What is the mood in "Thank You, M'am"?

The mood of a story consists of the elements the author uses to make us feel a certain way while we are reading. This can include elements like description, setting, metaphors, and similes.

The setting of a story is especially important to establish the mood because it gives you a picture of where the story occurs, and how the characters react to those surroundings. In "Thank you, M'am," the setting is eleven o'clock at night...

The mood of a story consists of the elements the author uses to make us feel a certain way while we are reading. This can include elements like description, setting, metaphors, and similes.

The setting of a story is especially important to establish the mood because it gives you a picture of where the story occurs, and how the characters react to those surroundings. In "Thank you, M'am," the setting is eleven o'clock at night on the street, with very few people around. To show us the setting, the author points out the time, and that the woman is walking alone at night. This gives the story an ominous mood.

It was about eleven o'clock at night, and she was walking alone...

The mood of the conversation between the boy and the woman can be seen by looking at the length of their sentences and the tone of their voices. The woman talks loudly and angrily, while the boy whispers and uses short phrases when he talks. Their interaction is brusque on her end and frightened on his end. The author describes the boy as thin, with shabby clothing. This shows a contrast between the boy and the woman, who is a "large woman." By describing the sweat "popping out" on the boy's face, and his tone of voice during their interactions, the author creates a mood of fear and intense anxiety.

Later, the mood in the story changes. When the woman drags the boy to her house, he realizes that there are other people in the house and that the door is open. This detail shows us that he still feels wary, but he feels safer now because there are other people around. The woman shows caring for the boy by telling him to wait till the water gets warm before washing his face. As the story progresses, the boy (who we now find out is named Roger) relaxes and can sit down and eat dinner with the woman. The mood of the story becomes much more comfortable, relaxed, and friendly. The story ends on a note of gratitude. Roger feels grateful to the woman for how she treated him, but doesn't know how to express it besides for saying, "Thank you, M'am" when she walks him out.

What do the children of “Want” and “Ignorance” metaphorically mean?

Dickens is pretty straightforward with Ignorance and Want from the moment they appear beneath the robe of the Ghost of Christmas Present. In short, Want represents the people of the world who need things. Ignorance represents the people like Scrooge who not only refuse to help those who need things, but turn a blind eye and pretend that they don't see the issue at all, even when it is right in front of them.

The spirit warns Scrooge about both of the children, but says "most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!” One of the reasons that the boy is so dangerous is because he represents the manifestation of Scrooge's own words.

In stave 1, Scrooge himself conveys the exact type of ignorance that the boy represents. When two men enter asking for financial assistance for charity, Scrooge inquires about the social institutions set up to "help" the poor, such as the treadmill, the Poor Law, prisons, and workhouses. The men state that most people would rather die than use these programs or places. Scrooge responds, "[if] they would rather die . . . they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." As harsh as this is, he follows with something even more harsh, as he goes on to say, "[besides]—excuse me—I don’t know that.” It's bad enough that he values life so little; it's even worse that he willfully ignores the issues when he could do so much to alleviate them.

While all of the spirits find ways to make Scrooge reconcile his perspective, Ignorance and Want function to make Scrooge, in addition to Dickens's own London of the 1840s, face the social problems that he shares the burden of. Like some of Dickens's contemporaries, Scrooge shows the exact type of Ignorance that the boy represents, and in doing so contributes to the severe case of Want.

To what extent did the British honor the Treaty of 1783 which stated they recognized the United States and its new boundaries? What does this...

The British and the Americans signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783 to mark the end of the Revolutionary War. 

The treaty acknowledged American sovereignty and recognized United States boundaries. However, the British honored the treaty only to a certain extent. The promise to return former American slaves was not kept. Essentially, the British neglected to honor Article Seven of the 1783 treaty:

All prisoners on both sides shall be set at liberty, and his...

The British and the Americans signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783 to mark the end of the Revolutionary War. 

The treaty acknowledged American sovereignty and recognized United States boundaries. However, the British honored the treaty only to a certain extent. The promise to return former American slaves was not kept. Essentially, the British neglected to honor Article Seven of the 1783 treaty:

All prisoners on both sides shall be set at liberty, and his Brittanic Majesty shall with all convenient speed, and without causing any destruction, or carrying away any Negroes or other property of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrisons, and fleets from the said United States, and from every post, place, and harbor within the same (from Article Seven of the 1783 treaty of Paris).

Instead, British commanders issued certificates of freedom to a number of former American slaves. General Sir Guy Carleton allowed American slaves and Loyalists from the colonies to board a ship for Nova Scotia. Meanwhile, thousands of slaves were encamped in London and left to fend for themselves; many starved to death or died from infectious diseases.

Additionally, the British also neglected to remove English troops from some American forts. Because the British neglected to abide by some provisions in the 1783 treaty, tensions between England and the colonies festered. The tensions foreshadowed future conflict, but war was prevented by the signing of John Jay's unpopular treaty in 1794. Please refer to the link below for more about the Jay treaty.

How do the setting and her daily life reinforce the idea expressed in the line "I am all longing" from the Wife's lament?

The line "I am entirely longing—" from "The Wife's Lament" is reinforced by the circumstances and setting in which she lives.  Her husband, whom she loved and felt a great affinity for, has left her.  He has ordered her to stay behind and live in a cave in a grove, and she feels betrayed because they had pledged their undying love to one another. 

She is surrounded by the graves of former friends in a...

The line "I am entirely longing—" from "The Wife's Lament" is reinforced by the circumstances and setting in which she lives.  Her husband, whom she loved and felt a great affinity for, has left her.  He has ordered her to stay behind and live in a cave in a grove, and she feels betrayed because they had pledged their undying love to one another. 

She is surrounded by the graves of former friends in a sort of wasteland. Every day she weeps because of her abandonment and isolation.  She thinks of her absent husband and reflects on the idea of people who are separated from the ones they love—she seems to express that she hopes that he is suffering, too. She has concluded that he has plotted against her.  She is "all longing" because she pines for what she does not have—and likely never has had. 

What is the impact when there is a lack of research on a diagnosis when clinicians are trying to diagnose a patient?

When there is a lack of research on a specific disorder, patients suffer, as they are not able to receive the most tailored and up-to-date treatment. As the article from the National Institute of Mental Health in the link below states, diagnoses in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), which clinicians use to diagnose mental disorders, are based on clusters of symptoms. Disorders are not based on objective measures from...

When there is a lack of research on a specific disorder, patients suffer, as they are not able to receive the most tailored and up-to-date treatment. As the article from the National Institute of Mental Health in the link below states, diagnoses in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), which clinicians use to diagnose mental disorders, are based on clusters of symptoms. Disorders are not based on objective measures from the laboratory. In other words, this is like diagnosing medical conditions based on symptoms such as fever rather than on laboratory measurements. 

Refining the research about diagnoses will ensure validity--that is, making sure that the diagnosis is a condition, not just a set of symptoms, and that it has measurable differences from other conditions. In addition, additional research about diagnoses will help clinicians make more accurate diagnoses and ensure that people who should be diagnosed are diagnosed. If patients receive correct diagnoses, they can then access proper treatment. For example, the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is currently made based on a set of symptoms. However, if research showed ways to diagnose autism based on objective measurements (such as brain scans, for example), clinicians could be sure that people who were diagnosed definitely had that disorder and could receive effective treatments. 

Why did Truman Capote write "A Christmas Memory"?

Truman Capote is known for powerful works of fiction and non-fiction, including his most famous investigative work In Cold Blood, which became a best seller. Capote's talent for observing sensory details and capturing characters makes his writing very compelling.

That talent is obvious in this short memoir, first published in a collection with the novel Breakfast at Tiffany's, Capote's second most famous work. In this story, Capote recounts memories of celebrating Christmas as...

Truman Capote is known for powerful works of fiction and non-fiction, including his most famous investigative work In Cold Blood, which became a best seller. Capote's talent for observing sensory details and capturing characters makes his writing very compelling.

That talent is obvious in this short memoir, first published in a collection with the novel Breakfast at Tiffany's, Capote's second most famous work. In this story, Capote recounts memories of celebrating Christmas as a young boy with his elderly cousin. Like In Cold Blood, certain details in "A Christmas Memory" are embellished, and that is perhaps what makes the story even more interesting. It has been called "semi-autobiographical" and functions as a window into this interesting writer's background.

Because Capote was fairly openly gay during a time when homosexuality was often kept secret, his sensitive recounting of the events of his childhood helps us understand the writer's deep need to tell his own story. Despite growing up in poverty, Capote went on to know wealth and fame. This story conveys his humble beginnings and the loyalty he feels to his elderly cousin, who understood him better than his closer family members. The story may in part be a memory of this relationship, but also of a way of life that Capote left behind when he became a famous writer who lived a life of luxury and sophistication.

What can we learn from The Great Gatsby about the American Dream in the 1920s?

Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald illustrates the vain pursuit of the American Dream. For the characters in the novel, achieving the American Dream means achieving financial success, not creating substantial relationships that are spiritually and emotionally fulfilling. The 1920s were a time of economic prosperity for many Americans. During this period, Americans embraced the consumer culture and material wealth. The concept of the American Dream in the 1920s was the idea that...

Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald illustrates the vain pursuit of the American Dream. For the characters in the novel, achieving the American Dream means achieving financial success, not creating substantial relationships that are spiritually and emotionally fulfilling. The 1920s were a time of economic prosperity for many Americans. During this period, Americans embraced the consumer culture and material wealth. The concept of the American Dream in the 1920s was the idea that individuals could climb the social ladder and achieve financial freedom through hard work and dedication. However, Fitzgerald presents an ominous perspective of the 1920s American Dream throughout the novel. In Gatsby's world, individuals achieve financial success through illegal means and are consumed with superficial matters. Their pursuit of wealth leaves little to no room for emotional and spiritual growth, which adversely affects their well-being. Although Gatsby achieves financial success, he becomes corrupted before dying as a lonely, unfulfilled man. His elaborate parties and material possessions do not help him achieve inner peace. His empty funeral also depicts the superficiality of his friends and associates. Overall, Fitzgerald views the 1920s American Dream as the useless pursuit of material wealth, which brings no emotional satisfaction.

In Night, what is a quote that shows how cultural understanding is essential to the growth of an individual within a community?

In Night, cultural understanding in the form of religion is essential to Eliezer's growth within the Jewish community.

Night highlights the important role that religion plays in the Jewish community's culture.  The narrative's opening shows this through Eliezer's relationship with Moshe the Beadle. Moshe serves as Eliezer's spiritual teacher.  He guides Eliezer to understanding the importance of religion in the Jewish culture:

There are a thousand and one gates allowing entry into the orchard of mystical truth. Every human being has his own gate. He must not err and wish to enter the orchard through a gate other than his own. That would present a danger not only for the one entering but also for those who are already inside.

These words have a profound impact on Eliezer:

And Moishe the Beadle, the poorest of the poor of Sighet, spoke to me for hours on end about the Kabbalah's revelations and its mysteries. Thus began my initiation. Together we would read, over and over again, the same page of the Zohar. Not to learn it by heart but to discover within the very essence of divinity.

Religion defines Eliezer's culture in Night.  They help to carve out Eliezer's place in the community.  While people like his father embrace commerce and less spiritual notions of the good, Eliezer is content with the place that religious worship affords him in the culture of the Jewish community of Sighet.   Eliezer's growth is based on religious understanding.  At thirteen years old, Eliezer sought to better understand how "question and answer would become one."  Religion was the cultural lens through which Eliezer's growth in the community took place. 

The force of religion on Eliezer's growth can be seen as he endures the Holocaust.  His experiences in the camp compel him to change his view of religion. He begins to ask questions to God, demanding to know where he is as Eliezer and his community suffer. Eliezer is unwilling to see questions and answers as one. He is not able to embrace the divine's mystical complexities.  Instead, he wants answers about the pain he and his community experience in the Holocaust: 

What are You, my God? I thought angrily... why would I bless Him? Every fiber in me rebelled. Because He caused thousands of children to burn in His mass graves? Because He kept six crematoria working day and night, including Sabbath and the Holy Days? Because in His great might, He had created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many other factories of death? How could I say to Him: Blessed be Thou, Almighty, Master of the Universe, who chose us among all nations to be tortured day and night, to watch as our fathers, our mothers, our brothers end up in the furnaces? Praised be Thy Holy Name, for having chosen us to be slaughtered on Thine altar?

Eliezer's cultural understanding through religion plays a critical part in his transformation.  Initially, he embraces a profoundly personal view of spirituality.  He is content with his place that religion affords him in the culture of the Sighet community.  Through Moshe's guidance, he believes that individuals must find their path to universal truth through the "orchard of mystical truth." However, as a result of his experiences in the Holocaust, his view of religion changes. He becomes angry and insists on answers.  He is unable to reconcile the cultural view of God as merciful with what he sees in places like Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Buna.  He is no longer able to participate in community services such as Rosh Hashanah and Passover fasting.  These quotes show the role that cultural understanding in the form of religion plays in Eliezer's development within the community.  They show how he changes from one who is an active participant in the cultural lifeline of the community to one who is estranged from it.

Why was Wonder Woman's character unique and complex? How liberating was she as a character?

Wonder Woman was unique in large part because she was a woman. When the vast majority of the superheroes in comics were male, empowering a woman with superhuman capabilities made a liberating statement about female empowerment. This statement was particularly meaningful at the time of her debut in 1941; in the midst of World War II, women were barred from combat, but characters like Rosie the Riveter showed that society was beginning to consider women...

Wonder Woman was unique in large part because she was a woman. When the vast majority of the superheroes in comics were male, empowering a woman with superhuman capabilities made a liberating statement about female empowerment. This statement was particularly meaningful at the time of her debut in 1941; in the midst of World War II, women were barred from combat, but characters like Rosie the Riveter showed that society was beginning to consider women to be an important part of the war effort. Having Wonder Woman able to tangle with even the toughest of men reaffirmed the strength of American women in the face of the Axis threat.

However, Wonder Woman was much more than a female clone of Superman. She came to America from Themyscira, a fictional island populated solely by immortal female Amazons. Yet her militant upbringing was tempered by her role as an ambassador to "Man's World." Later incarnations of Wonder Woman would wield sword, spear, and bow, but in her original version, her most significant belonging is her Lasso of Truth--a tool to allow the consummate warrior to resolve conflicts without resorting to war. Throughout her entire history, but particularly in her earlier appearances, this dichotomy of war and peace defines her character.

Does Mathilde Loisel deserve the punishment she receives?

The question of whether or not Mathilde Loisel deserves the punishment she receives in Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace" requires a close look at the choices she makes in the story, and what motivates those choices.   

Mathilde Loisel's punishment consists of working for ten years (alongside her husband) to pay off a debt. This debt is incurred because Mathilde, a woman of meager means and great pride, borrows a necklace from a...

The question of whether or not Mathilde Loisel deserves the punishment she receives in Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace" requires a close look at the choices she makes in the story, and what motivates those choices.   

Mathilde Loisel's punishment consists of working for ten years (alongside her husband) to pay off a debt. This debt is incurred because Mathilde, a woman of meager means and great pride, borrows a necklace from a wealthy friend for a party. She assumes that the borrowed necklace is made of genuine diamonds. The necklace is lost during the evening, and Mathilde and her husband concoct a plan to replace the necklace without telling Madame Forestier the truth of its disappearance. They find a near-exact replica, but it costs them dearly. They purchase it for thirty-six thousand francs and spend the next ten years working off the debt. 

When Madame Loisel returns the necklace to Madame Forestier, she is nervous that her friend will discover the ruse. 

"She did not even open the case, as her friend had so much feared. If she had detected the substitution, what would she have thought, what would she have said? Would she not have taken Madame Loisel for a thief? 

Madame Loisel now knew the horrible existence of the needy. She made the best of it, moreover, frankly, heroically. The frightful debt must be paid. She would pay it. They dismissed their servant; they changed their lodgings, they rented a garret under a roof." 

If Mathilde Loisel had not been so consumed with pride, she wouldn't have felt it necessary to borrow jewels from a wealthy friend. If she wasn't so consumed with status, she would have been able to be honest with her friend about the necklace's disappearance and then might've learned the truth about its worth. If she hadn't been so filled with stubborn pride, she wouldn't have been compelled to work ten years to pay off the debt for the necklace. Whether or not Mathilde deserved the punishment, it's clear the punishment was self-inflicted. Madame Forestier did not demand a replacement. Madame Forestier didn't demand the return of the necklace sooner than it was returned. If Mathilde had chosen to be honest with the woman who is described as her friend since childhood, the purchase of the replacement necklace would not have been necessary. It is her pride that causes her to make the choices she makes, and pride often goes before destruction.

Based on Chapters 5-9 of Ian Haney López's Dog Whistle Politics: How Coded Racial Appeals Have Reinvented Racism and Wrecked the Middle...

The "punch and parry" technique of dog whistle politics involves three distinct steps. First, in the punch, the practitioner of dog whistle politics injects or punches race into the political conversation by using references to "culture, behavior, and class" (page 130). Then, in the parry stage, the same person parries claims of racism by stating that there was no overt use of racial epithets or references to the biological basis of race. Finally, there is...

The "punch and parry" technique of dog whistle politics involves three distinct steps. First, in the punch, the practitioner of dog whistle politics injects or punches race into the political conversation by using references to "culture, behavior, and class" (page 130). Then, in the parry stage, the same person parries claims of racism by stating that there was no overt use of racial epithets or references to the biological basis of race. Finally, there is a kick phase in which the practitioner of dog whistle politics kicks up the racial debate by claiming that the person who has charged the practitioner with racism is the true racist. In other words, the person who has used racist appeals claims that his or her critics are the real racists because they have injected race into the conversation while it never before existed. 

The example the author uses of this technique is the cartoon of Obama that had a picture of him as a donkey alongside watermelon and fried chicken. The cartoon read "ten dollars Obama bucks" and "United States food stamps" (pages 127-128). The person who printed this cartoon used the punch and parry technique by punching race into the conversation by linking Obama, a Black President, to food stamps and to stereotypically Black food. Then, the person parried the claims of racism by claiming that it was not at all racist because there was no overt reference to race. Finally, the person kicked the charge of racism back to the critics of the cartoon. 

What is the irony in the story, including the names of the characters and the actions in "Good Country People"?

The irony in this story is mostly situational. This means that certain expectations are created, but the actions of the characters or the circumstances in which they find themselves are the opposite of these expectations.

The title and the story itself depict a stereotypical view of so-called good country people. The reference is to people who live in rural areas and lead simple, conservative lives. They are generally not well educated and have deep moral and religious values. They are hardworking and know their place. Their goodness derives from the fact that they are respectful of others and would, generally, not deliberately mean anyone any harm. They are guided by deeply entrenched codes of conduct mostly based on a religious ethic.

The story revolves around the relationships and interactions between Mrs. Hopewell, a divorcee, her thirty-two-year-old daughter, Joy, and their employees and tenants, Mrs. Freeman, her two daughters (the eighteen-year-old Glynese and the fifteen-year-old married and pregnant Carramae), as well as Mr. Freeman.

Most of the action revolves around Mrs. Hopewell, Joy and Mrs. Freeman. Mrs. Hopewell sees the Freemans as "good country people." She seems to have a cordial relationship with them and is quite close to Mrs. Freeman. It is clear that it is the Freemans' good nature that compels Mrs. Hopewell to hire them and provide them tenancy on her farm. They have been living there for four years.

Joy suffered a terrible injury when she was twelve and lost half her leg. She has a stump and is well educated, having obtained a PhD in Philosophy. She is an atheist and comes across as quite cranky and sometimes expresses frustration at her situation. She has never shown an interest in the opposite sex--a factor which doesn't seem to bother her mother too much.

Most of the action in the second part of the story revolves around the interaction between Mrs. Freeman, Joy, and a young Bible salesman who calls himself Manly Pointer. Mrs. Freeman is quite impressed with the young man's honesty and invites him to stay for dinner, although she refuses to buy one of his bibles. 

The end of the story exposes situational irony on different levels: Firstly, Joy behaves completely out of character and, to her mother's surprise, seems to enjoy the young man's company when she accompanies him to the gate.

Then to her amazement, Mrs. Hopewell saw the two of them walk off together, toward the gate.

Secondly, Joy plans to seduce the young man and later thinks that her seduction has been easy, but it later seems as if he has actually seduced her and only allowed her to believe otherwise.

In the third place, it is ironic that Joy decides to be honest and confess her age whilst Manly has been deliberately misleading all along. He later tells her that he's not religious at all:

"I hope you don't think," he said in a lofty indignant tone, "that I believe in that crap! I may sell Bibles but I know which end is up and I wasn't born yesterday and I know where I'm going!"

He also informs her that he had lied about his name. It is clear that he had planned everything carefully since he seems to have a sick obsession with collecting objects related to disability, such as her wooden stump. His idea, from the outset, seems to have been to draw her into a lewd sexual encounter and then take her stump. He declares:

"I've gotten a lot of interesting things," he said. "One time I got a woman's glass eye this way. And you needn't to think you'll catch me because Pointer ain't really my name. I use a different name at every house I call at and don't stay nowhere long..."

Irony is also found in the fact that in spite of her PhD, Joy has easily been fooled by someone much less educated than her. Manly tells her, "you ain't so smart." Furthermore, it is also ironic that she has been misled by her belief that he is "good country people" when he, in the most disgusting sense, obviously is not. Joy expresses her shock at this realization when she asks:

"Aren't you," she murmured, "aren't you just good country people?"

To which he replied:

"Yeah," he said, curling his lip slightly, "but it ain't held me back none. I'm as good as you any day in the week."

Hi I need help with this optimization problem for calculus. In the wake of a natural disaster, a civil engineer is tasked with building a...

Hello!

Let's set up the problem with the variables. Besides the given height `H = 10 ft,` a rectangular prism also has a length `L` and a width `W` (both in feet). Of course we know that the volume of the rectangular prism is `V = H*L*W ft^3 = 10L*W ft^3,` and we need to maximize it.

Next, the constraint relating to the walls surface. It is not clear whether "walls" means four side walls excluding both...

Hello!

Let's set up the problem with the variables. Besides the given height `H = 10 ft,` a rectangular prism also has a length `L` and a width `W` (both in feet). Of course we know that the volume of the rectangular prism is `V = H*L*W ft^3 = 10L*W ft^3,` and we need to maximize it.

Next, the constraint relating to the walls surface. It is not clear whether "walls" means four side walls excluding both the ceiling and the floor. I suppose walls are four vertical walls only. There are two walls of the dimensions `L xx H` and two walls `W xx H,` so their total area is `2*L*H + 2*W*H,` and this is equal to `S = 2000 ft^2.`

This equation, `2*L*H + 2*W*H = 2*L*10 + 2*W*10 = 2000,` gives us the simple constraint `L + W = 2000/20 = 100,` so `L = 100 - W.` The function we need to maximize becomes `V = V(W) = 10(100-W)W = -10W^2 + 1000W.`

It is the quadratic function of `W` with the negative factor `a = -10` at `W^2` and the factor `b=1000` at `W^1.` Its graph is a parabola branches down and it has the only maximum. The point where it is reached is `W_0 = -b/(2a) = -1000/(-20) = 50 (ft).`

Thus `L_0 = 100 - W_0 = 50 (ft),` and the volume they give is `V = 10*50*50 = 25000 (ft^3).`

The answer: the (horizontal) dimensions of the room that give a maximum volume are 50 ft and 50 ft. The maximum volume is `25000 ft^3.`

(if we have to take the ceiling and/or the floor with the area `L*W` each into account, the function remains quadratic and the solution remains similar)

Prior to the wave of exploration, how did Europeans interact with and view outsiders?

Europeans interacted with people from the rest of the world primarily through trade. Trade goods made their way along a complex network of routes that connected Asia (as far away as China) and Africa to Europe. Europeans consumed luxury items such as silk (a commodity so valuable that the phrase "Silk Road" is used to describe these trade routes) and spices as early as the 200s BC. These trade routes seldom brought Europeans into direct contact with faraway peoples, as they involved a series of middle men, but they contributed to a view of China in particular as an exotic and astonishingly wealthy empire. On the other hand, when the Mongols began to threaten the eastern edges of Christendom, the east was understood to be the home of barbarians and savages. Africa was often portrayed as a land full of fearsome creatures and savage peoples, who practiced cannibalism. These views were not based on evidence, as few Europeans had contact with African peoples. So Europeans mythologized the outside world. One especially persistent myth was that of Prester John, supposedly a Christian king that ruled over a vast kingdom of considerable wealth. Some said the kingdom was in Africa, others in Asia. This passage from medieval English writer John Mandeville references both myths about Prester John and China, sometimes called Cathay in medieval times:

This Prester John hath under him many kings and many isles and many diverse folk of diverse conditions. And this land is full good and rich, but not so rich as is the land of the great Chan. For the merchants come not thither so commonly for to buy merchandises, as they do in the land of the great Chan, for it is too far to travel to. And on that other part, in the Isle of Cathay, men find all manner thing that is need to man--cloths of gold, of silk, of spicery and all manner avoirdupois. And therefore, albeit that men have greater cheap in the Isle of Prester John, natheles, men dread the long way and the great perils m the sea in those parts.

Europeans brought their attitudes toward the rest of the world when they began colonization, and their belief that they were superior to alleged savages and allegedly debauched peoples around the world played into their treatment of these people following the fifteenth century.

Why does Mama insist Liesel pick up and deliver the washing?

In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger is a young girl living in Germany during the time of the Nazi regime in World War II. The book is narrated by Death itself, who sees Liesel's younger brother die near the very beginning of the book.

Her father has been taken away because he is a suspected communist, and Liesel's mother could be taken away as well because she is connected to her possibly communist...

In Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, Liesel Meminger is a young girl living in Germany during the time of the Nazi regime in World War II. The book is narrated by Death itself, who sees Liesel's younger brother die near the very beginning of the book.

Her father has been taken away because he is a suspected communist, and Liesel's mother could be taken away as well because she is connected to her possibly communist husband, so Liesel is taken in by Hans and Rosa Hubermann, who act as foster parents. Rosa, or Mama, works doing laundry for the people in their town. Rosa is a pretty harsh person, and Nazi Germany is becoming a harder and harder place to live in, including in terms of the economy. She hopes that by having Liesel, a child, pick up and deliver laundry, people will have sympathy for her and keep using Rosa's laundry service.

How's scout naive in tokill a mockingbird

Being that Scout is five years old at the beginning of the story, many of the events described are narrated from her naive point of view. She lacks the maturity and ability to comprehend different situations throughout the story and is unaware of the overt prejudice throughout her community. Scout continually displays her childhood innocence by asking numerous questions concerning explicit subjects. Scout asks Atticus what the term "nigger-lover" means and inquires about the definition...

Being that Scout is five years old at the beginning of the story, many of the events described are narrated from her naive point of view. She lacks the maturity and ability to comprehend different situations throughout the story and is unaware of the overt prejudice throughout her community. Scout continually displays her childhood innocence by asking numerous questions concerning explicit subjects. Scout asks Atticus what the term "nigger-lover" means and inquires about the definition of "rape" from Calpurnia. Scout lacks the ability to grasp the gravity of the situation when she enters the circle of men outside of the Maycomb jailhouse in chapter 15 and does not fully understand the significance of her father's defense of Tom Robinson.

Scout also portrays her naive personality by fearing her reclusive neighbor and believing nearly every story that Jem tells her. As the novel progresses, Scout matures and gains perspective on the world beyond her self. Following Tom's trial, Scout begins to perceive the overt prejudice throughout Maycomb and views Boo as a shy, compassionate man, instead of a "malevolent phantom."

What contribution did Robert Koch make to bacteriology?

Robert Koch made a number of significant contributions to bacteriology and is commonly termed the father of modern bacteriology. Some of his contributions are:

1) Koch's postulates: A set of four postulates that are used as a standard for determining the exact bacterium responsible for causing an infectious disease. 

2) Causative agent for Anthrax: Koch determined bacillus anthracisto be the causative agent of the infection anthrax. He extracted the bacterium from an infected sheep...

Robert Koch made a number of significant contributions to bacteriology and is commonly termed the father of modern bacteriology. Some of his contributions are:

1) Koch's postulates: A set of four postulates that are used as a standard for determining the exact bacterium responsible for causing an infectious disease. 

2) Causative agent for Anthrax: Koch determined bacillus anthracis to be the causative agent of the infection anthrax. He extracted the bacterium from an infected sheep and injected a mouse with it. He reported that the mouse also became infected.

3) Creation of solid medium for bacterial growth: Instead of using a liquid medium for bacterial growth, Koch started using a solid medium (by solidifying liquid broth with gelatin and agar), which is much easier to handle and work with.

4) Staining for improved visibility: Koch also developed methods to stain bacteria, which improves their visibility when using a microscope.

For his contributions, Robert Koch was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1905. 

What does Anna decide to do when the circus tent pole is struck by lightning?

In "The Leap," the circus tent pole is struck by lightning during a trapeze performance by the Flying Avalons. Anna, who makes up half of this double act, is in midair when the lightning strikes, but even in this moment, she is able to think quickly and respond appropriately.

Firstly, Anna tears off her blindfold. Secondly, she changes the direction of her body, and this enables Anna to grab hold of a piece of braided...

In "The Leap," the circus tent pole is struck by lightning during a trapeze performance by the Flying Avalons. Anna, who makes up half of this double act, is in midair when the lightning strikes, but even in this moment, she is able to think quickly and respond appropriately.

Firstly, Anna tears off her blindfold. Secondly, she changes the direction of her body, and this enables Anna to grab hold of a piece of braided metal, instead of plummeting to the ground. Her hands, however, are horribly burned by the red-hot metal which was scorched by the lightning.

Finally, Anna gently lowers herself onto a "sawdust ring," which is just strong enough to take her weight, though parts of it are on fire. She is rescued from the ring, but an "overeager" rescuer accidentally breaks her arm. She is also knocked unconscious by a falling tent buckle.

By reacting quickly to the lightning, Anna is able to save her own life, but neither her husband nor her unborn child are so lucky. Anna spends the next couple of months recovering in a hospital, where she meets and falls in love with a doctor. This ensures that her daughter, the narrator, will be born.

What is a character sketch of one female and one male character (other than Kerbouchard) in The Walking Drum?

Mathurin Kerbouchard, the protagonist of Louis L'Amour's The Walking Drum, encounters a large range of women in his travels, many of whom he chooses to rescue. However, he is aided greatly by one woman, Safia, who helps him find a job as a translator in Córdoba.

Mathurin frequently chooses to describe Safia in detail, first as having:

...the body of a siren, the face of a goddess, and the mind of an Armenien camel dealer.

It is clear that Safia's intellect is incredibly sharp and that she plans on using Mathurin as a tool in aiding her own interests. Nevertheless, she persists in using her strange power to pull strings for him, helping him achieve a hearing with the scholars of the city with "but a word" from her mouth.

She is extremely educated (having been provided with a great deal of fine schooling as a girl) and manages to teach Mathurin Persian, as well as some Hindi. She was born in Basra as the daughter of an emir and a slave girl and was eventually promised in marriage to a Bengali prince, who died before their marriage was carried out. Instead, she married a member of the Abbasid dynasty in Baghdad and "engaged in intrigue to seize the caliphate of Córdoba for him." After she failed this task, she became a spy. In other words, she seems to have lasting allegiances to very few individuals, and her loyalty clearly has a price.

Safia is a wealthy and courageous woman who is invigorated by her travel, with "[r]iding in the fresh, clear air... raising color in her cheeks, and the dead, lackluster expression of her eyes... gone." It is not until Chapter 30 that Safia makes the decision to leave Mathurin's company. Safia discovers that Mathurin's father is at Alamut. She gives him this information, and the pair part ways as they reach Paris, with Safia remaining in the French city and Mathurin continuing on his quest. Perhaps he describes her best when he states that she is:

...unreadable, beautiful again, and a mystery forever. She was soft and lovely…yet quiet, with much of the queen in her presence. There was a steel in her, a command of herself and those about her such as I had seen in no other woman... 

A male character who serves an important role in the story is Mahmoud al-Zawila, the helper of Sinan who Mathurin initially meets in Córdoba in the Garden of Abdallah. Mahmoud is described as:

...[a] tall young man of twenty-four, vain of his pointed beard and mustaches. He was much of a dandy, but keen of wit and a ready hand with a blade.

Mahmoud, like Mathurin, is well-educated. He is a student of the law who shares an enjoyment of learning. Despite living in a Muslim city and keeping up appearances with the religion, Mahmoud indulges in some rather "untraditional" practices, like consuming wine. He is bold, brazen and impressive, and he and Mathurin talk about all sorts of complex topics:

...war and women, of ships, camels, weapons... of religion and philosophy, of politics and buried treasure...

Despite his wonderful intellectual qualities, Mathurin distrusts Mahmoud, questioning his "intense vanity," which comes out to play when Mahmoud claims that Aziza--who is betrothed to Prince Ahmed--is attracted to him. In an act of great dishonor and jealousy, Mahmoud ends up betraying Mathurin to Prince Ahmed, resulting in his imprisonment and a death sentence. Thankfully, Mathurin is able to escape. Mathurin bitterly describes Mahmoud as follows:

I feared the man. The weak can be terrible when they wish to appear strong, and he was such a man, darkly vengeful and unforgiving. If dying, he would strike out wickedly in all directions to injure all he could.

After a significant time spent apart, Mahmoud and Mathurin reunite in Alamut, as Mathurin has travelled widely. At this point, Mahmoud has been significantly worn down: "his features had coarsened, his eyes were harder." He was forced to kill Prince Ahmed after getting into trouble with the man--a further example of his dishonorable nature and selfish interests. Ultimately, he is killed by Mathurin in a duel at the end of the book.

What role did socialism play in the years leading up to World War I? In what ways did it influence the beliefs and actions of common people and of...

For purposes of discussion, definitional distinctions between such phrases or concepts as "socialism" and "communism" will be blurred, with the two being treated as synonymous philosophical approaches to economics and politics. The evolution of socialist thought is beyond the parameters of the student's question, and distinctions between various schools of thought would serve no purpose other than to complicate the issue at question, to whit, the role of socialism in the years leading up to World War I.

As we know, European countries prior to the outbreak of war in 1914 were overwhelmingly dominated by autocratic, monarchical regimes; in effect, they were run by kings and queens. Additionally, the state system as it exists now did not exist then, the continent dominated by empires, for example, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire, and so on. All of this is relevant because the class structures and the evolution of economic systems that existed under these regimes provided the foundation for the development of socialist thought. The Industrial Revolution, in particular, played an important role in the development of socialist thought because it resulted in the migration of formerly rural farm workers to cities where factories were located, thereby creating the proletarian class the interests of which were to be served by the more equitable distribution of wealth and the centralized control, under worker collectives, of the means of production.

The main role, then, that socialism played in the years leading up to the outbreak of the war was in the challenge socialist movements, especially the Social Democratic Party of Germany, as well as the so-called Paris Commune in France, posed to established political orders. As the long-ruling monarchies of Europe, including Russia, weakened over time due to internal factors, socialist movements gained in strength, although their leaders, especially in Russia, were often imprisoned for periods of time or, in the case of Lenin, living in exile until conditions were ripe for their return home. Once war broke out following the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the socialist movement splintered between those in the West who initially supported their governments in the war and those, mainly in Russia and Germany, who vehemently opposed participation in a war they deemed caused by capitalist excesses and imperial ambitions run amok.

Probably the most important role played by social movements in the period leading up the war was in Russia. From the start, the myriad socialist/communist movements in Russia were violently opposed to Russia's participation in the war, and, as soon as the Romanov Dynasty was overthrown, withdrew their country from the conflict. Czar Nicholas II had allied Russia with France and England against Germany, and his already weakened regime could not survive the organizational skills and ruthlessness of the Bolshevik movement combined with the exhausted state of a Russian populace tired of war. 

One should not exaggerate the role of socialism in Europe in the years leading up to the war. Socialist movements were certainly active across the continent, but they were small and weak. They had not attracted the support of the masses as much as they desired, and nationalism, anathema to the socialists, continued to dominate popular sentiments. Socialism did, however, offer an alternative to the less-democratic systems under which most lived, and these movements were taken seriously by the regimes they sought to undermine. 

Regarding Chapter 4, "Intimate and Family Murder" in the textbook The Will to Kill: Making Sense of Senseless Murder, how can I write a journal...

Journal assignments usually comprise an introductory paragraph (which summarizes the text in question) followed by subsequent paragraphs that discuss your evaluation of the author's themes and conclusions.

In your question, you asked for help in writing a journal paragraph about Chapter 4. First, briefly summarize the essence of the chapter, using one or two sentences. Essentially, Chapter 4 encompasses the various motives and factors that contribute to murders in a domestic setting. List the types...

Journal assignments usually comprise an introductory paragraph (which summarizes the text in question) followed by subsequent paragraphs that discuss your evaluation of the author's themes and conclusions.

In your question, you asked for help in writing a journal paragraph about Chapter 4. First, briefly summarize the essence of the chapter, using one or two sentences. Essentially, Chapter 4 encompasses the various motives and factors that contribute to murders in a domestic setting. List the types of murders discussed, such as patricide, matricide, infanticide, filicide, etc. How about crimes of passion perpetrated by mothers on those outside the immediate family circle (fetal abduction or kidnapping by Cesarean)? Later in the chapter, the authors discuss the emotional factors that lead to murder-suicides or other crimes of passion; they also discuss some preventive measures. 

After summarizing the chapter, use the rest of the paragraph to briefly discuss the author's conclusions. Do you agree with his interpretation of why mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and children kill? Do you think the preventive measures are adequate? Should the perpetrators of the homicides be excused by the overwhelming emotional factors that compelled them to action? As for family homicide or annihilation, it seems that emotional factors play a large part in these acts. For example, jealousy is a prime motive, often exacerbated by economic factors such as unemployment or poverty. 

So, to write a journal paragraph of Chapter 4, your best bet would be to summarize the chapter in one or two sentences. Then, discuss the causative factors that lead to certain domestic homicides and whether you agree with the author's viewpoint about this. Next, include a few sentences (depending on how long you want the paragraph to be) about preventive measures and whether you think they will be effective.

What are the challenges faced by the environment as an economy increases in a region?

A developed economy leads to increased employment rates, an increase in the standard of living, an enhancement in tax revenues, and better public services. The development of the economy of a nation or region is often associated with an increase in the development of land and the production of goods.  Adverse effects of an increase in the development of land and an increase in industrialization are briefly explained below.

Development of Land

An increase in the economy will require an increase in commercial development. Likewise, as an economy increases in a region, people will want to live in newer homes. Thus, an increase in a region’s economy is often associated with an increase in the development of the region’s land.

The development of land can have adverse effects on the environment. One of the most immediate consequences of deforestation is erosion. Erosion is the movement of soil to a new location. Without the roots of the trees to hold the soil in place, the soil becomes free and loose to move by wind, animals, or rain. This movement of the earth can cause the forestry that does remain in a deforested location to become unsettled. The unsettlement of these trees could affect their root systems and prevent the trees from absorbing the needed nutrients. Even worse, the trees may become so unsettled that they fall and die.

When deforestation occurs, the habitat(s) of many organisms is disheveled. Thus, deforestation can also cause a decrease in the biodiversity as the organisms move to other habitats in order to survive.

Increased Industrialization

A developed economy is able to compete with other countries in the manufacturing of goods. Thus, an increased production of goods is often associated with economic development. Industrialization can have an adverse effect on the environment because factories may emit pollutants into the air or water.

How can I discuss in depth one of the stories, films, or works of art from William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily"? What aspects of the story did...

Faulker's use of collective narration and complex literary elements creates a unique reading experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. Faulker incorporates various Gothic elements, motifs, and symbolism throughout his short story "A Rose for Emily" to represent the decline of the Old South. Both Emily's physical appearance, which resembles a corpse, and her decaying home symbolize the end of the Antebellum Period. Throughout the story, Faulker foreshadows Emily's necrophilia through her refusal to accept her father's...

Faulker's use of collective narration and complex literary elements creates a unique reading experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. Faulker incorporates various Gothic elements, motifs, and symbolism throughout his short story "A Rose for Emily" to represent the decline of the Old South. Both Emily's physical appearance, which resembles a corpse, and her decaying home symbolize the end of the Antebellum Period. Throughout the story, Faulker foreshadows Emily's necrophilia through her refusal to accept her father's death, her purchase of arsenic, Homer Barron's disappearance, and her reclusive behavior. Faulker also builds suspense by gradually revealing Emily's suspicious behavior and creating an ominous atmosphere surrounding her home. The awful smell permeating from her home suggests that something dead and rotting inside. Faulker's ability to create sympathy for a murderer by introducing Emily's controlling father is also interesting. His use of motifs such as Emily's watch, her father's portrait, dust, and death contribute to the development of the themes throughout the story. I also enjoyed Faulker's unique use of group narration, which enhanced the sense of ambiguity and significance associated with Emily Grierson's life. The entire town of Jefferson essentially witnesses Emily's declining health and well-being. This collective narration provides the reader with an unusual perspective. I also enjoyed Faulker's nonlinear plot structure that built suspense and created a shocking revelation at the end of the story. 

What are the metaphors in the story by Ray Bradbury,"There Will Come Soft Rains?"

Ray Bradbury's short story "There Will Come Soft Rains," is filled with figurative language. The most prevalent form of figurative language in this story is personification, followed by simile. There are a few metaphors in this story, as well. Metaphors compare two unlike things without using like or as, which distinguishes them from similes. 

One of the metaphors compares the house to a great altar. Here is the quote: 

"The house was an altar with...

Ray Bradbury's short story "There Will Come Soft Rains," is filled with figurative language. The most prevalent form of figurative language in this story is personification, followed by simile. There are a few metaphors in this story, as well. Metaphors compare two unlike things without using like or as, which distinguishes them from similes. 

One of the metaphors compares the house to a great altar. Here is the quote: 

"The house was an altar with ten thousand attendants, big, small, servicing, attending, in choirs. But the gods had gone away, and the ritual of the religion continued senselessly, uselessly." 

The inhabitants of the house are compared to gods in this metaphor. They are the ones who have gone away. The rituals of the house are compared to religious rituals. Religious rituals are man's attempt to gain access to a god or gods. The house cooks breakfast, gives announcements, prepares baths and entertainment. It is all useless, however, without the family to receive the service. The attendants can't access the gods. The altar, or house, remains empty.  

Another metaphor occurs when the house catches on fire. The house is designed to spray a green chemical to stop fires when they are detected. A metaphor is used to describe this: "Now there were twenty snakes whipping over the floor, killing the fire with a clear cold venom of green froth."

The snakes are the hoses which spout the green fire retardant. The chemical is compared to venom, as it attacks the fire, much as a snake attacks an enemy.  

How are George and Hazel alike in "Harrison Bergeron"?

Hazel and George Bergeron are only alike because of the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments. "The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal."

In the society of the year 2081, agents of the Handicapper General are vigilant in the enforcement of equality. With this forced equality, in which the highly intelligent such as George Bergeron must be burdened with "handicaps," such as a forty-seven pound bag of birdshot around his neck and sirens that...

Hazel and George Bergeron are only alike because of the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments. "The year was 2081, and everybody was finally equal."

In the society of the year 2081, agents of the Handicapper General are vigilant in the enforcement of equality. With this forced equality, in which the highly intelligent such as George Bergeron must be burdened with "handicaps," such as a forty-seven pound bag of birdshot around his neck and sirens that go off in his head that impede intelligent and significant thought, those who are the paragons of mediocrity, such as Diana Moon Glampers, who need not wear any handicap, can move into positions of authority and feel the equal of anyone else. Similarly, the average Hazel Bergeron, whose genetic make-up is her handicap, finds herself the equal of her husband George without wearing any handicaps at all.

Kurt Vonnegut's story of handicaps upon the strong, athletic, and intelligent illustrates how damaging and ineffectual attempts to make everyone equal can be. For, the weaker can not be made stronger without weakening those who are strong. There is no true "equality" in life.

Why are there so many Christians?

Currently, Christianity is the world's largest religion, with over two billion followers.  This is approximately a third of the world's population.  The highest percentage of Christians today live in North, Central, and South Americas.  Europe and Africa also have high percentages of Christians.  

After the death of Jesus, the closest followers (called the disciples or the apostles) traveled the regions nearby and helped establish churches.  These churches grew and the message of Christianity spread....

Currently, Christianity is the world's largest religion, with over two billion followers.  This is approximately a third of the world's population.  The highest percentage of Christians today live in North, Central, and South Americas.  Europe and Africa also have high percentages of Christians.  

After the death of Jesus, the closest followers (called the disciples or the apostles) traveled the regions nearby and helped establish churches.  These churches grew and the message of Christianity spread.  The apostle Paul traveled to the Roman Empire to spread the Christian message.  By the 300s AD, Christianity had become the Roman Empire's official religion.  The religion then spread throughout Europe and the Roman Catholic Church became strong and influential.  Many early European settlers in the New World were devout Christians.  Christians also began sending missionaries all over the world, including Asia and Africa.

In Coming of Age in Mississippi, what was the most significant single event in Anne's early life that shaped her to become an activist in the...

The most important formative event in Anne's early life was the murder of a 14-year-old African American boy from Chicago named Emmett Till. He was murdered in Mississippi while visiting relatives, and Anne heard fellow students speaking about it right before she entered high school. She then realized that she had spent so much time with her head in a schoolbook that she had not been aware of what was happening around her.

When Anne...

The most important formative event in Anne's early life was the murder of a 14-year-old African American boy from Chicago named Emmett Till. He was murdered in Mississippi while visiting relatives, and Anne heard fellow students speaking about it right before she entered high school. She then realized that she had spent so much time with her head in a schoolbook that she had not been aware of what was happening around her.

When Anne left her house later that same day to work for a white woman named Mrs. Burke, her mother told her not to mention Emmett Till, which made Anne wonder why her mother was so frightened. When Anne was at work, Mrs. Burke told her that Emmett Till was killed because he was from the North and did not know his place in Mississippi. From these experiences, Anne learned about racial injustice and the fear that white people tried to instill in African Americans. Anne writes, "Before Emmett Till’s murder, I had known the fear of hunger, hell, and the Devil. But now there was a new fear known to me—the fear of being killed just because I was black." This event shaped her identity and her activism in later years. 

How did the Enlightenment answer the question of what it means to be human, and what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose?

For a thorough exploration of this question, it might be helpful to consult the two-volume work, The Enlightenment by the late historian Peter Gay.

Gay's thesis hinges on the notion that the Enlightenment marked the "rise of Modern Paganism." He is explicit in saying that he is not using the term to refer to the sensuality of its proponents, notably Rousseau and Hume. Rather, he is referring to the era's adherence to Classical modes of...

For a thorough exploration of this question, it might be helpful to consult the two-volume work, The Enlightenment by the late historian Peter Gay.

Gay's thesis hinges on the notion that the Enlightenment marked the "rise of Modern Paganism." He is explicit in saying that he is not using the term to refer to the sensuality of its proponents, notably Rousseau and Hume. Rather, he is referring to the era's adherence to Classical modes of thought and living (Gay 9). 

The typical philosophe was "a cultivated man, a respectable scholar, and a scientific amateur" (Gay 14). In both their lives and in their writings, Enlightenment thinkers adopted the view that individual freedom, which sometimes meant abandoning one's country for a freer one—as Voltaire did when leaving France for England—was of the utmost importance. They did not marry, but kept what were then considered "mistresses." 

Living according to one's desire and being committed to the free expression of one's ideas were the highest purposes. This predictably meant that a thinker had to be as distant from the Church as possible. It also meant that one should be committed to cosmopolitanism, which involved engaging with as many different ideas and people as possible. The salons, or drawing rooms, of wealthy patrons and royals provided many opportunities to mingle with and exchange ideas with luminaries from around the Western world.

Why did the ghost appear in a dark room?

In "The Canterville Ghost," the ghost almost always appears in a dark room. We see this in Chapter Two when the ghost makes his first appearance before the family. He waits until all of the lights have been turned off before he rattles his chains along the corridor.

Arguably, the ghost appears in a dark room because he wants to maximise his chances of scaring the Otis family. By appearing at night and in the...

In "The Canterville Ghost," the ghost almost always appears in a dark room. We see this in Chapter Two when the ghost makes his first appearance before the family. He waits until all of the lights have been turned off before he rattles his chains along the corridor.

Arguably, the ghost appears in a dark room because he wants to maximise his chances of scaring the Otis family. By appearing at night and in the dark, the ghost has a better chance of frightening the new residents of Canterville Chase which is, in fact, the reason for his existence, as is made clear in Chapter Four:

"It was his solemn duty to appear in the corridor once a week, and to gibber from the large oriel window on the first and third Wednesdays in every month."

Ultimately, however, the ghost fails to frighten the family, despite his many appearances in the darkest recesses of the house. In an ironic twist, the ghost becomes the terrified victim of the Otis family and decides to leave the house in Chapter Five so that he can rest eternally in the Garden of Death. 

How does the "Star-Spangled Banner" elicit feelings of love and pride for one's country through both its words and instrumental pieces?

The context of the "Star-Spangled Banner" is that it was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 about the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. The American flag that remained during the battle, which ended in an American victory, inspired Key to write a poem called "Defence of Fort M'Henry." Though the poem is four stanzas in length, only the first stanza was used for the song.

The...

The context of the "Star-Spangled Banner" is that it was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 about the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. The American flag that remained during the battle, which ended in an American victory, inspired Key to write a poem called "Defence of Fort M'Henry." Though the poem is four stanzas in length, only the first stanza was used for the song.

The lyrics of the song celebrate the American flag, which was not really a symbol of the country until the War of 1812. That war, considered the second war of American independence, made the United States definitively free from British rule. The lyrics present vivid imagery, including the "dawn's early light." Even then, the "broad stripes and bright stars" remain visible. The flag is a symbol of American permanence and strength in the wake of attack. As the flag survives the battle, so too will the United States survive. The lyrics use a great deal of alliteration—the repetition of initial sounds—such as "the rocket's red glare," enhancing their poetic quality. 

The music was set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song" by English composer John Stafford Smith. As the range of the music is one octave and one fifth, it is considered a difficult song to sing. It requires vocal training to hit all the notes. The instrumental version, often played by military bands, is often considered very rousing. In 1917, John Philips Sousa and others made an official arrangement for the army and navy. This version was harmonized by Walter Damrosch and arranged by Sousa, making it exciting and expertly arranged.

In Things Fall Apart, would silence be characterized as positive or negative?

Throughout the novel, Chinua Achebe characterizes silence as being ominous and negative.In Chapter 7, Okonkwo and the boys work in "complete silence" until the locusts descend onto the village. Shortly after, Ezeudu tells Okonkwo that Umuofia has decided to kill Ikemefuna. When Okonkwo receives the news, he tells Ikemefuna that he will be taking him home but does not say a word to Nwoye. The next day, the men of the village begin their...

Throughout the novel, Chinua Achebe characterizes silence as being ominous and negative. In Chapter 7, Okonkwo and the boys work in "complete silence" until the locusts descend onto the village. Shortly after, Ezeudu tells Okonkwo that Umuofia has decided to kill Ikemefuna. When Okonkwo receives the news, he tells Ikemefuna that he will be taking him home but does not say a word to Nwoye. The next day, the men of the village begin their journey with Ikemefuna. Achebe writes, "A deathly silence descended on Okonkwo's compound" (58). As the group of men travel nearer to the outskirts of Umuofia, they become "silent." As they continue their journey, Achebe describes their surroundings and writes, "All else was silent" (58). The silence provides an ominous mood before Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna.

Later in the novel, Obierika travels to visit Okonkwo and tells him that the village of Abame has been wiped out by white men. Obierika tells him that the villagers of Abame killed a messenger who spoke a strange language, which provoked the other white men to destroy the village. When Uchendu asks Obierika what the white man said before he was killed, one of Obierika's companions says, "He said nothing" (139). Uchendu responds by saying, "Never kill a man who says nothing" (140). Again, silence is associated with impending destruction.

In Chapter 23, the leaders of Umuofia are taken captive, and the villagers are frightened. Achebe writes, "It was the time of the full moon. But that night the voice of children was not heard. . . Young men who were always abroad in the moonlight kept their huts that night. Their manly voices were not heard on the village paths as they went to visit their friends and lovers" (196). Eventually, the elders return and Okonkwo makes the fateful decision to kill a white messenger. The silence in the village is associated with negative emotions and provides an ominous mood to the story. Silence almost always precedes a destructive event throughout the novel and would be characterized as negative.

In The Catcher in the Rye, what are examples of Holden being phony or a hypocrite and going back on what he said?

In The Catcher in the Rye,narrator Holden Caulfield often discusses his disdain for "phonies," but also states that he enjoys lying. He describes himself as "the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life," and recounts times when he lied about going to the opera when he was walking to the store, and lied to Spencer about going to the gym when he needed an excuse to leave the room. Although Holden declares...

In The Catcher in the Rye, narrator Holden Caulfield often discusses his disdain for "phonies," but also states that he enjoys lying. He describes himself as "the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life," and recounts times when he lied about going to the opera when he was walking to the store, and lied to Spencer about going to the gym when he needed an excuse to leave the room. Although Holden declares a hatred for insincerity and dishonesty, his confession of this habit shows he is guilty of being a "phony," too. Another example of Holden being "phony" is his frequent complaints about the falseness of movies and D.B.'s decision to "prostitute himself" as a screenplay writer, despite the fact that Holden frequently attends movies and says he enjoys them, especially with his younger sister. He says, "if there's one thing I hate, it's the movies," but later describes several instances of enjoying movies with Phoebe, concluding that many of the movies they watched were "pretty good." Holden contradicts his own stated hatred for dishonesty and movies throughout the novel, showing the hypocrisy of his worldview.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, what pages depict loss of innocence?

In Chapter 19, Mr. Gilmer is questioning Tom Robinson, who is on the witness stand. Mr. Gilmer begins to patronize Tom Robinson by speaking to him disrespectfully. Mr. Gilmer repeatedly uses the term "boy" to address Tom Robinson. On page 265, Dill starts crying and Scout is forced to take him out of the courtroom. Dill explains to Scout why his is crying and says, "It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do em'...

In Chapter 19, Mr. Gilmer is questioning Tom Robinson, who is on the witness stand. Mr. Gilmer begins to patronize Tom Robinson by speaking to him disrespectfully. Mr. Gilmer repeatedly uses the term "boy" to address Tom Robinson. On page 265, Dill starts crying and Scout is forced to take him out of the courtroom. Dill explains to Scout why his is crying and says, "It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do em' that way. Hasn't anybody got any business talkin' like that---it just makes me sick." (Lee 266) Dill loses his innocence after witnessing the unfair treatment of Tom Robinson on the witness stand. Dill notices the difference in the way Atticus questioned Mayella and how Mr. Gilmer addressed Tom.

In Chapter 21, Judge Taylor reads the verdict of the Tom Robinson case..."Guilty." Scout looks at Jem as the verdict is read and describes his reaction, "his hands were white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders jerked as if each "guilty" was a separate stab between them." (Lee 282) This is the precise moment that Jem loses his innocence. In the following chapter, Jem displays his feelings about the verdict of the case by saying, "It ain't right, Atticus." (Lee 285)

In Chapter 26, Miss Gates, Scout's teacher, is describing Hitler's persecution of the Jews. She makes the comment, "Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced." (Lee 329) On page 331, Scout tells Jem that she overheard Miss Gates say negative things about black people as she was leaving the courthouse. Scout asks the important question, "How can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home?" (Lee 331) This question proves that Scout has lost her innocence because she recognizes Miss Gates' hypocrisy. Throughout the novel, Scout witnesses prejudice but does not elaborate on or question it. Following Miss Gates' explanation of how the Jews were persecuted, Scout has the insight to compare the similarities between the treatment of Jews, to the treatment of African Americans in her community.

In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," Bierce makes deliberate decisions about what information to reveal and when to reveal it. How do his...

By not revealing the truth, that Peyton Farquhar imagines the entirely of Part III in his head in the moments during which he falls from the bridge into the noose, until the very end of Part III, Bierce creates a great deal of suspense.  We get the sense that something is a little off when his sense of time slows down at the end of Part I and as he develops preternatural abilities to perceive...

By not revealing the truth, that Peyton Farquhar imagines the entirely of Part III in his head in the moments during which he falls from the bridge into the noose, until the very end of Part III, Bierce creates a great deal of suspense.  We get the sense that something is a little off when his sense of time slows down at the end of Part I and as he develops preternatural abilities to perceive details that human senses typically cannot or do not discern: the color of a man's eyes from quite far away, the flapping of insects' wings, dew sparkling on leaves, and so forth.  However, other details seem to suggest that Farquhar's experiences could be legitimate: mainly when he sees and hears the bullets whizzing past him underwater and when he feels the rope-burn around his neck (which would make sense if he was hanged and the rope broke).  Just as we are lulled into believing that he is about to reach his home, the rope becomes taught and his neck is broken.  By waiting to reveal this, Bierce leaves us in suspense for the majority of the story.

A runner covers a distance of 23.5 miles in 2hrs a. What is the runner's velocity? b What is the runner's velocity in m/s ? (1mi=1609.3)?

The first part of this question requires you to know the definition of velocity:

a) Velocity, in this case, is defined as distance traveled over a period of time (distance/time).

The runner moves a distance of 23.5 miles in 2 hours. The velocity of the runner is therefore (23.5 miles)/(2 hours), which is equal to 11.75 miles/hour.

The second part of this question requires you to know the conversion between miles and meters and hours...

The first part of this question requires you to know the definition of velocity:

a) Velocity, in this case, is defined as distance traveled over a period of time (distance/time).

The runner moves a distance of 23.5 miles in 2 hours. The velocity of the runner is therefore (23.5 miles)/(2 hours), which is equal to 11.75 miles/hour.

The second part of this question requires you to know the conversion between miles and meters and hours and seconds:

b) Meters are a unit of measurement, meaning that they have a direct conversion value to miles. That number is 1609.344 meters to 1 mile.

We now need the number of seconds in an hour. This conversion is well-known. There are sixty minutes in an hour and sixty seconds in a minute. This means that the number of seconds in an hour is (60 x 60) or 3600 seconds.

Now that we have the number of meters in a mile and the number of seconds in an hour, we are ready to convert our equation.

(11.75 miles/hour) * (1609.344 meters/1 mile) * (1 hour/3600 seconds) = 5.25 meters/second.

How did the colonies try to reach an agreement with Britain in nonviolent ways?

The colonies tried to protest against Great Britain in a variety of nonviolent ways, including mock funerals, boycotts, tea parties, and a refusal to export American goods or import British ones. They hoped these protests would convince Britain to consider their demands, but the protests were often met with harsh responses rather than compromise. 

American colonists held a mock funeral for liberty to protest the Stamp Act. They walked through the street in procession: church...

The colonies tried to protest against Great Britain in a variety of nonviolent ways, including mock funerals, boycotts, tea parties, and a refusal to export American goods or import British ones. They hoped these protests would convince Britain to consider their demands, but the protests were often met with harsh responses rather than compromise. 

American colonists held a mock funeral for liberty to protest the Stamp Act. They walked through the street in procession: church bells rang, flats were lowered, and people pretended to mourn. Once they reached the cemetery, they declared that there had been a mistake: liberty was alive. They buried a copy of the Stamp Act instead.

One of the boycotts that had an effect was implemented after the Townshend Act of 1767 placed a new tax on imported goods. Revolutionaries worked to convince people to boycott the taxed goods, which led to an increase in smuggling. As a result, Britain created admiralty courts to try these new smugglers without the need for a jury. The boycotts also boosted American manufacturing.

The Boston Tea Party is one of the most famous nonviolent acts of rebellion from the American Revolution. In response to the Tea Act, colonists took tea and threw it into the Boston Harbor in 1773. Britain responded by passing what the colonists called the Intolerable Acts.

The Intolerable Acts took an economic toll on Boston that caused the colonies to grow closer together, as other colonies sent money and goods to help Boston. As anti-British sentiment grew, colonists refused to export goods to Britain while also refusing imported shipments. This was one of the more effective methods of protest. Certain British courts even closed because they were not doing enough business—the American alternatives were reducing their profits.

Many nonviolent acts of rebellion preceded America's official declaration of independence from Britain. These involved economic and social protests.

What was foreshadowed by Madame Schacter's nightmare?

Madame Schächter's nightmare foreshadows the arrival of the Jews in Birkenau where the bodies of the prisoners are being burned.

Elie, his father, and the other Jewish people from the ghetto are made to ride in the cattle car of a train that departs from Hungary. They mistakenly believe that they are going somewhere else in this country to work in a brick factory. On this train is Madame Schächter, who has suffered the trauma...

Madame Schächter's nightmare foreshadows the arrival of the Jews in Birkenau where the bodies of the prisoners are being burned.

Elie, his father, and the other Jewish people from the ghetto are made to ride in the cattle car of a train that departs from Hungary. They mistakenly believe that they are going somewhere else in this country to work in a brick factory. On this train is Madame Schächter, who has suffered the trauma of having been separated from her husband and two older sons who were mistakenly deported with the first transport. Now, with only her small son accompanying her, Madame Schächter is a broken woman. As the eighty people who are crammed into the cattle car move in the dark, Madame Schächter suddenly cries out, "Fire! I see a fire! I see a fire!" Some of the men try to look out into the night, but they see nothing.

Despite efforts to quiet the poor woman—some even strike her—Madame Schächter repeats her cry. A few men tie and gag her because she has greatly disturbed and frightened many of the passengers. Finally, when the train stops at Auschwitz, the people hear that it is a good work camp because families are not separated, and only the younger Jews work in the factories. Some of the people even give thanks to God. The occupants then try to rest and some doze until suddenly Madame Schächter cries out in the dark, "Fire! Look at the flames! Over there!" Again, the others try to quiet her, and one man asks a German officer that she be moved to a hospital; the officer replies that she will soon be taken off the train. 

Around eleven o'clock at night the train begins to roll slowly. Suddenly, there is a scream, and Madame Schächter calls out:

"Jews, look! Look at the fire! Look at the flames!" 

This time the others do see flames jumping from a tall chimney into a black sky. There is the stench of burning flesh in the air. They have arrived in Birkenau.

How has the media's depiction of organized crime changed over time?

According to Klaus von Lampe, the term "organized crime" first developed in the  early 1920s, after the founding of the Chicago Crime Commission in 1919. The commission, organized by civic leaders, focused on reforming the criminal justice system and conditions in society that gave rise to crime. The public was seen as too soft on criminals, and the criminal justice system was seen as inept in persecuting criminals. In the mid 1920s and into the Depression, the...

According to Klaus von Lampe, the term "organized crime" first developed in the  early 1920s, after the founding of the Chicago Crime Commission in 1919. The commission, organized by civic leaders, focused on reforming the criminal justice system and conditions in society that gave rise to crime. The public was seen as too soft on criminals, and the criminal justice system was seen as inept in persecuting criminals. In the mid 1920s and into the Depression, the focus on organized crime turned to gangsters and syndicates who, like Al Capone, who was deemed the number one "Public Enemy." While earlier media coverage of organized crime focused on reforming local conditions to reduce crime, the media in the 1920s turned to vilifying gangsters, who became the focus of law enforcement nationwide.

By the 1950s, the Kefauver Commission under Estes Kefauver targeted organized crime nationwide and referred to its target as the "mafia" (also sometimes known as the "mob"). The media began to focus attention on Italian-Americans, who were seen as the main participants in the mafia. The term "organized crime" began to gain an ethnic connotation in the national media. By the late 1950s and beyond, the media's and the popular conception of organized crime and the Italian-American mafia became synonymous, popularized by such books and movies as The Godfather. Although organized crime had many different forms, the media began to use the term as a way to refer to the Italian-American mafia. 

Sources:

"The Concept of Organized Crime in Historical Perspective" by Klaus von Lampe. Paper presented at the international conference "Crime organisé international: Mythe, pouvoir, profit...", sponsored by the Institut de recherches interdisciplinaires, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland, 6 October 1999.

Leiva, A. & Bright, D.A. Trends Organ Crim (2015) 18: 311. doi:10.1007/s12117-015-9251-2.

Was Enkidu created to be Gilgamesh's friend?

No. Enkidu was not created to be Gilgamesh's friend.

Gilgamesh was ruler of Uruk, but he was not ruling wisely. In fact, he was ruling quite badly. He was overworking the men, and he was ravishing the women. In fact, the epic specifically says no girl was left a virgin.

The people of Uruk couldn't stop Gilgamesh on their own, so they prayed to their gods for help. The goddess Aruru made Enkidu as someone...

No. Enkidu was not created to be Gilgamesh's friend.

Gilgamesh was ruler of Uruk, but he was not ruling wisely. In fact, he was ruling quite badly. He was overworking the men, and he was ravishing the women. In fact, the epic specifically says no girl was left a virgin.

The people of Uruk couldn't stop Gilgamesh on their own, so they prayed to their gods for help. The goddess Aruru made Enkidu as someone to challenge Gilgamesh. He was made to be powerful enough to challenge Gilgamesh. He was strong, but wild, until he was tamed. Then the two men met, and immediately fought.

It was only after this powerful clash, in which they both earned the respect of the other man, that they became friends.

So, their friendship is a byproduct of how Enkidu was made and how Gilgamesh already was.

Atticus tells Scout what about most people?

I believe that this question is asking about the final lines of the entire book.  Atticus is putting Jem and Scout to bed, and Scout wants Atticus to read a story out loud.  Atticus agrees to read a story, and Scout falls asleep.  As Atticus is finally putting Scout to bed, she wakes up enough to say that she heard every word of the story.  To Scout's credit, she gives a decent summary.  She explains...

I believe that this question is asking about the final lines of the entire book.  Atticus is putting Jem and Scout to bed, and Scout wants Atticus to read a story out loud.  Atticus agrees to read a story, and Scout falls asleep.  As Atticus is finally putting Scout to bed, she wakes up enough to say that she heard every word of the story.  To Scout's credit, she gives a decent summary.  She explains how everybody thought it was "Stoner's Boy" messing everything up.  The people were angry at the boy until they finally saw him and realized that he didn't do anything.   

Yeah, an‘ they all thought it was Stoner’s Boy messin’ up their clubhouse an‘ throwin’ ink all over it an‘…

[...]

An‘ they chased him ’n‘ never could catch him ’cause they didn’t know what he looked like, an‘ Atticus, when they finally saw him, why he hadn’t done any of those things…

Scout ends by saying that the boy was actually "real nice."  Atticus responds by telling Scout that most people are real nice.  

Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.

It's a great close to this story because readers got to see Scout learn this lesson after having met Boo Radley. 

He had to stoop a little to accommodate me, but if Miss Stephanie Crawford was watching from her upstairs window, she would see Arthur Radley escorting me down the sidewalk, as any gentleman would do.

What can we infer about the girls based on what they want for Christmas?

Well, all of the girls except Beth grumble about being so poor, and Jo even feels that Christmas won't seem very Christmas-y without gifts to exchange. Apparently, Marmee thinks that presents seem like a trivial concern when there is such a terrible war going on and their father is away, serving the troops and in danger. Meg, Jo, and Amy's responses are, at first, somewhat materialistic, and they seem to indicate a certain lack of...

Well, all of the girls except Beth grumble about being so poor, and Jo even feels that Christmas won't seem very Christmas-y without gifts to exchange. Apparently, Marmee thinks that presents seem like a trivial concern when there is such a terrible war going on and their father is away, serving the troops and in danger. Meg, Jo, and Amy's responses are, at first, somewhat materialistic, and they seem to indicate a certain lack of maturity. 

The girls, at first, decide to buy themselves gifts: Jo wants to buy a book that she's coveted for a long time, Beth will buy new piano music, Amy wants some drawing pencils, and Meg "[thinks] regretfully about all the pretty things she [wants]." These desires tell us a bit about each girl's personality and tastes: Meg is somewhat vain and cares a great deal about her appearance; Jo doesn't care at all about her appearance, only her mind, and she lives to read and write; Beth is the sweet homebody whose desire for herself is actually something that will brighten the household for everyone in it, music; and Amy is rather self-centered, sort of a stereotypical artistic type. The girls aren't evil or mean or selfish to a fault. Rather, they just seem to lack the perspective granted older folks who've witnessed tragedy and felt pain, but the girls do seem to develop perspective quickly as they turn their attention toward treating Marmee and the Hummels generously.

In the novel Lord of the Flies, describe the "beast" that appears to come out of the sea.

In Chapter 5, Ralph holds an assembly to discuss why the boys are not following through with the tasks agreed upon during the meetings. He then begins to address the existence of the "beast." Ralph, Jack, and Piggy firmly believe that the "beast" does not exist. Then, a littlun named Percival mentions that the "beast" lives and comes out of the sea. Percival does not go into detail about the "beast" because he passes out...

In Chapter 5, Ralph holds an assembly to discuss why the boys are not following through with the tasks agreed upon during the meetings. He then begins to address the existence of the "beast." Ralph, Jack, and Piggy firmly believe that the "beast" does not exist. Then, a littlun named Percival mentions that the "beast" lives and comes out of the sea. Percival does not go into detail about the "beast" because he passes out after commenting that it lives in the sea. The boys then begin to argue about its identity before Jack and his hunters decide to leave the meeting. While Piggy attempts to rationalize its existence by thinking scientifically, only Simon understands its true identity. The "beast" in the water is only a figment of the boys' imagination. It represents the inner fears that they feel on the uninhabited island at night. The true nature of the "beast" is the inherent wickedness in each individual. It is a not a tangible being, but rather a symbol of their inherent evil. 

What are some philosophical interpretations of the poem "Mending Wall"?

That is an interesting question to ask. In this context, I am interpreting "philosophical" to mean some timeless and universal meanings for Frost's "Mending Wall." The two that I take away after reading it are that we should tamper with nature only for some good purpose and that the structures created by humankind may interfere with relationships amongst people more than they aid them.

The first few lines of the poem tell us that nature...

That is an interesting question to ask. In this context, I am interpreting "philosophical" to mean some timeless and universal meanings for Frost's "Mending Wall." The two that I take away after reading it are that we should tamper with nature only for some good purpose and that the structures created by humankind may interfere with relationships amongst people more than they aid them.

The first few lines of the poem tell us that nature does not like human-built barriers. The narrator says, "Something there is that doesn't love a wall" (line 1). That something is nature, which does its best to break up the wall with its cycles of freezing and warming. The narrator goes on to point out that, while there could be a purpose to building a wall, he clearly sees no such purpose in this situation.  Therefore, if we are going to build walls, or anything else, interfering with nature's natural course, we should do so only for a very good reason, to the benefit of someone or some ones. 

The narrator also sees that building can create a barrier and harm relationships:

Before I built a wall I'd ask to know

What I was walling in or walling out,

And to whom I was like to give offence (lines 32-35).

He understands that building a wall keeps people out as well as keeping something or someone in, and he sees that not having walls or other barriers might make for better neighbors than having walls. It is not too great a leap to infer from this that the narrator sees building upon the landscape as something potentially harmful to human relationships. If a structure is not enhancing our ability to get along with one another, perhaps it is a structure that should not be.

What are some pros and cons for space exploration?

Space exploration's values divide into two categories:  human curiosity, and free enterprise (capitalism).

The first category holds scientific inquiry -- how does the universe work? What are the chemical and physical properties of other objects (planets, moons, asteroids, etc.)? Is there life elsewhere? etc.

The free enterprise motive is in some ways stronger, because an immediate profit is a strong enticement. Can chemicals be harvested (and the absence of this possibility is what slowed down...

Space exploration's values divide into two categories:  human curiosity, and free enterprise (capitalism).

The first category holds scientific inquiry -- how does the universe work? What are the chemical and physical properties of other objects (planets, moons, asteroids, etc.)? Is there life elsewhere? etc.

The free enterprise motive is in some ways stronger, because an immediate profit is a strong enticement. Can chemicals be harvested (and the absence of this possibility is what slowed down the exploration of our moon, since the first astronauts did not find any evidence there)? Will persons pay to travel in space (as a thrill or unique experience)? Can any engineering or manufacturing processes benefit from being carried on in space (an example might be the manufacture of ball bearings)?

The "cons" of space exploration, besides the inherent risk of traveling in a rocket, etc., are the differences between "dreams" and reality --  a "romantic" imagination can take over a sound business mentality. Some "investors" in space exploration are actually only seeking historical fame. Of course we may not like what we find in space -- a dangerous alien "virus" or a superior life force, or a discovery that negates whole trains of mathematical and physical "truths," forcing mankind to abandon large ideas.

 And, of course, there are questions of religion vs. science. For example, my grandmother was disappointed at the moon walks, saying "we always thought the angels lived there." 

What warning does Chuchundra issue to Rikki?

Chuchundra, the sniveling, fearful muskrat who creeps around walls because he is too terrified to go into the center of a room, meets Rikki in the middle of the night. He insults Rikki by begging him not to kill him. He then insults him by suggesting that Nag might mistake Chuchundra for Rikki. He says, "Those who kill snakes get killed by snakes." He issues this warning to Rikki not to help keep Rikki safe...

Chuchundra, the sniveling, fearful muskrat who creeps around walls because he is too terrified to go into the center of a room, meets Rikki in the middle of the night. He insults Rikki by begging him not to kill him. He then insults him by suggesting that Nag might mistake Chuchundra for Rikki. He says, "Those who kill snakes get killed by snakes." He issues this warning to Rikki not to help keep Rikki safe but as a way of explaining why Rikki's presence gives him, Chuchundra, more reason to fear. 

Chuchundra starts to tell Rikki what Chua the rat told him--but breaks it off when he realizes he might be overheard by Nag. He says, "Nag is everywhere, Rikki-Tikki." Rikki threatens to bite Chuchundra to get him to talk. Even then, Chuchundra won't overtly reveal any information. But he does say, "Can't you hear, Rikki-Tikki?" This is enough of a clue for the clever mongoose. He listens carefully and can just make out the "faintest scratch-scratch" that lets him know that Nag is creeping into the bathroom of the bungalow. 

Although Chuchundra says what he says more in justification of his own fears than to help Rikki, his comments do serve as a warning to Rikki, and the muskrat does help Rikki locate the snake in the bungalow.

In Margaret Atwood's "Death by Landscape," how have the significant losses throughout Lois' life created isolation in her life?

In "Death By Landscape" loss and isolation are inextricably linked. Indeed, the main theme of Margaret Atwood's short story is arguably the way in which loss, if not properly dealt with, can lead to a profound sense of isolation.

Loss of one kind or another is a permanent fixture in Lois's life. Her husband Rob has passed away; her children have grown up and flown the nest; she finds herself constantly haunted by the memory of her lost childhood friend, Admin. All alone in her apartment, Lois is also isolated from nature, her only experience of which is a view of Lake Ontario from the window.

However, something inside her constantly draws her back to the wilderness, even though it cannot bring her any semblance of peace. She adorns her walls with wilderness landscapes, despite the fact that these paintings fill her with a sense of unease. As an adult, Lois now attempts to do something she could never do as a child: reconcile herself to the wilderness to which Admin was lost all those years ago. Sadly, the very nature of that landscape has now changed completely. No longer is it seen as a place of beauty, fun or recreation; now it takes on a truly sublime appearance, at once majestic and terrifying.

On the face of it, it may appear that Lois's behavior is masochistic. Why on earth would she surround herself with paintings depicting an environment which so unnerves her and evokes such deeply traumatic childhood memories? On closer inspection, however, we see that the overall picture is much more complicated. By hanging so many wilderness landscapes on the wall, Lois is attempting to create her own little world, a world of artificial nature which, unlike the wilderness of Camp Manitou, she hopes to control.

Unfortunately, she does not. Lois's admission that the paintings make her feel uneasy would seem to suggest that the artificial landscapes exert as much control over her as the real one continues to do.

At the same time, Lois looks upon her painting collection as a way of keeping Admin alive. We never find out exactly what happened to Admin, but Lois is so profoundly affected by her friend's disappearance that she grieves over her loss as if she were dead. Additionally, she can never fully come to terms with her loss. Why? She cannot because she has isolated herself from reality, meaning that she will never be able to confront the traumas of her troubled past and achieve some measure of peace.

So long as Lois fails to confront her demons, she will remain forever trapped in a dark place between a real wilderness and a fake one. Whichever way she turns, the painful loss she suffered and the debilitating isolation that goes with it will forever endure.