What main changes does Paul Fisher go through?

Paul Fisher goes through a variety of changes. He is a dynamic character who grows and develops throughout the book.

At the beginning of Tangerine, Paul was  a weak pushover who allows his brother to mercilessly bully him. He had low self-esteem due to Erik’s relentless taunting. However, at the end of Tangerine, he became an empowered and decisive young man with the power to  stand up for himself and his friends. These changes...

Paul Fisher goes through a variety of changes. He is a dynamic character who grows and develops throughout the book.

At the beginning of Tangerine, Paul was  a weak pushover who allows his brother to mercilessly bully him. He had low self-esteem due to Erik’s relentless taunting. However, at the end of Tangerine, he became an empowered and decisive young man with the power to  stand up for himself and his friends. These changes were primarily motivated by his move to Tangerine Middle School and his growing understanding of Erik's cruelty. 

 First of all, Paul's family moved to Tangerine from Houston. This major change should have allowed  Paul to begin anew, but his hopes for a self-reinvention were dashed by his parents’ focus on Erik’s burgeoning superstardom on the football team. It was a negative change, given that Tangerine held new dangers (muck fires and sink holes) and the same old problems as Houston; for example, Erik quickly got up to his old tricks and found new lackeys to torment Paul. Consequently, the first major change to positively impact Paul was his move to Tangerine Middle School, where he was able to make new friends, experience success on the soccer team, and gain the necessary confidence to confront Erik.

When Paul saw  Erik’s lackey, Arthur Bauer, demean his new Tangerine friends and fatally injure Luis Cruz, Paul underwent  a change of heart. He found himself no longer able to stomach Erik’s cruelty, and he joined his friends by attacking Erik and the football team at an awards ceremony. He also regained his memory of how he lost his sight back in Houston (Erik and one of his friends spray-painted his eyes.) Consequently, Paul gained both knowledge and power. 

Why did Federalists believe the Louisiana Purchase would weaken their country and its central government?

The Federalists were against the Louisiana Purchase because they thought that a large nation would be nearly impossible to govern from Washington D.C. They worried that the new land would splinter off and form its own country. Even if the new land did not form its own country, there was a possibility the new land would form new states that would have Democratic-Republican leanings which would weaken the Federalist base in New England even further.

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The Federalists were against the Louisiana Purchase because they thought that a large nation would be nearly impossible to govern from Washington D.C. They worried that the new land would splinter off and form its own country. Even if the new land did not form its own country, there was a possibility the new land would form new states that would have Democratic-Republican leanings which would weaken the Federalist base in New England even further.

The Federalists also had more selfish reasons for this. Thomas Jefferson made the purchase without getting prior Congressional support and the Federalists did not want the Democratic-Republicans to gain popularity for enlarging the nation. There was also the fact that the land deal was done with Napoleon. The United States gave Napoleon millions of dollars for this property—money that Napoleon could use in his war against Britain. Since the Federalists were Anglophiles, this was unacceptable. The Louisiana Purchase thus proved to be quite controversial in its day.  

How does the Constitution force Americans to compromise?

To be precise, the Constitution does not actually force Americans to compromise.  However, it does make it more likely that they will have to do so.  The Constitution does this because it sets up a system of checks and balances in our government.

Because of the way our Constitution sets up the government, power is divided among various governmental bodies.  Most obviously, power is divided between the House, the Senate, and the Executive Branch, which...

To be precise, the Constitution does not actually force Americans to compromise.  However, it does make it more likely that they will have to do so.  The Constitution does this because it sets up a system of checks and balances in our government.

Because of the way our Constitution sets up the government, power is divided among various governmental bodies.  Most obviously, power is divided between the House, the Senate, and the Executive Branch, which is led by the President.  In addition, states have some powers that the national government cannot take away from them.  Because of this, Americans are more likely to have to compromise.

Americans are more likely to have to compromise because people with the same ideas will not always control the House, the Senate, the Executive Branch, and the state governments.  Right now, for example, Republicans control the House and the Senate while the President is a Democrat.  In order for any law to be passed, both the Republicans who control Congress and the President must agree.  This means that they are more likely to have to compromise.

In reality, Americans still do not actually have to compromise.  We see this today as the Republicans and the Democrats have had a hard time passing any significant legislation.  They do not want to compromise, so they are willing to simply avoid passing laws.  However, our Constitution does make it more likely that they would compromise.  Our Constitution tells them that they will often have to compromise if they want to make any laws.  By setting up a system in which multiple governmental bodies have powers and in which those bodies can be controlled by different political parties, the Constitution makes it more likely that Americans will have to compromise. 

How is Stargirl different from other girls?

Stargirl isn't only different from other girls. Stargirl is different from everybody. I would say the main character trait that makes her stand out from everybody else is her self-confidence. She simply does not care what other people think. That is how she is most definitely different from other high school girls her age. Stargirl does not care about fashion trends. She wears what she wants to wear regardless of what is in fashion. She...

Stargirl isn't only different from other girls. Stargirl is different from everybody. I would say the main character trait that makes her stand out from everybody else is her self-confidence. She simply does not care what other people think. That is how she is most definitely different from other high school girls her age. Stargirl does not care about fashion trends. She wears what she wants to wear regardless of what is in fashion. She does not play favorites, as illustrated by her cheering for both sports teams and singing Happy Birthday to strangers. Additionally, Stargirl most definitely does not spread catty rumors about people the way Hillari Kimble does. Stargirl embodies love. She loves everybody equally, and she loves them even when they don't love her in return. That's how she is different.  

Why does Scout say telling the truth would be "sorta like shootin' a mockingbird"?

At the end of chapter 30, Sheriff Tate indirectly tells Atticus that Boo Radley is responsible for killing Bob Ewell but refuses to disclose this information to the community in order to protect Boo from receiving unwanted attention. Sheriff Tate tells Atticus,

"To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an‘ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight—to me, that’s a...

At the end of chapter 30, Sheriff Tate indirectly tells Atticus that Boo Radley is responsible for killing Bob Ewell but refuses to disclose this information to the community in order to protect Boo from receiving unwanted attention. Sheriff Tate tells Atticus,

"To my way of thinkin’, Mr. Finch, taking the one man who’s done you and this town a great service an‘ draggin’ him with his shy ways into the limelight—to me, that’s a sin. It’s a sin and I’m not about to have it on my head" (Lee, 280).

Atticus then looks down and Scout and asks her if she understands Sheriff Tate's reasoning, and Scout responds by metaphorically applying Atticus's early lesson concerning why it is considered a sin to kill a mockingbird. Scout tells her father,

"Well, it’d be sort of like shootin‘ a mockingbird, wouldn’t it?" (Lee, 280).

Scout's maturity and moral development are displayed when she metaphorically applies Atticus's lesson. Scout perceives Boo Radley as a symbolic mockingbird because he causes no harm, shares his joy with others, and is a defenseless being. Scout understands the true meaning of her father's lesson, which emphasizes the importance of protecting innocent, defenseless beings. Sheriff Tate knows that the attention Boo will receive from the community will cause him discomfort and purposely protects Boo by keeping his involvement a secret. 

What was the second book Liesel (from The Book Thief) stole?

The text tells us that Liesel owned a total of fourteen books. Of the fourteen, ten were most important to her in terms of her life story. We also learn that six of the books were stolen by Liesel.

The first book she stole was The Grave Digger's Handbook:A Twelve-Step Guide to Grave-Digging Success. 

The second book Liesel stole was The Shoulder Shrug. Liesel called the stealing of this book her "second success...

The text tells us that Liesel owned a total of fourteen books. Of the fourteen, ten were most important to her in terms of her life story. We also learn that six of the books were stolen by Liesel.

The first book she stole was The Grave Digger's Handbook: A Twelve-Step Guide to Grave-Digging Success. 

The second book Liesel stole was The Shoulder Shrug. Liesel called the stealing of this book her "second success story." The book was blue, with red writing on the cover. There was also a picture of a cuckoo bird under the title. The text tells us that Liesel stole this second book on April 20th, the day of the Fuhrer's birthday. She saved it from the fire before the book was burned by Nazi soldiers.

The protagonist of The Shoulder Shrug was Jewish, and Liesel was glad that he was portrayed in a positive light.

Why was Athens, Greece important in theatre history?

Western theater and theater criticism began in Athens. It originated from choral performance. In the archaic period, choruses would sing and dance as part of religious festivals, often recounting stories of gods and heroes. Thespis is credited with creating Greek drama by adding a separate role for an actor who engaged in dialogue with the chorus. Aeschylus added a second actor, allowing for more realistic and flexible forms of dialogue. Of the many known dramatic...

Western theater and theater criticism began in Athens. It originated from choral performance. In the archaic period, choruses would sing and dance as part of religious festivals, often recounting stories of gods and heroes. Thespis is credited with creating Greek drama by adding a separate role for an actor who engaged in dialogue with the chorus. Aeschylus added a second actor, allowing for more realistic and flexible forms of dialogue. Of the many known dramatic works, those of three great tragic playwrights, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, continue to be performed and greatly influenced the development of western tragedy.

The Old Comedy of Aristophanes and satyr plays were equally innovative, serving not just as entertainment but as a form of social critique. They were bawdy and imaginative and also have had a significant influence.

Finally, New Comedy, especially as preserved in the plays in Menander, was the origin of romantic comedy, featuring ordinary people with plots often centering on the trials and tribulations of young lovers leading to happy endings. These plays influenced Roman comedy, and thence much of modern drama.