" and a "spring of love" gushes from his hear that he can pray "And the selfsame moment I could pray/And from my neck so free/The Albatross fell off, and sank/Like lead into the seas."

What is the theme of "And Of Clay Are We Created"? What was the main point of the story?

Like most stories, this story seems to have many different
and varying themes. Clearly one of the key topics of the story concerns the relationship
between Azucena and Rolf Carle, and the way in which this experience enables Rolf to
face certain memories of his past and childhood. If you are interested, these are
featured in Isabel Allende's novel, Eva Luna. The traumatic
experience of watching Azucena slowly die breaks down the barriers within Rolf
Carle:

That
night, imperceptibly, the unyielding floodgates that had contained Rolf Carle's past for
so many years began to open, and the torrent of all that had lain hidden in the deepest
and most secret layers of memory poured out, leveling before it the obstacles that had
blocked his consciousness for so
long.

The connection between
them and the intimacy which they are forced into means that Rolf recognises how his past
resembles Azucena's present:

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He was Azucena; he was buried in the clay mud;
his terror was not the distant emotion of an almost forgotten childhood, it was a claw
sunk in his throat.

As Rolf
says to Azucena after this night of revelation, he is not crying for Azucena, but for
himself, for he hurts all over.

The title seems to suggest
that for individuals like Rolf, tragedies such as that of Azucena confront us with our
own fragility - we are made of clay - a breakable, fragile substance, even though so
often we try to live our lives as if we are unbreakable and stronger. We finish reading
this story, therefore, wiser if not sadder about our own
fragility.

In "Lord of the Flies", what are some of the new or renewed conflicts between the boys in Chapter 8?

In Chapter 8, several conflicts renew. The issue of whether the beast exists is one such renewal. Ralph and Jack clash over the nature of the support Jack offers, a blend of new and old conflict. (Jack values them and their violent skills more than Ralph.) The boys clash with the unknown, symbolized by the beast. Ralph and Jack clash over which way to take the island society. Simon is still fighting his visions, which might be considered his biological nature. All of these are old or blends of old and new.

The main new conflict is the active intrusion of Jack's band of painted hunters into the general camp, which terrifies many of the younger boys.

What kind of man is Reverend Hale when he first arrives in Salem? to what extent is he a changed man in Act four?

When he gets to Salem for the first time, Rev. Hale is
sort of an arrogant man.  He has a lot of learning and he thinks he knows how to find
evidence of Satan's influence in the community.  He shows this by grilling the Proctors
about stuff like how often they go to church and whether they know the
Commandments.

By the time Act IV comes around, he has
gotten a lot more humble.  He no longer thinks that he knows everything.  Instead, he
thinks that the court has gone to far and needs to pull back.

What is the main theme of Jane Eyre?

Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre has
several important themes. One of the most important themes may be the injustice of a
rigid class structure. Because Jane is an orphan, her life choices are far more limited
than those of many of her relatives and peers, even though she is mostly more
intelligent, capable and hard- working than they are. This becomes especially clear when
she and Rochester fall in love. They clearly share an authentic intimacy that should
have been celebrated from its inception, but Jane is reluctant to express her feelings
or let others know about their bond because of the difference in their social
status.

However, another important theme is the voice of
women. Jane is willing to express her needs and opinions in a society that values women
who are submissive and accommodating. This leads to frequent punishment in her early
life, and seems much less attractive than her childhood friend Helen's more gentle
style. In the end, though, Jane develops a strong sense of herself and continues to
rise. Her sense of independence allows her to reject school master Mr. Brocklehurst's
hypocritical self-righteousness and later, a loveless marriage to St. John Rivers. It
also makes her much more attractive to Mr. Rochester, the real love of her
life.

Other themes include spiritual authenticity vs.
self-centered piety, and of course, the transcendental power of love. Any of these
themes might be considered the “main” theme of the novel Jane Eyre,
depending on personal interpretation, values and worldview.

Why did Timothy try to make Phillip independent in chapter 11 of "The Cay"?

He tried to make him independent for two distinct but related reasons. First, he tried to make Phillip independent as part of his general push to make him stronger. Timothy wanted the best for Phillip, and that included self-reliance. Second, Timothy knew he wasn't going to be around forever, and may have suspected he'd be gone soon. Therefore, for Phillip to survive, he had to be independent.

Does the end of the story settle the conflict satisfactorily?

You also have to decide if you think the punishment justified the action. Although the vast lifestyle change by Mathilde and her husband wasn't so much a choice as a necessity, it was certainly a big sacrifice from the life they previous knew, her husband in particular. I always have some students that are angry at the end because they don't believe that Mathilde deserved a punishment that is that severe; they think Mathilde should be allowed to keep the new, genuine necklace as a reward for her efforts. Of course, there are also students who believe she got what was coming to her as a result of concealing the truth in the first place. In that instance, if you believe she deserved the punishment, then, yes, the conflict is resolved. If you think her drastic lifestyle change was too much, then our original conflict simply became another conflict that still needs resolving.

Which is the solution of the equation 2x-10=-3x+5?

2x - 10 = -3x + 5

First, add
3x on both sides that way " x " can be on the same side.

By
adding 3x on the same side, your equation should look
like

5x - 10 = 5 now, add 10
on both sides

By adding, your equation should look
like

5x = 15 now divide 5 on
both sides

By diving, your equation should look
like

x = 3 which is your
answer

What is the relationship between Aschenbach and Tadzio in "Death in Venice"?

Aschenbach is a writer who comes across Tadzio and his family while in Venice.  He becomes obsessed with this young teenage boy who is beautiful, much like a Greek god in many ways.  Tadzio and Aschenbach exchange many glances over the course of their time  in Venice at the same resort; however, they do not exchange words. Aschenbach follows him until it becomes stalking, really.  His thoughts are consumed with Tadzio.  In many ways, Tadzio is much of a muse figure.  Aschenbach, though, is clearly sexually attracted to Tadzio and even whispers that he loves him at one point. The attraction is disturbing and fascinating to read about at the same time because the reader wants to find out what becomes of Aschenbach.  He, of course, ends up dying on the beach while watching Tadzio draw a figure upon the sand near the water.

Describe the main character and the main conflict in the novel. State two dominate character traits. As for the setting provide evidence using quote

Main Character: Eliezer Wiesel
Conflict: the
Holocaust
Character Traits: obedience; devotion (to his faith at first, then
to his father, to survival); 
Setting: Sighet, Transylvania (sections
1&2); Concentration Camps: Birkenau (section 3), Auschwitz (section 3), Buna
(sections 4&5), Gleiwitz (sections 7&8)

Who is Santiago and how is he introduced in the beginning of the storyin Coelho's The Alchemist?

Santiago is the main character n the book The
Alchemist.  He is introduced in the book by his name in the first line.  The
book tells that he has a herd and he spends the night at an abandoned church.  He is a
reader because he thinks about needing to read thicker books which he also uses for a
pillow.

Santiago is awakened during the night and he lays
thinking about a reoccurring dream.  He awakens his sheep and carries a crook.  He reads
to his flock with the notion that they may understand what he reads to
them. 

Santiago is in love with a beautiful
girl.

Was Candide ever truly happy or was he always looking for more than he had?

I'm not sure anyone in Candide was ever really happy, including Candide. Perhaps the folks in El Dorado, it could be argued, are happy, but happiness seems to only be potentially achievable in the face of unhappiness, something that the denizens of El Dorado have not, seemingly, faced in their isolation.

Voltaire's satire remains critical of those who look for happiness at the expense of everyone else's. This includes war, greed, knowledge, philosophy, politics, and religion. This quest finds the characters, including Candide, searching for that elusive thing that they feel will bring them happiness.

The closest Candide gets is at the story's close. He got what he wanted (a now wretched Cunégonde), but, ironically, she is now not so desirable. What do you do then? Candide answers: "we must cultivate our gardens." In this commune, everyone has a job, a purpose to keep them busy and away from boredom, vice, and poverty. And even though Pangloss — in spite of the tortures he has endured — still waxes optimistically, Candide is no longer fooled.

On a final note: it could also be argued that, like the folks in El Dorado, Candide was happy at the beginning in the castle of the Baron of Thunder-Ten-Tronckh, but like childhood naïveté, that castle is soon obliterated by the war of the everyday. This youthful, cloistered life must come to an end. In order to find happiness, Voltaire seems to suggest, one must first experience the other pole.

Please explain to me the poem the quality of mercy in The Merchant of Venice.

The speech that has these words in it is spoken by Portia
in Act IV, Scene 1 of this play.  In it, she is lecturing Shylock about
mercy.

What she is telling Shylock is that mercy is not
something that can be forced (strained).  Instead, it has to be given freely.  She says
that when you act mercifully, you help yourself and you help the person that you are
showing mercy to.  She tells Shylock that what he should strive for is not justice, but
rather mercy.

By saying these things, she is asking him not
to try to get his "pound of flesh" from Antonio.

In the book "Speak", what quotes are telling HUMOR, SARCASM, HONESTY, COURAGE, and IRONY?If it is possible, can you tell me the pages and explain?

Melinda's dry humor is illustrated in this statement, especially in the understated commentary, "roar":

"the school board has come out against calling us the Devils.  We are now the Merryweather Tigers.  Roar (p.41, "Name Name Name").

Sarcasm is communicated by Melinda in this observation about her so-called friends:

"If I sit in the front...it's the best chance I have to make eye contact with one of my friends, if any of them have decided to talk to me yet" (p.3, "Welcome to Merryweather High").

By the end of the book, Melinda can finally look at what has happened with frankness and honesty.  She verbalizes,

"IT happened...no running away...or hiding.  Andy Evans raped me in August when I was drunk and too young to know what was happening...He hurt me.  It wasn't my fault" (p.198, "Final Cut").

I think the most courageous statement Melinda makes is her brief but assertive response when she is being victimized again by Andy Evans.  She says unequivocably,

"I said no" (p.195, "Prey").

Melinda demonstrates irony in her list of "The First Ten Lies They Tell You in High School".  The first item on the list, which she has found to be so completely untrue, is

"We are here to help you" (p.5, "Welcome to Merryweather High").

I have used the 1999 Giroux version of the book as reference.  Pages may vary in different editions, so I have included section titles as well.

Why did Sheila mention Eric Caswell in "The Bass, the River, and Sheila Mant?"What are two examples of suspense in the story?

Sheila mentions Eric Caswell in the story because although
she is going to the dance with the narrator, it is Eric whom she is really interested
in. The fact that she talks about Eric while she is on the way to the dance with the
narrator, coupled with the indifference of her behavior in general, should have
forewarned the narrator to the reality that Sheila was just using him, but he is so
enamored by her glamorous allure that he fails to see that his brief courship can only
end in failure.

One of the first things Sheila tells the
narrator on the canoe ride to the dance is that "Eric Caswell's going to be there." She
later relates that "Eric said (she has) the figure to model;" it is clear that Eric is
much on her mind, even though she has consented to go to the dance with the narrator.
The extent to which Sheila has set her sights on Eric Caswell becomes completely evident
when she goes home with him instead of her date.

There are
many instances of suspense in the story. One of them occurs when the narrator first
hooks the bass, and realizes that "it was a bass...it was a big bass...it was the
biggest bass (he) had ever hooked...Sheila Mant must not know." The narrator struggles
to hold on to the bass without letting Sheila know what he is doing, but fortunately, it
turns out that she is too busy talking about herself to notice his preoccupation. A
second instance of suspense is when the narrator realizes that he must choose between
letting Sheila know what he is doing, and letting the bass get away. For an instant, the
narrator is "torn apart between longing," but the scales tip in Sheila's favor when he
looks at her attractive figure, and he quickly cuts the line in half, in a decision that
he will forever regret.

Why didn't Holmes and Watson have Stapleton arrested after Seldon's death?

In Ch.12 Selden is attacked by the hound because he is wearing the clothes of Sir Henry Baskerville which he had given to his housekeeper Barrymore, Selden's brother in law. While trying to escape from the hound  Selden falls down a steep cliff and dies. Holmes and Watson who discover his body are convinced that Stapleton is responsible for his death. Watson remarks, "Why should we not seize him (Stapleton) atonce?"  To which Holmes replies. "Our case is not complete...It is not what we know, but what we can prove."  A little later Holmes remarks "We could prove nothing against him," because he (Stpleton)  is not acting through a human agent but through an animal and that they "should be laughed out of court" if they tried to produce the hound as evidence in court. Holmes conclusively states that, "there was no direct connection between the hound and the man's (Selden's) death."

Holmes' opinion is that only after establishing a definite connection  between Stapleton, the hound, and his victims should Stapleton be arrested and produced in court.

Please explain Dany's dreams and why does Estina talk to him in his dreams, from "Night Talkers"?

Estina speaks to Dany in his dream, the one in which he
tells her about Bienaimé’s having murdered his parents. As the moral force in Dany’s
dream, Estina’s interest is in making it possible for Dany to continue living, and to
withdraw from the cycle of violence that had previously touched the family. And so
Dany’s dream response is this: "Perhaps it was the dread of being wrong, of harming the
wrong man, of making the wrong woman a widow and the wrong child an orphan"
(

paragraph 131). His feeling about doing no
harm to Bienaimé is actually the feeling that he wishes Bienaimé had held about his
parents.

Can someone post the description from "The Perfect Storm" of what it's like to actually drown?

The information you are looking for is in the chapter titled "The Zero-Moment Point." The entire chapter deals with the subject of drowning, so there is not enough space here to "post" the description, as you ask.

The title refers to "the point of no return," that is, the moment at which a boat begins to capsize. The author describes what that moment is like and what happens when a boat is flooded. He then describes what it is like for the crew members on that flooded boat.

Some critics have said that he is too detailed, maybe even ghoulish, in his detailing the stages of drowning. He begins with the first instant when the men hit the water: "it's cold, but not paralyzing." Then he describes the instinct not to breathe in water: "The instinct not to breathe underwater is so strong that it overcomes the agony of running out of air." Then he describes the body's need for oxygen: "At that point there's so much carbon dioxide in the blood, and so little oxygen, that chemical sensors in the brain trigger an involuntary breath whether he's underwater or not." The rest of the chapter continues on to describe the panic and pain the drowning person experiences.

How is Atticus affected by the trial?Example mentally and socially

I am going to take the perspective of during and after the
trial, you may mean preceding the trial, but it makes more sense to me to take the
former approach.

By the end of the trial, Atticus has done
some "stripping." Scout never saw her father sweat and never saw him remove anything
before bed, not even a watch. She saw his jacket come off and buttons loosened. She also
noted his glistening face. These physical features are not only evidence of the heat,
but his uncomfortable feeling about the case.

When he
finished speaking with Mayella during the trial, Scout commented how terrible it made
him feel to have to get tough and reign questions on her. He had great compassion for
her situation, but also needed to defend his client.

After
the trial, Maudie and Alexandra comment how Atticus does so much for justice and
morality in his town but it hardly causes a ripple. This must make Atticus feel
fruitless at times.

Atticus was spat on by Bob Ewell and he
just took it. Atticus knew he destroyed Ewell's reputation and Ewell needed to feel like
he was getting back at Atticus.

Throughout both the trial
and the immediate aftermath, Atticus remains fairly stable. He maintains compassion for
others, a desire for equity, a desire for truth, and he holds himself together well.
Atticus is perhaps one of the strongest characters written into all
literature.

What is the role of relationships and intimacy in 1984? What specific function does the Party's directive on sexual interaction serve?

Close relationships, particularly sexual ones, are forbidden by the Party because they create divided loyalties. In the Party's world, the citizen must have absolute and undivided faith and trust in Big Brother and the Party alone. As O'Brien explains to Winston (Part III, ch. 3),

We have cut the links between child and parent, and between man and man, and between man and woman. No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend any longer. But in the future there will be no wives and no friends .... Procreation will be an annual formality like the renewal of a ration card. We shall abolish the orgasm. Our neurologists are at work upon it now. There will be no loyalty, except loyalty towards the Party. There will be no love, except the love of Big Brother.

With all competing loyalties abolished, the citizen will be able to become exactly what the Party wishes him to be at any moment.

Forbidding sexual relationships and any real intimacy also has the effect of frustrating Party members due to the blocking of a natural drive, and building up a store of violent emotion that can be directed by the Party into other channels. As Julia's intuition tells her, "sexual privation induced hysteria, which was desirable because it could be transformed into war-fever and hero-worship" (Part II, ch. 3) Thus, sexual intimacy is seen by the Party as robbing it of energy that it should by rights be able to utilize, a type of political rebellion.

Why does Abigail Williams accuse people of at the end of Act I of "The Crucible"?

Abigail Williams is a smart girl.  She uses her wits and ability to manipulate people in this society where everyone is scared to death of what they don't know to get what she wants.  However, her plan backfires on her.  What she wants is John Proctor.  So, she and several other girls in the community (who are both afraid of and in need of acceptace from Abigail) cover up their activities in the forest by saying that Tituba consorts with the Devil and she made them do it, too.  All of a sudden, Abigail notices the power she gets by the results...as well as the attention...and she gets the idea to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch.  This will work, as Abigail knows, since Abigail says Elizabeth has been sending needles to her abdomen. Abigail uses her knowledge of the doll Mary Warren has been working on for Elizabeth and the fact that Mary stores her needle in the doll.  So, evidence of the truth of what Abigail is saying is in Elizabeth's own house.  However, it backfires on her when John Proctor goes to superhuman lengths to protect his wife and prove her innocence which causes his own death.

Abigail accuses people at first to protect herself from being cast as a witch when they were caught in the forest at night.  However, she continues accusing people to get what she wants. Unfortunately for John, the plan outlines his demise.

Is there irony in, "The Life You Save May Be Your Own"?

 According to the dictionary, "irony is defined as incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the story".

The character of Mr. Shiftlet, the drifter who comes upon Mrs. Crater and Lucynell, is wandering around looking for a place to find meaning in his life.  He is alone, empty, devoid of any relationships.  When he meets the old woman and her daughter, he gets very close to being a part of something, a family.

Mr. Shiftlet seems to be finding a place to fit in, with Mrs. Crater and her daughter, he also gives the old woman and her daughter the opportunity to have more meaning in their lives, all three are made better because of their relationship.  They are "saved" from a life of loneliness and emptiness.  However, ironically, Mr. Shiftlet abandons Lucynell when she passes out at the diner.  The other people in the diner, and the reader, recognize Lucynell as Mr. Shiftlet's salvation, identifying her as an angel.  However, he does not see it.  He runs away from her and leaves his saved life behind. 

Mr. Shiftlet starts at the beginning again when he gets into the  car and picks up the hitchhiker, he is once again trying to find meaning in life.  Ironically, he abandoned just that when he walked away from his wife and his life with Mrs. Crater.   

What is a dramatic device used in Act IV, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice?

In Act IV, Scene 1 of The Merchant of
Venice, Shakespeare prominently uses the dramatic device of contrasts to
starkly draw the picture of the horror and bassness of Shylock's intended action.
Shylock starts a series of contrasts with his speech in which he
says:

Some men
there are love not a gaping pig;
Some, that are mad if they behold a
cat;
And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose, . .
.

Antonio takes up the device
of contrasts in his speech to Bassanio begging him not to try to reason with Shylock.
Antonio's contrasts start:

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You may as well go stand upon the
beach
And bid the main flood bate his usual height;
You may as well
use question with the wolf
Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb; .
.

Antonio takes up the device
of contrasts again in his rejoinder to the Duke in his speech that starts: "You have
among you many a purchased slave, / Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,  . .
.."

Shakespeare uses another dramatic device, that of
surprise when he introduces the surprise presence of Belthasar, who is Portia in
disguise. Surprise is a href="http://swift.tahoma.wednet.edu/">dramatic device used to provide an
unexpected twist in the plot. Contrast is a dramatic device used to arouse strong
emotions by painting opposition that gives emphasis or clarity.

What philosophical views are expressed in the sonnet "Design"? How can you tell?

Here is the poem:

Design

by Robert Frost

I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth-
Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right.
Like the ingredients of a witches' broth
A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,
The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?
What brought the kindred spider to that height,
Then steered the white moth thither in the night?
What but design of darkness to appall?
If design govern in a thing so small.

The most obvious "philosophy" is the notion of intelligent design. The word "design" is meant to make the reader think of God's design. If God designed the flower, the moth, and the spider, then God must also have designed for that blue wildflower (referred to as a "heal-all" for its medicinal properties; see the link below) to become entangled in the web to be a stool for the spider and for the moth to be trapped as well. Was it just chance that they came together, or was there a design to it?

What is the meaning of "Death's second self" in line 8 of Shakespeare's Sonnet 73?

I have long disagreed with the common interpretation of this sonnet. Although I agree that the images of night, bare trees, etc., are symbols for the passing of time, and that "Death's second self" could simply be a reference to this, I cannot help to think that this poem is about self-love, not the love of another. It is about the sadness of knowing that even the most brilliant of minds can wither and slow down with the passing of time.

Consider these lines as a whole:

"Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.
In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire,
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed, whereon it must expire,
Consumed with that which it was nourish'd by."

Death has two states: Its approach and its presence. A mind also only has two states: Thinking and the inability to think. Thinking - his driving life force - marked the speaker’s life. Age slows the mind and even 'death' can appreciate a well-used one.

Describe and compare the three slave owners in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Is there a moral hierarchy among them?

Tom's first master is Arthur Shelby.  He is comparatively benevolent in his treatment of his slaves, is known as a "kind master", and is reluctant to sell Tom when he finds himself in financial straits.  Ultimately however, his business sense takes precendence over his "humanity", and he sells Tom to a slave trader in order to pay his debts.

Augustine St. Claire, Tom's second master, is sensitive and kind, somewhat of an idealist who opposes the idea of slavery and plans to eventually emancipate Tom.  He does not act quickly enough, however, and is killed before he can give Tom his freedom.

Simon Legree is Tom's final master, a brutal, depraved man who represents slavery at its worst.  Infuriated at Tom's steadfast refusal to be corrupted, Legree finally beats him to death.

In a moral hierarchy, St. Claire would be at the top, because he has thought about the reality of slavery and understands it is wrong.  Shelby, who is sensitive to a degree towards his slaves as people, would come second, while Legree, in his unspeakable cruelty, would be last.  All three men are irrevocably mired in the destructive institution, even Shelby, whose avariciousness takes precedence over his tendency to be kind, and St. Claire, who opposes slavery in theory but cannot bring himself to take action to extricate himself from the system and set his slaves free.  The men do differ, however, in their levels of morality and their respective senses of humanity.

The The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was the "headless horseman" a trick played on Ichabod Crane to scare him from Sleepy Hollow?Although there are...

Irving doesn't tell us whether Ichabod Crane was a victim of a real "Galloping Hessian" or whether it was a prank pulled on him. From the comic way Crane and his behavior are described, we can presume that it was a prank by Brom Bones.

At the Van Tassels' party, people were telling ghost stories, especially about the Headless Horseman. Brom has his own story to tell about how he dared the horseman to race and bet a bowl of punch for the winner. Brom says he "should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge, the Hessian bolted, and vanished in a flash of fire." In the next to last paragraph, Irving gives us another hint that Brom Bones was the culprit:

Brom Bones, too, who, shortly after his rival's disappearance conducted the blooming Katrina in triumph to the altar, was observed to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was related, and always burst into a hearty laugh at the mention of the pumpkin; which led some to suspect that he knew more about the matter than he chose to tell.

Who are the people who die in "Hamlet"? Who is responsible for each death? How is each killed? Make a list to submit that includes the above...

Your obituary will be fairly lengthy as nearly everyone dies in Hamlet! First of all, we never meet King Hamlet as his Ghost walks the parapets in the opening scene. He is the first to fall to his brother, Claudius,who wants the throne and Gertrude, King Hamlet's wife. Next, Hamlet kills Polonius as he hides behind a tapestry, spying on Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude. Hamlet says he will kill the 'rat' and discovers who it is after he has stabbed him. Next, Ophelia drowns in a watery grave distraught over her lover, Hamlet, killing her father, Polonius.Then, Claudius hatches a plot with Laertes, Ophelia's brother who craves to avenge his father's death, to have a fencing match with Hamlet. Except, he will put poison on the end of his blade to be sure that Hamlet dies. Claudius, always the careful one, decides to put poison in the wine also, for double surety of Hamlet's death. The match begins. Hamlet is struck by the poison blade; Gertrude unwittingly drinks the poisoned wine and dies. Hamlet and Laertes scuffle and the rapiers change hands, and Hamlet, unknowingly, strikes Laertes with the poisoned blade. Laertes dies. Hamlet, not quite dead yet, makes Claudius drink the remainder of the poisoned drink, and Claudius dies. Then, Hamlet dies. The only man left alive is Horatio who is charged by Hamlet, in his last words to 'tell my story.'

In "Fahrenheit 451," why did Mrs. Phelps cry in response to the poem "Dover Beach"?

There is a war coming, but the people in the society have no concept of what that might mean to them.  Society has ensured that the citizens do not think - all books have been banned, and the people are anesthesized by constantly and mindlessly watching television.  All anyone cares about is that they are comfortable.  Mrs. Phelps's husband has been called up by the Army, but the Army has assured everyone that the war will be quick and easy, and no one has the background nor the initiative to really think that it might be any other way.  Mrs. Phelps says, "I'm not worried...I'll let Pete do all the worrying".  In complete seriousness she observes that she has never known a "dead man killed in a war", and with the total lack of emotion fostered by society, she declares that if her husband does get killed, she will "just go right ahead and don't cry...and (not) think of (him)".

The poem "Dover Beach" speaks eloquently of lovers being true to one another in a world "where ignorant armies clash by night", awakening emotions in Mrs. Phelps about the realities of war and what the loss of her husband might mean.  It is feelings such as these that cause people to think and question, which society has tried so hard to suppress.  As Mrs. Phelps cries, her friends berate Montag for upsetting her with these "silly, awful, hurting words", and encourage her to turn to the TV again and be happy.

Which character in "The Glass Menagerie" could be considered a tragic hero?

Tom is a tragic hero in The Glass Menagerie.  He is trapped in a situation that he cannot get out of, his position in the family as breadwinner. He can't get out of this situation without dramatically damaging his relationship with both his mother and his sister.  He is particularly flawed when it comes to his sister.  He is asked by his mother to bring home a gentleman caller for Laura.

Instead of really looking for someone who could actually go out with his sister, he just asks Jim to dinner, not realizing the Jim is engaged.  He sets up Laura for a dramatic disappointment that causes him to feel like a failure.  Even though he felt like a failure before the fiasco with the gentleman caller, he still went to work at the shoe factory, trapped in a job he hated.  He escapes the drudgery of this job by writing poetry while he is on the job. 

We both pity Tom for his stifling life with his mother and despise him for not having more ambition to really take care of his abandoned mother and crippled sister.

Tom is a character that evokes a sense of what might have been.  He definitely lets his pride get in the way of his success both with his family and with his ability to get ahead in life.

He despises his mother, and feels sorry for his sister.  He does not have a true relationship with either of them. 

How is Lennie's treatment of his dead puppy typical of his character?

One of the first instances of Lennie's character occurs in
chapter 1 when we see how he treats the dead mouse. He doesn't seem to really care that
the mouse is even dead, but he cares to be able to pet soft
things. We can assume the same is true in the dress of the woman that he
was touching when they were in Weed and got chased out because of
that.

Death doesn't really register to Lennie as
significant. He doesn't even care that his puppy is gone, he cares that he's going to
get in trouble.

This shows a couple of things about
Lennie's character worth noting. First, it demonstrates that Lennie has little concept
of relationship, animal, or the significance of life - it can be snuffed out and gone in
an instant. Second, if these traits are typical, they might foreshadow the climax of the
story. In most literature, when character traits are revealed and repeated, they are
done so for a reason, watch for the coming reason of being able to identify the trait of
Lennie's facination for soft things.

After observing Miller's description of the physical properties of the courtroom what specific details make the room "forbidding"?Act III

The room is empty, but plainly decorated and has a serious, dark air about it.  There is sunlight, but only through the upper windows--it is not cheerful.

The heavy beams jut out, plain boards make up the walls, and there is a long meeting table and chairs in the center.  The starkness gives the feeling of lack of hope for those who enter, especially when they face the serious and solemn faces of the judges and accusers.

It is dark, lonely, too serious, and intimidating.  These things make up the quality of "forbidding" as used by Miller.

In Chapter 4, what is your opinion of Curley's wife? Has your opinion changed since the beginning of novel?

In chapter four of Steinbeck's Of Mice and
Men, Curley's wife does do all of the things the previous editor states.  We
also see more of her sympathetic side in the closing pages of the work when she talks to
Lennie in the barn.

However, what she does to Crooks in
chapter four reveals such a negative, manipulative, ignorant part of her character and
her personality that it is difficult to feel any sympathy for
her.

When Crooks stands up to her, she plays, figuratively
speaking, the reverse race card.  She threatens him with her ability to get Crooks, a
black man, lynched by saying that he tried something sexual with her, a white
woman. 

She destroys his spirit and puts him back in his
place, as both her, and society for that matter, see
it. 

This is a despicable example of what Curley's wife is
like.  It's hard to feel sympathy for her after this. 

In Chapter 7, why does Gatsby view Daisy's child with surprise?

In all these years since Daisy and Gatsby (then James Gatz) broke up, Gatsby has been romanticizing her. He does not think of her as a human being, with individual faults and virtues, but as an "ideal woman." He does not know her at all, and overlooks all her terrible and petty personality traits. He has put her up on a pedestal. However, Gatsby's romanticized version of this beautiful and wealthy young woman is at odds with the reality of who Daisy Buchanan has become. She is shallow, superficial, selfish, and even socially cruel. 

She has a husband and child, a three year old daughter named Pammy. The reality is that Daisy is a very negligent parent who sees her child as an accessory or else simply ignores her because it is convenient for her. In Chapter 7, Daisy uses Pammy like an interesting accessory. She brings her out to show her off to her party guests with superficial intentions. She does not truly care about Pammy or even think about her very much. The most profound thing she says about her is:

"I hope she'll be a fool," she says, "that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

Daisy knows the reality of women's roles in her society. She knows her daughter will one day be just as objectified as she is herself. She believes that the best thing for Pammy is to be objectified.

Daisy and Gatsby would find it more convenient for their fantasy world if Pammy did not exist. Gatsby's reaction to the daughter is predictable. He objectifies Daisy throughout the entire novel. To him, she is a prize that he needs to win. Although he himself believes that he truly loves her with a deep and emotional passion, he never even attempts to see her as a human individual. Indeed, he is only in love with the idea of Daisy, rather than Daisy herself. 

What is the theme of Paul Fleischman's book "Seedfolks"?

The overriding theme of "Seedfolks" is the power of the individual to effect good in a society.  Related themes include the challenge of community and the healing aspect of working with the land.

The story is centered around an informal urban garden, where individuals go to plant a variety of things for a variety of reasons.  The planters include a refugee from war and victims of social isolation and economic downturn, and although at first the characters may seem insignificant, they each have a story to tell and a contribution to make to the garden, and, in a larger sense, the world.  Ana, a retired white woman, provides the others with a sense of the history of the neighborhood, while Gonzalo shows how vitally important language is enabling newcomers to become independent and provide for themselves.  Sam, a character modeled after the author himself, works to help the planters see the danger in segregating themselves from others according to their differences.  In the haven of the little clearing of land, individuals learn to interact with each other, and as the garden grows, a community is formed, with the benefits and challenges that go with it.  The characters subtly discover an escape from isolation in the company of others and in redeveloping a closeness to the earth.

In I Will Bear Witness, what are the best examples of the reasons that Victor did not want to leave Germany in the face of rising persecution?

In the Preface, "The Lives of Victor Klemperer,"  by Martin Chalmers, reason for why Jews, who were urged to go, did not leave Germany before 1941 are enumerated. Some reasons included age, most who stayed were older than 45; gender, most who stayed were women; the difficulty of removing assets; the difficulty of finding willing host nations; reluctance to abandon other family members, friends, possessions and homes; reluctance to abandon national identity as German; reluctance to abandon careers and professions (p. xv).

Klemperer's "May 31, Friday" and "June 11, Tuesday after Whitsun" entries encapsulate several of these reasons: home, professional work, German identity, friendship. Regarding friendship, Klemperer speaks of having his hand warmly shaken by the beadle at the college when he goes to hand in his key:

A beadle, whom I only know by sight, came he was wearing an SA uniform; he shook my hand with evident warmth .... (p. 125)

He also speaks of being emotionally shaken at the news of the death of a man, Heiss, who was of his own generation. He also speaks of the receipt of a letter after two years silence from his friend, Harzfeld.

Regarding German identity, Klemperer's identification with Germany is illustrated in his emotional response to the outing he took with Eva to scenic Bastei. He is grateful for the beauty and for Eva's ease and enjoyment in getting around in and appreciating the scenery. He expresses this by declaring that they must stay where they are. This incident also illustrates the reason for staying pertaining professions and careers.  Klemperer declares they must stay even if a professional opportunity is offered from someplace "outside," such as the University of Constantinople, which made the offer Dember received and accepted.

We must stay here and scrape by, even if something is offered from outside; I cannot imprison Eva.

Regarding home, the visit to Bastei further illustrates this reason for not going away from Germany. After the tour, the party sits by the forest and has tea but before beginning the outing for the day, the party, consisting of Klemperer, Eva and the Isakowitzes, take a tour of Klemperer's home and they all drink coffee there.

After the visit to the Bastei, we rested by the forest, and had tea. Before the excursion we had shown off our little house and drunk coffee there. (p.125)

What is the connection between Tayo, Rocky, Josiah, and the Japanese?

The literal answer is that Tayo and Rocky
(cousins who were raised as brothers, although Rocky was always treated better) fought
during WWII in Japan. At one point, Tayo refuses to kill a
Japanese soldier, insisting that the man is his uncle Josiah. Although
Rocky tries to explain that the man can't possibly be Josiah, Tayo insists he
is.

There are much deeper meanings at work here though.
Tayo's experience in WWII, especially his inability to save Rocky, has led
to seemingly incurable psychological problems, as well as a crippling sense of guilt.
He is also convinced of the interconnectedness of all life, blaming
himself for the drought on the reservation because he cursed the rains in
Japan. This also explains the hallucination of Josiah as the Japanese
soldier; for Tayo, every life is connected.

What special treatment did the pigs get?no

Over the course of the book, the pigs get all sorts of
special treatment that show that they are "more equal" than the other
animals.

We can see this starting out very soon after the
rebellion.  At that time, we see that all the milk from the cows gets reserved for the
pigs.  We also see that only the pigs get the apples.

Later
on, we see that only the pigs get educated.  Only the pigs live inside and only the pigs
get to drink the whiskey when the whiskey is found.

In
other words, the pigs get all the good stuff...

Why has Romeo & Juliet stood the test of time and is still read today?

Romeo and Juliet has stood the test of time like all of Shakespeare's work because he was an expert at analyzing what makes us human.  Generation after generation relate to Shakespeare because his work speaks of what drives life: love, hate, revenge, loss, greed, power, ambition, and so on.

Romeo and Juliet, a tragic love story, a tale of miscommunication and prejudice is relevant in today's society.  Romeo and Juliet could not marry openly with the approval of their families, because they were enemies.  So the two young lovers offer themselves in an act of ultimate sacrifice, death. 

The story is so urgently full of the images of young love and passion that I can remember seeing the 1971 version in the movie theater.  It was a big hit.  Romeo is the archetype for the perfect boyfriend/husband, total devotion and love, expressing his great love for Juliet with such poetry.  Juliet, on the other hand is so in love with her Romeo, every girl dreams of having a Juliet-moment in life,  that she would rather die than live without him. The passion of young love taken to the extreme, no thought of anything else, how their parents will feel once they die.   

The story is universally appealing to anyone who believes in romantic love.  All that deception and sneaking around, it is a wonderful example of teenage rebellion.  It never goes out of style!

Please explain to me the story "Master and Man" by Leo Tolstoy.

Tolstoy's "Master and Man" is counted as one of the
greatest short stories ever written by some critics and a labored treatise on Tolstoyan
philosophy by other critics. In either case, it is agreed that the overall synopsis of
"Master and Man" is that a singled-focused, some say egotistical, master in the
heartland of Russia wants to strike a business deal on a day when the heartless Russian
weather is set against him. The master's loving young wife, the mother of his children,
convinces to take the serf (servant) Nikita with him so that he won't be traveling
alone. While on the journey, with the master's thoughts always focused on the
culmination of the business deal, Nikita and he progress on their way but are lost in
the bowels of a Russian snowstorm.

In order to understand
the story, it is important to understand two things about the master, Vasili Andrevich
Brekhunov. The first is that he carefully characterized by Tolstoy as a man who has a
loving wife whom he values highly, just as he values their offspring. This draws the
picture of the master's human side, his personable side. The second is that he is
clearly obsessed in profound single-mindedness on accumulating wealth and goods. He
takes liberties with Nikita's wages; he appropriates church funds for personal business
transactions; he puts the possibility of closing a good deal above valid considerations
for his safety as illustrated by his willingness--no, his single-minded
determination--to go out in dangerous weather across deserted frozen snow covered
expanses in the hope of making and closing a good business deal for the purchase of a
grove of trees at half their value.

Nikita represents the
ideal of pastoral simplicity, some critics say he is Tolstoy's nobel savage. He is
sincere, transparent in his motives and needs; he is pragmatic and practical about his
situation knowing that since he can't go anywhere (serfs stay with the land they live
on), he had best not stir up anguish over the master's poorly reconciled payment
accounts. Nikita is ready to go where his master requires, when he requires it and is
therefore willing to accompany him on this ill-judged journey for oak
trees.

On their travels they get lost three times,
rejecting hospitality twice. The third time, the horse falls into a ravine, the sledge
follows and master and man are trapped. Nikita recognizes the truth and releases the
horse from the harness and sets up a makeshift pole with flag so they might be found and
dug out from under the snow--falling hard and fast--in the morning. The master chooses
to try to escape on the back of the horse, which stumbles, shakes off the master and
runs back to Nikita, with the master running behind. They find Nikita lying in the
sledge and he says that he is dying. The master has a quiet epiphany, and, realizing
that Nikita's life is valuable after all, opens his copious fur coat, lays down on top
of Nikita and gives up his own life to save Nikita's. Thus the master Vasili has learned
the truth about life; has atoned to Nikita for past injustice; and has found the elusive
road--the one to spiritual righteousness--the one Nikita already
knew.

Regarding "Macbeth," explain the power or authority of the position Thane of Cawdor. In today's terms is it like a Governor of a state or other...

According to the official web site of Cawdor Castle in Scotland, the duty of the thane was:

the equivalent, in Scotland, of a feudal baron holding lands from the Crown. A thane was frequently the chieftain of a clan, always the administrator of his district, usually an influential individual with power of life and death, and was only answerable to the King or to his deputy or to God.

The thane was overseer to lands and property granted to him by the king. He would not be a mayor or a governor but something sort of in between. Scotland has five ranks of peerage, all subject to the monarch:

1. At the top is the Duke, who is usually a relative of the monarch. He could be considered the same as a state governor in the US.
2. Then the Marquess, who oversees a border territory (or "march"). I don't believe we have anything to compare. Under the Marquess is the
3. Earl (or Count), who administers a shire or province. A shire is the equivalent of a county in the US. He might be compared to a US Member of Congress.
4. Then comes the Viscount, who is the deputy of the Earl. If we had county mayors, that's what this person might be like.
5. Finally comes the Thane (Baron in England). He is overseer of a parcel of land given to him directly by the king. He is more or less a wealthy landowner. If you're familiar with old TV Westerns, think of him as being like Ben Cartwright on "Bonanza."

Towns would also have mayors, aldermen and other officials. Church officials would have power too.

In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", What is it about Connie that attracts Arnold Friend to her?

Arnold Friend, of course, finds her attractive.  Connie is a beautiful teenager.  However, Arnold also knows that Connie is vain and that she can be manipulated by using her vanity to lure her, which he does.  He can sense that this is her main weakness, one that he can use to get to her.  Unfortunately, Connie does realize that the vanity she has will be part of what causes her eventual death at the hands of Arnold Friend.  He is able to easily get "into her head" once he gets into the house.  He has her paralyzed with fear.  The way he words what he is telling her is "guru-like," meaning it is almost as if he is her master and she is his follower.  He coaxes her at times, almost like one would coax a dog to follow one out of a doorway.  It is very creepy and extremely frightening for the reader!  

In Act I of "Julius Caesar," what are the moods and loyalties of the Roman mob compared to other groups of people?

At the opening of Julius Caesar, the crowds are cheering Caesar's triumphant return to Rome after the defeat of Pompey.  Marullus and Flavius are reprimanding the crowd for their cheers because, not long ago, they were cheering just as loudly for Pompey when HE passed in the streets.  This illustrates how fickle the people are and how they are able to quickly change loyalties to whoever is in power.  Marullus and Flavius are tearing down the decorations that adorn the statues of Caesar because they are not afraid to speak out.  The general population, however, seems to welcome each new leader with open arms (and a holiday off from working...).  Mark Antony understands this fact about the people and uses it to his advantage when Caesar is later assassinated by the conspirators.  The first to speak to the crowd after the death of Caesar is Brutus, and he manages to convince them that Caesar was too ambitious and would have ruined Rome.  They begin to chant that they want Brutus to be the new ruler (forgetting all about how they'd recently been singing Caesar's praises)... until Antony speaks.  Within minutes, Antony manages to turn the crowds against Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators, once again demonstrating the fickleness of the crowd.  The scene at the beginning of Act I with Marullus and Flavius' reprimands foreshadow the events of Act III.

Why do you think the climax of "Everyday Use" centers around several old quilts?

I think that the quilts illustrate the difference in the two sister's personalities. For Dee, the quilts are material goods. Before her quest to rediscover her roots, Dee had nothing but distaste for her family's old and worn possessions. But, now that they are in fashion, and are now worth money, Dee wants to take them and display them. Dee professes to have changed, but she is still materialistic and overbearing.

Maggie, as Dee points out, wants to use them. It ties in with the title, as the quilts would have an everyday use in Maggie's possession. Maggie connects the quilts with their heritage. The quilts are made of scraps of cloth from their family, and this is precious to Maggie.

It is fitting that the quilts are used to give justice to the sister who usually takes second. The quilts will be used every day in Maggie's house, and in this way, the family memories are kept alive. Maggie and her mother have pride in their family and home, whereas Dee has always hated it.

In Chapter 8 of The Westing Game, what does J.J. Ford hope to do just once?

J.J. Ford wants very much, just once, to beat Mr. Sam Westing "at his own game".

J.J. Ford is the only character who personally knew Sam Westing, and she has reason to believe that he was an evil man.  J.J. thinks that with his intricate inheritance game, Westing is trying to manipulate the heirs in a way so that someone would get hurt.  In her mind, the likely candidate for harm is his wife, who left him after their daughter's suicide.  J.J. participates in the game because she wants to foil the maker's perceived intentions, and prevent damage from being done to anyone.  Unlike the others, she is playing not for the money, but for the satisfaction of for once "outsmarting the master at his own game".

What are some differences and similarities of Minerva and Dede in the book, "In the Time of the Butterflies"?

Minerva and Dede are both beautiful and intelligent women.  Their personalities are vastly different, however.  Minerva is outgoing and assertive, and chafes at the confines of home and family.  Dede is quieter, and more inclined to be content with the way things are.

Minerva at an early age longs to go away to boarding school. When Papa consents, his only stipulation is that one of his daughters stay home to help with the store.  The job should have fallen to Minerva, as the youngest of the three oldest Mirabal girls.  Instead, Dede placidly consents to be the one to stay behind.

Minerva is the first to embrace the revolution, and does so with boldness, courage, and unwavering determination.  It is she who educates her sisters in its purposes and philosophies, and she becomes a leader early in its ranks.  Dede realizes the truth behind her sister's beliefs more slowly, and is also more hesitant to act upon them.  Dede is torn between taking an active part in the revolution and remaining in the life she finds so comfortable and familiar.  Although she is attracted to the dangerous political exile Lio, she is overshadowed by her more assertive sister Minerva in gaining his attention, and she chooses instead to marry her conventional cousin Jaimito, in accordance to her family's expectations. 

What are spits, saltmarshes and mudflats and how are they formed?for geography i have no idea what a saltmarsh or a mudflat is! please help!

A spit is a land form found off coasts.  It forms when
sediment builds up and a landmass is left.  The sediment is deposited by waves. This is
called longshore drift. When a spit forms, one end remains connected to the land while
the other end exists in open water. 

A salt marsh is "an
environment between land and salty or brakish water, dominated by dense stands of
salt-tolerant plants such as herbs, grasses or low shrubs." Salt marshes occur on
low-energy coasts in temperate climates and
high-latitudes.

A mudflat (aka tidal flats) is a coastal
wetland that forms when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. "Mudflats may be viewed
geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of estuarine silts,
clays and marine animal detritus. 

What does the following quote by Blake mean: "The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship"?

The quotation by Blake subtly hints at both  the  aspects of friendship. Friendship can be positive and nurturing like that of a bird's nest. Its often like the safe and secure home of birds  where the newly hatched chicks are protected and taken care of by the parent birds till they are old enough to fly away.

However, friendship also has a negative side to it. At times friendship can become exploitative, selfish and mean. A person can be trapped by emotional blackmail in unfulfilling and unhappy relationships without knowing how to extricate himself. He is now like the victim which the spider has caught in its web to prey upon.

Blake, being the genius of poetic compression has very pithily presented both aspects of  'friendship' in as few words as possible.

Please give a paragraph for each of the stories: The Cyclops and The Sirens, paraphrasing the stories.

In Episode IX of The Odyssey,
Odysseus and his men reach the Island of the Cyclopses.  The men enter the cave of
Polyphemus, who rolls a boulder to cover the exit.  Odysseus and the men expect to be
treated as guests, but Polyphemus says that he has no law and does not honor Greek
customs.  The giant proceeds to eat many men before Odysseus, telling him his name is
"No Man," conceives a plan to get him intoxicated with wine.  After Polyphemus falls
asleep, the men sharpen a large stake and bore into his one eye.  Blinded, the giant
moves the boulder to call to his brothers, "No Man has blinded me!"  Meanwhile the men
tie themselves under the giant's sheep to escape.  Once outside, Odysseus makes the
mistake of revealing his name to Polyphemus, who calls Poseidon, his father, to avenge
him and punish Odysseus of Ithaca.

In Episode XII, Odysseus
is told that he must sail past the Sirens, sea nymphs whose haunting songs promise
infinite knowledge, but they are a trap to lure men to their deaths.  Odysseus tells him
men to put wax in their ears and tie him to the mast of the ship.  Then men obey, and
Odysseus weeps and cries to home when he hears their enchanting melodies.  His fate is
to hear their song so that he will long for Ithaca.

What is "Part 33" in Song of Myself about?(the beginning of the start and the end..read whats in between.) I understand the large hearts of...

Song of Myself is a beautiful piece
that notes the feelings and times of all peoples. It is the expression of every
circumstance he can think of.

This particular section you
have cited is about the feeling of great triumph and the struggle of the greatest
tragedies.

The metaphor for
this section refers to the great captain having to watch a ship go down, and then having
Death personified gobble up the victims of such a crash
making for a great tragedy.

As a reader, you receive the
image of a man drowning and waving his
hand hoping for a person to save him.

He refers to the
mothers and infants living their last moments, he talks about being a fireman, and a
soldier, and a slave. With each one, he tries to find the most meaningful experiences of
their given tasks.

Analyse Laura “struggling visibly with her storm” after Jim’s confessions in "The Glass Menagerie."

Laura becomes dizzy and leans against the arm of the sofa, struggling with the idea that Jim actually likes her, but is not available.  She is going through a tremendous transition while Jim explains that he will not be returning for another visit, because he is engaged. 

Even though Jim is unavailable, for Laura, it is actually a positive experience. Something positive is happening for Laura, while at the same time, something disappointing.  The reader knows that Laura feels happy because she gives Jim the unicorn, without the horn as a souvenir.  If she was desperately upset, she would have fainted, as she did before.

"She bites her lip which was trembling and then bravely smiles.  She gently takes his hand and carefully places the unicorn in the palm of his hand, then pushes his fingers closed."(Williams, pg. 92) 

Laura gives Jim the unicorn as a symbol of how he has changed her through their brief romantic encounter.  Although Laura experiences a sudden storm of emotions in this scene, she emerges with a new sense of herself and her worth.   

Even though the situation does not work out with Jim, the reader must consider that Laura has had a life changing experience.  She was so shy at the beginning of Jim's visit, not willing to sit at the dinner table, by the time he leaves, she has danced and been kissed, probably for the first time in her life. 

Tell me everything you know about President Johnson declaring a "war on poverty"?Why did President Johnson declare a "War On Poverty"?

On January 8, 1964 President Johnson declared :"This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America. ..the war against poverty will not be won here in Washington. It must be won in the field.. The program I shall propose will emphasize this cooperative approach to help that one-fifth of all American families with incomes too small to even meet their basic needs. Our chief weapons will be better schools, and better health, and better homes, and better training, and better job opportunities to help more Americans, especially young Americans, escape from squalor and misery and unemployment rolls where other citizens help to carry them...."

Discuss the diction of the poem, "A Poison Tree." Point out words that are particularly well chosen and explain why.

Ah, William Blake!  One of the most fascinating Romantic Era poets...he is a master of the English language in more ways than one. 

As you know, diction is word choice, and for poets, diction is especially important!  Words are carefully chosen.

In " A Poison Tree," the references to a garden are everywhere in words like "grow," "water'd," "sunned," and "grow," among others.  Also, because of these references to a garden, we can also compare this poem to a famous bible "story":  Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden.   Some critics have also pointed out that the poem might be a reference to God being angry with mankind (hence the flood that destroyed the Earth, etc.), as well. 

The use of couplets throughout the poem (with perfect end rhymes) is also indicative of careful word choice.

Was being part of the experiment good for Charlie why or why not?

In an aspect, Charlie was a perfect example of 'ignorance
is bliss'. While the operation made him realize the world as he knew it was not as good
or innocent as he had felt before, it made him more angry and unhappy. Though made fun
of and treated derogatorily, Charlie was, in a sense, happy. He was pretty much alone,
but had people he cared for, thinking of them as his friends. He saw the world without
understanding its deeper meaning and the deeper he dwelt into that meaning, the more he
sank into despair, alone. So the answer is: would you rather be super intelligent but
unhappy and alone. or mentally retarded but happy. I would say what Charlie didn't know
didn't affect him, emotionally. If he'd been normal (not above it) it would have
definitely helped him. Because while Charlie was under average and below it, he faced
abandonment and regret, isolation. All he ever wanted to be was 'normal' but all he got
was anything more or  less. I would say the experiment was not good for Charlie because
while he became ashamed of what he was after he realized it, he was happy and bliss
without knowledge. There are always some things in life that we wished never to have
known. I think perhaps they should have brought down the operation to only make Charllie
of normal intelligence, not more than it.

Which character faces a difficult choice?

"A Rose For Emily" is a strange story told in a series on
non-linear and episodic flashbacks.  As such, there aren't any choices really to be
made.  Emily's dead on the first page, before the story even starts.  Her story has
happened in the past.  It's just now that the unnamed narrators are discovering her
morbid secret life.

Earlier, I guess that Emily faces some
difficult choices with her father.  Her father chases away her potential suitors, so no
one wants to marry her.  As you know, the worst thing to be called in the South is an
"Old Maid."  And then her father dies, and she doesn't want to give up his corpse.  If
the town hadn't demanded the body, Emily would have taken him to bed too.  This all
shows that Emily is quite mad.  Do crazy people make difficult
decisions?

Her difficult choice, then, is whether to marry
at all.  Can she survive the rumors and gossip and shame of living as a penniless
spinster?  Instead of marrying, per se, she decides to murder a man (Homer) right after
she marries him.  This will fulfill both of her needs, allowing her to live in peace and
replace her father's corpse.

Is it a difficult decision to
sleep with a corpse?  When it smells, you bet.  But after that, I suppose, it gets
easier.

Why does Huck stop and try to save the murderers who are on board the sinking Walter Scott? What does this reveal about his character?

Huck attempts to save their lives because they are human beings regardless of being human beings who have murdered others.  He also wants to make sure they survive so he can lead the authorities to them in order to make sure they are punished for their behavior.

What this tells us about Huck's character is that he is genuinely a fine individual.  Although he is not "civilized" as the widow would like him to be, he is a person of incredible moral fiber.  The lessons he learns on the river with Jim leave the reader with confidence that Huck will grow into the kind of adult male citizen that every one of us would like to have as a neighbor.  He is fair, generous, kind, and honest.  These are qualities that can not always be learned from books, and that many rationalize away when it benefits their own cause.  We can be sure that Huck will not compromise his standards as he states quite bluntly that if allowing Jim to remain free will cause him to go to Hell, then he will just go to Hell.

In "The Crucible," why does Elizabeth deny John's relationship with Abigail? What is the result of her denial?

Elizabeth denies that John had a relationship with Abigail because even though she has not forgiven him, he is her husband and she is a very virtuous woman and will remain loyal to her husband. 

She does not want to discuss the illicit relationship because she is not going to reveal to the court or the town that her husband is a sinner.  Puritans were very intolerant of pleasures of the flesh.  Their lives were marked by hard work and faith.  John Proctor is a very judgmental man, not given to forgiveness. So for his indiscretion to be revealed would be a public humiliation.  

Unfortunately, when John gives his testimony, he admits that he had a relationship with Abigail.  John is then accused of being a witch and conspiring with the devil.  

What is the symbolism behind the pomegranate tree in The Kite Runner? What is the connection between the pomegranate tree that Amir and Hassan...

Amir and Hassan are the best of friends, although they are from different backgrounds. The two boys believe their friendship will last forever and they promise to always be there for each other. 

Amir and Hassan spend most of their time outside. They are boys and they like to run and play. They spend a lot of their time under a pomegranate tree. The tree shades them and Amir reads to Hassan. Hassan can't read, because he isn't allowed to go to school, he is the servant's son of Amir's father. Amir spends lots of time reading to Hassan and making up stories. The pomegranate tree symbolizes the nurturing and beautiful friendship these two young boys have, at the time.

"There was a pomegranate tree near the entrance of the cemetery. One summer day, I used one of Ali's kitchen knives to carve our names on it: 'Amir and Hassan, the sultans of Kabul'. Those words made it formal: The tree was ours."

The boys saw the tree as their special place and thought that nothing could take the friendship away from them. After the horrible tragedy that Amir witnesses with Hassan, the tree no longer holds the same meaning for the two of them. Amir is wracked with guilt, that he carries most of his life. He wants Hassan to show him how angry he is at him. He throws pomegranates at Hassan and wants him to hit him back, instead Hassan hits the pomegranate over his own head. 

When Amir goes back and visits the tree, he sees that the tree is no longer bearing fruit, which represents the fact that their friendship is no longer in tact. The two names are still carved in the wood, but the tree is dead, just like their friendship.

What is the significance of Pearl's reflection in the brook in chapter 19 of "The Scarlet Letter"?nethaniel continuously refers to the reflection...

Rather than reflecting what Pearl is doing, it instead reflects what Pearl "is." The reflection shows Pearl bathed in sunlight, surrounded by flowers and foliage, like an ideal picture of innocence.

In this reflection, Hester realizes that Pearl is indeed innocent and thus separated from her mother. Though she is the product of her mother's sin, she does not and cannot share in its consequences. That is something that her parents must bear themselves. Through this realization, Hester feels estranged from Pearl. Pearl's life will go on, beyond the confines of the punishment in Boston. She will go through life untainted by the scandal, which her mother alone must bear.

Discuss the main character in "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck.

John Steinbeck’s artistry encapsulates one day in the life
of a woman who finds herself yearning for more in the story “The Chrysanthemums.”  The
engaging story involves only three characters whose interactions are both hopeful and
hurtful. 

Elisa Allen, the protagonist is a married woman
who loves her husband.  She is intelligent, but unfulfilled in her life.  She wants
excitement and actual intimacy.  Her life is on the farm with her husband Henry, who has
made a comfortable living for both of them.  Her husband is unaware of her
feelings.

On this wintry day, Elisa is working with her
passion: her chrysanthemums.  She is preparing the flowers for winter.  She watches her
husband who is talking with some strangers. 

Her husband
compliments her by saying that she has a gift of growing things.  Elisa labels it
“planter’s hands.” Henry wants Elisa to go with him to the fights but that really is not
“her cup of tea.” He tells her that they will go out tonight and to the movies. She
agrees.  They seem to be a happy couple.

As she works,
Elisa hears a wagon pull up with a strange man.  He is a tinker, who travels around
sharpening knives and fixing pots.  This man is never given a name.  He has learned how
to manipulate women, so they allow him to do some work for them.
 

Elisa tells him that she has nothing for him to do. The
man chats and jokes with Elisa. When he presses for a small job, she becomes annoyed and
tries to send him away.

Suddenly the man’s attention is
caught by the chrysanthemum. When the man takes an interest in her flowers, Elisa’s
attitude changes. The man tells her about one of his customers that always has work for
him.  This other lady also has a garden and wants some chrysanthemum seeds if he ever
comes across any.  The man has done it.  He has manipulated himself into Elisa good
graces.

Now Elisa is captivated. She finds two pots for him
to fix.  While he is working, she prepares a pot of chrysanthemum cuttings for the other
lady’s garden. She also gives the man full instructions for taking care of them.  The
man describes the chrysanthemums: ‘Kind of a long-stemmed flower? Looks like a quick
puff of colored smoke?’ Elisa loves the description.

Even
more important, it is obvious that Elisa envies the man’s life.  He is able to travel
where he wants, and his freedom is unlimited. 

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'I've never lived as you do, but I know what you
mean.  When the night is dark--why the stars are sharp-pointed, and there's quiet.  Hot
and sharp and
--lovely.'

Strangely, she
feels an attraction for the man because he appears to have a love of flowers.  She
almost reaches for his hand with this new emotion welling up inside of her.  Instead,
she pays him fifty cents for fixing the pots, gives him the pot of chrysanthemums, and
sends him on his way.

Elisa goes to the house to ready
herself for the night out with her husband.  She takes special care to look  nice.  Her
husband compliments her and tells her that she looks different: strong and
happy.

As they go down the road toward town, Elisa sees on
the side of the road that the man has tossed out the cuttings of her flowers. This hurts
her tremendously, and this strong woman turns her head and
cries. 

The final dialogue ends with Elisa asking Henry if
women really went fights.  She asks if there really is a lot of
blood.

Yet, they end up going to the restaurant and having
an extra glass of wine.

What is the theme in " A Good Man is Hard to Find" by O'Conner?

One theme deals with violence, but the violence serves a purpose. In this story, the violence is used to finally get the Grandmother to see how hateful her prejudice toward others is (another theme). It's only when the Grandmother's family has been killed that she's able to make any kind of connection with someone else and accept God's grace.

Another theme so aptly shown by the Grandmother is prejudice and intolerance toward others. She believes people of good character are bred by "good families", and she's self-righteous enough to believe she, of course, comes from a good family. This attitude gets her whole family killed as well as herself. She has spent her life concerned with only what she wanted, never thinking of what others needed. This all changes when the Misfit sticks the gun in her face.

For a more complete explanation of themes, go to the site below.

Can someone give me an essay outline for To Kill a Mockingbird with the topic of social inequality and prejudice? I usually need a little help...

Primary types of prejudice and social inequality in
To Kill a
Mockingbird:

• RACIAL
  PREJUDICE.  Characters: Tom Robinson,
  Helen Robinson, Calpurnia.  Examples: The jury verdict against Tom;
  Alexandra's feelings about
  Calpurnia.


• GENDER
  BIAS.  Characters:  Miss Maudie, Miss
  Stephanie, Mayella, Misses Tuttie & Frutti.  Examples: 
  Women are generally portrayed as eccentric or
  unusual.


• AGE
  BIAS.  Characters:  Various children
  in minor ways.  Example:  Mr. Avery's superstitions about
  children.


• MENTAL
  INSTABILITY.  Characters: Boo Radley,
  Dolphus Raymond. Examples:  Boo portrayed as a ghoul; Dolphus
  portrayed as a drunk.


• CLASS
  BIAS.  Characters:  The Cunningham
  Family, the Ewell Family, Dolphus Raymond.  Examples:  Alexandra
  bans Walter Cunningham Jr. from the Finch house; the Ewells are considered the "disgrace
  of Maycomb."

Does anyone know anything about how "money can't buy happiness" in this novel? Any quotes or insights?

Concerning The Great Gatsby, you
should be careful of looking for simple, easy one-liners in sophisticated fiction. 
Human existence is complex, not simple, and sophisticated fiction usually reflects
that.

For instance, in this novel, money is only a means to
an end for Gatsby.  He doesn't strive to become wealthy because of greed.  He strives to
become wealthy for the sake of winning Daisy back.  Money only matters to Gatsby because
he thinks it will help him win Daisy back.  An easy one-liner about money not buying
happiness doesn't apply to Gatsby.  Daisy will bring happiness to Gatsby, nothing else. 
That is the issue.

For another example, Tom is definitely
leading a happy life, so to speak.  He has a beautiful wife, doesn't have to work as far
as the reader knows, and has a girlfriend, too.  And he wins in the end.  He is so sure
of himself and so ignorant that he thinks he's always right and enjoys the winning.  He
has what he wants and gets what he wants.  If one wants to apply one-liners to the
novel, one could argue that the novel suggests that money can buy
happiness.  A reader's judgments concerning Tom do not take away from the fact that Tom
is happy with his situation and his life. 

The corruption
of the American Dream is at issue in the novel, as are one's ability or inability to
recapture the past, illusion, and other issues.  But saying that the novel shows that
money can't buy happiness is too moralistic and too easy and too simplistic.
 

What was the Great Depression?

The Great Depression is a bleak period between World War One and World War Two, and it took place on 29 October 1929, where a huge stock market crash signalled the collapse of the American economy, signifying a huge financial crisis. Thousands of people lose their savings overnight, and many businesses closed and unemployment rate was at a all time high.

This affect Germany greatly during that period, as the loans that Germany depended from USA dried up completely. Germany businesses could not pay for their workers or buy materials to make their goods, so many businesses were forced to close, causing millions of Germans to lose their jobs. Germany economy crash again and unemployment was again on the rise. They now could not afford to pay repartions due to the mounting economic debts they got.

What is the historical significance of the Church of England? How does it relate to "The Witch of Blackbird Pond"?

The Church of England came into being because of a man's desire to have a son.

After more than 20 years of marriage, Henry VIII had been able to produce only one legitimate child. However, that child was a daughter. People at the time remembered the so-called War of the Roses, in which one side of a family fought the other for the throne. Henry feared that if he did not have a son to reign after him, the country would collapse into war again.

Big problem: Henry's wife was Katherine of Aragon, who was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella and aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor. In other words, a very strict Catholic who did not believe in divorce. So Henry could not remarry, and the woman he was hot for, Anne Boleyn, would not sleep with him without a ring on her finger. Henry's advisers, who leaned toward protestantism, suggested that he exert his power by breaking ties with Rome and declaring himself the head of the church in England. That way, he could get his divorce, marry Anne, and finally try for a legitimate son. His plan was not totally successful, but that's another story.

How is this relevant to the novel in question? When England broke with the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of England was not the only nonCatholic church available. The Protestant Reformation spread across Britain. People were able to form groups of likeminded worshipers, and new forms of worship, such as Puritanism, began to appear.

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From A Thounsand Splendid Suns, discuss the thematic significance of the phrase listed below.From A Thounsand Splendid Suns, "One could not count...

The thematic significance of the quote,

"One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs, or the thousand splendid suns...,"  

is that the author is trying to convey that although the country of Afghanistan is so restrictive and ugly towards women, there is great beauty and hope when one looks at the roof tops under the sun. 

Women in Afghanistan have been restricted for centuries by the men in their lives.  They have to succumb to their every wish and desire, and they are often treated like dogs.  However, beneath all of the confinement, the women continue to see the splendor and beauty in their lives through the little daily joys that they can find.  The women like the roofs are the beauty of the country.

What did Nicolaus Copernicus contribute to science?Did he futhered human knowledge of the solar system or did he futhered human knowledge of the...

Nicolaus Copernicus is not famous for his contributions to reproductive science, but rather for his contributions to ASTRONOMY. (Although he did work as a physician for a time, studying medicine, as well as many other things such as economics, classical history, linguistics, and politics.) 

His famous theory was that it was the sun at the center of the universe, rather than the earth. Although there were limitations to the Copernican model, it was an absolute breakthrough idea. One such limitation was the fact that he still used a universe-based model, rather than a solar system based one. In fact, our sun is at the center of our solar system, and definitely not the universe, or even the galaxy. 

His theory was heliocentric (sun-centered) rather than geocentric (earth-centered). The geocentric model is also called the Ptolemaic model, after the Greek philosopher Ptolemy. Decades after he first came up with the heliocentric theory, Copernicus published his ideas in De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (In English: On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres). It summarized the theory. Besides the idea that everything orbited the sun rather than the earth, the significant parts included the idea that retrograde and direct motion could be explained by the rotation of the earth, the idea that there is no one center of all the celestial circles and spheres, and the idea that the earth has more than one motion (orbiting the sun, as well as rotating around). Most of these ended up being true, as they were later proven by other great scientists. 

Copernicus's heliocentric theory began what became known as the Copernican Revolution, sparking the ideas and experiments of later scientists like Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. Most significantly, Kepler modified Copernicus's theory from perfect circles to ellipses, and thus solved many issues with the original model--especially the ones having to do with retrograde motion.  

What air pollutants does smog consist of? How are they caused?What adverse effects do they have on human beings and the environment?

The term smog has been formed by
combination of two separate words, smoke and
fog. The term was first used in 1905 to describe the condition of
thick smoke and fog that simultaneously hung over cities in England. Smog is caused by
moisture in air condensing on smoke particles. The smog frequently contains sulphur
dioxide also which is a gas that affects lungs and makes breathing
difficult.

The term smog is now also used for conditions
created by action of sunlight on exhaust from vehicles and factories. It is called
Photochemical smog. This type of smog is created by the action of sunlight on
hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides emitted in the air by the by the burning of petrol and
other petroleum products.  Under action of sufficient sunlight, these compounds undergo
a chemical reaction producing gases called oxidants.  These includes substances such as
Ozone, nitrogen dioxide and peroxyacetyl nitrate that irritate the eyes, nose, and
throat and damage the lungs.

Smog is caused by weather
conditions such as lack of wind and a layer of warm air settling over a layer of cool
air near the ground, which prevents smoke from rising up and scattering. Mountain ranges
near a city or a factory may also prevent smog from
scattering.

Heavy concentrations destroys plant life and
speeds deterioration of building materials.

What proof is there that Romeo is passionate and obsessed with love?

In Act 1, there is considerable proof that Romeo is obsessive, and therefore, not objective about love.  His mooning over his lost love, Rosalind, is more than his friend Mercutio can bear.  In flowery language, Romeo opines:

She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste.

For beauty starv'd with her severity

Cuts beauty off from posterity.

She is too fair, too wise, too wisely fair,

To merit bliss by making me despair. 

She hath forsworn love, and in that vow

Do I live dead, that live to tell it now"  (1.1.216-223).

Mercutio will have none of it.  His advice?  "Examine other beauties"  (1.1.226). 

Romeo rejects Mercutio's directive, but then immediately falls in love with Juliet the second he sees her at the Capulet ball.  Despite all the obstacles before them, Romeo continues with his unrealistic love, even dramatically sacrificing his life...and obsession if there ever was one.  In language that makes his obsession with Rosalind sound reasonable, Romeo dramatically drinks from the poison vial, saying: 

"...Eyes, look your last.

Arms, take your last embrace! And lips, O you

The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss

A dateless bargain to engrossed Death.

Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide,

...

O true apothecary,

Thy drugs are quick.  Thus with a kiss I die (5.3.112-120).

What are some examples of how Everyman functions as an allegory?

An allegory is a literary work which has two or more levels of meaning: one literal level and one or more symbolic or figurative levels. Please visit the links below for more information.

If we were to look at the play, Everyman, for its literal meaning, we would read a story about a character named Everyman who goes on a journey to the end of his life (death) and tries to get his companions (named Fellowship, Kindred, etc.) to accompany him along the way. Sadly, we learn that all of those who he trusted end up leaving him at the end of his life when he needs them the most. Everyman only has Good Deeds left, however he is shackled by Everyman's sin and cannot help him.  Good Deeds tells him to visit Knowledge, where Everyman learns that in order to set Good Deeds free from sin he must repent and find salvation. Once Everyman does this, Good Deeds is able to accompany him into death, and he is the only friend that is able to remain standing with him before the presence of God. 

When we view this story as an allegory, we understand that the character of Everyman is, of course, every human being.  We see beyond the literal characters of Fellowship, Goods, etc. and understand them to be symbolic of what every man faces in life: the search for true meaning and fulfillment in things that will last.  The moral of the story becomes clear in that we need to examine now what in the end will truly prove to be of value.

How can poetry by Emily Dickinson (especially "A narrow fellow in the grass") be considered Romanticism?

Romanticism (with a capital "R") centered around the aesthetics of nature, and often compared the growth and development of animal and plant life to human life and behavior. 

We see all of this at work in "A narrow fellow in the grass."  Here is the poem in its entirety:

A narrow Fellow in the Grass
Occasionally rides--
You may have met Him--
did you not
His notice sudden is--

The Grass divides as with a Comb--
A spotted shaft is seen--
And then it closes at your feet
And opens further on--

He likes a Boggy Acre
A Floor too cool for Corn--
Yet when a Boy, and Barefoot--
I more than once at Noon

Have passed, I thought, a Whip lash
Unbraiding in the Sun
When stooping to secure it
It wrinkled, and was gone--

Several of Nature's People
I know, and they know me--
I feel for them a transport
Of cordiality--

But never met this Fellow
Attended, or alone
Without a tighter breathing
And Zero at the Bone--

What surprises a good number of students is that this poem, a reflection of nature, is a reflection of human sexuality.  Read the poem in terms of male and female organs:  "The Grass divides as with a Comb-- /  A spotted shaft is seen, " an later, the sexual act completed, "It wrinkled, and was gone." 

Romantic poets did not shy away from the fullness of the human experience.  Keats, Wordsworth, Shelley, and Blake were just a few who also lauded the physical. 

What are some quotations that support the theme of silence in Obasan?

Quotes on the theme of silence are:  

"The language of her grief is silence...Over the years, silence within her small body has grown large and powerful" (P. 17, middle of Ch. 3).

In Japanese culture, grief is expected to be borne without complaint.  This is one of the reasons why the Japanese in Canada were so compliant with the order for their relocation.  Obasan exemplifies this tradition, drawing dignity and power from quiet endurance. 

"The memories were drowned in a whirlpool of protective silence.  Everywhere I could hear the adults whispering, 'Kodomo no tame.  For the sake of the children'" (p. 26, last pg. of Ch. 4).

The Japanese believed children should be sheltered from the traumas of life, so in the face of war the adults suffered in silence so as not to upset the children.  This philosophy is carried to the extreme by Naomi's mother, who, horribly disfigured by the atom bomb, chose to let her children believe she was dead rather than have them see the terrible truth.

"...I know it's the children who say nothing who are in trouble more than the ones who complain" (p. 41, first half of Ch. 7).

In the same way that she recognizes inarticulateness as a problem in her students, Naomi finds that the silence so prevalent in her heritage causes difficulties for herself.  She is tortured by the secret of her childhood molestation, and haunted by not knowing her mother's fate.

How did Nelson Mandela differ from Steve Biko in his leadership and fight against apartheid? How were they the same?

The most obvious difference is that Mandela lives to
assume Presidential leadership and political power and Biko did not.  This might also
reflect a similarity in that both were victim to imprisonment and the "enhanced
interrogation" that goes along with it.  In terms of their leadership positions, the
absence of one led to the rise of the other.  When Mandela was imprisoned, it caused a
void in the leadership of Black South Africans against Apartheid.  While Mandela was
imprisoned for his militant approach that was rooted in the idea that military action
can lead to political change, Biko was arguing for a mental and spiritual consciousness
change in how Black South Africans saw themselves.  On many levels, Biko argued that the
consciousness and self perception of Blacks have to change before political leadership
change can be effective.  Whereas Mandela argued that political change is its own end,
Biko argued that Apartheid will come to an end when Blacks begin to understand that
their own sense of self is beyond being controlled by Apartheid tactics, it will come to
its own end because Blacks "are not going to take it anymore."  This becomes the reason
why the Soweto Uprisings, inspired by Biko, become so important in South African
History.