What are the primary mental health issues General Zaroff faces in "The Most Dangerous Game"?

General Zaroff, the antagonist in Richard Connel's short story "The Most Dangerous Game" is a criminal sociopath. A sociopath has a personality disorder which may cause extremely anti-social behavior and a lack of any remorse or conscience. While on the surface, Zaroff appears to be a cosmopolitan and highly civilized individual, he is actually a ruthless murderer who hunts men on his remote island.

When he first meets Rainsford he complains of becoming bored with...

General Zaroff, the antagonist in Richard Connel's short story "The Most Dangerous Game" is a criminal sociopath. A sociopath has a personality disorder which may cause extremely anti-social behavior and a lack of any remorse or conscience. While on the surface, Zaroff appears to be a cosmopolitan and highly civilized individual, he is actually a ruthless murderer who hunts men on his remote island.

When he first meets Rainsford he complains of becoming bored with hunting. He explains his problem:

"They were no match at all for a hunter with his wits about him, and a high-powered rifle. I was bitterly disappointed. I was lying in my tent with a splitting headache one night when a terrible thought pushed its way into my mind. Hunting was beginning to bore me! And hunting, remember, had been my life. I have heard that in America businessmen often go to pieces when they give up the business that has been their life." 

Because Zaroff has no scruples and lacks a conscience he provides himself with "big game" which presents a challenge. He hunts the men he captures when their ships run a ground on the rocky shore along the coast of his island.

Zaroff may also be suffering from the delusion that what he is doing is perfectly legitimate. He claims he is a superior human being preying on lesser sorts who are not worthy of life. He tells Rainsford:

"Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and, if needs be, taken by the strong. The weak of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure. I am strong. Why should I not use my gift? If I wish to hunt, why should I not? I hunt the scum of the earth: sailors from tramp ships--lassars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels--a thoroughbred horse or hound is worth more than a score of them." 

At the end of the story Zaroff is reading from the works of Marcus Aurelius, confirming his delusion. The Roman emperor and philosopher prided himself on a stoic ideology which focused on virtue and the highest caliber of ethical behavior, far removed from the savagery of the general.   

What is revealed by studying the scene where Bathsheba hives the bees in Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy?

Chapter 27, “Hiving the Bees,” further establishes the beginnings of a relationship between Bathsheba and Sergeant Frank Troy by hinting at their romantic attraction for one another. This idea is made clear by the behavior of the characters and described similarities between them and the bees. 

The chapter begins by describing why the bees are difficult to capture: though “sometimes throughout a whole season all the swarms would alight on the lowest attainable bough” they...

Chapter 27, “Hiving the Bees,” further establishes the beginnings of a relationship between Bathsheba and Sergeant Frank Troy by hinting at their romantic attraction for one another. This idea is made clear by the behavior of the characters and described similarities between them and the bees. 

The chapter begins by describing why the bees are difficult to capture: though “sometimes throughout a whole season all the swarms would alight on the lowest attainable bough” they sometimes would “make straight off to the upper-most member of some tall, gaunt costard, or quarrenden, and there defy all invaders who did not come armed with ladders and staves to take them. This was the case at present.” Since the bees are staying only at the highest branches of the apple trees, which require more effort from anyone attempting to capture them, they are harder to get. If we compare this behavior to Bathsheba, we can see similarities in her description: when she decides to retrieve the bees, she “made herself impregnable with armour of leather gloves, straw hat, and large gauze veil -- once green but now faded to snuff colour -- and ascended a dozen rungs of the ladder.” Bathsheba dons “armor” and climbs high on the ladder, which makes it difficult for anyone to help her. Just as the bees fight against “invaders,” Bathsheba is also “armored.” The similar descriptions of both the bees and Bathsheba show they are about to battle each other, but such descriptions also imply that anyone interested in capturing either the bees or her will have to put forth a lot of effort, something which Troy is prepared to do as a solider and because of his romantic interest in Bathsheba.  

As Troy begins assisting Bathsheba with capturing the bees, she takes careful precautions regarding her outfit and presentation; however, it is clear that these are for Troy’s benefit and not for protection from the bees. When he first arrives, Bathsheba drops the hive and “pulled the skirt of her dress tightly round her ankles in a tremendous flurry …” Her action mimics that of a bee swarm, behaving in a “tremendous flurry,” not because she is being stung but instead because she is aware that Troy sees her. Later in the passage, Troy is above her knocking bees toward the ground while “she made use of an unobserved minute whilst his attention was absorbed in the operation to arrange her plumes a little.” If she needed to rearrange her clothes because she was being stung, it seems likely that she would do so immediately and not wait for “an unobserved moment.” Thus, it is more likely that she wants to look good for Troy when he finishes with the bees and he focuses his attention on her.

Upon capturing the bees, Troy says that “‘holding up this hive makes one’s arm ache worse than a week of sword-exercise.’” This dialogue continues the battle language from earlier in the chapter to suggest that Troy has been victorious in his conquering of the bees. Since we know from the reading that Bathsheba behaves similar to the bees, Troy’s description suggests that he will also have luck conquering her heart -- especially since this creates the opportunity for the romantic scene in the next chapter.

How does Mordred divert from the code of chivalry?

The chivalric code dates from the Dark Ages of Britain, and was recorded in writing in the eighth century AD. Because this code was in use during the time of the Emperor Charlemagne, it is known as Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry. The medieval document known as the "Song of Roland" mentions the seventeen rules by which a knight was expected to live his life. Of these seventeen items, twelve rules apply to chivalry as opposed...

The chivalric code dates from the Dark Ages of Britain, and was recorded in writing in the eighth century AD. Because this code was in use during the time of the Emperor Charlemagne, it is known as Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry. The medieval document known as the "Song of Roland" mentions the seventeen rules by which a knight was expected to live his life. Of these seventeen items, twelve rules apply to chivalry as opposed to combat, which demonstrates the importance of this code of behavior and ethics. The four specific concepts of chivalry emphasized by the Order of the Knights of the Round Table in the legend of King Arthur were Honor, Honesty, Valor and Loyalty. The seventeen rules described in the "Song of Roland" can be applied to the events in Le Morte D'Arthur. Mordred is generally disloyal and dishonorable because of his disrespectful behavior towards King Arthur.

Mordred, the son of Arthur, is conceived in an act of deception when the witch Morgause, his half sister, seduces him by tricking him into thinking that she is his wife Guinevere. Mordred, like Arthur, is brought up in secret and told that he has a rightful place in the kingdom. But his sense of entitlement (encouraged by his mother, who despises Arthur) is misplaced. In his arrogance he fails to "refrain from the wanton giving of offense," one of the seventeen rules of chivalry. He also shows greed in wanting to rule the kingdom and its wealth, therefore violating the rule of chivalry that states a knight must "despise pecuniary reward."

The main rule of chivalry violated by Mordred is his failure to "serve the liege lord in valor and faith" (liege is another word for king). He also fails to "obey those placed in authority." Mordred believes he has a right to the crown, but because he is of illegitimate birth, Arthur cannot grant him the right to the throne (even though Arthur has no other children). Mordred refuses this ruling and is determined to take Camelot by force, deliberately disobeying his king and betraying the code of honor.

What are some of the causes of World War II?

There were several causes of World War II. One cause was the German anger with the harsh Versailles Treaty. Germany believed the Versailles Treaty treated them unfairly. This treaty required Germany to pay the Allies $33 billion in reparations. It also required Germany to accept the responsibility for World War I. Germany felt this was unfair because Austria-Hungary started the war by declaring war on Serbia.

Two additional causes of World War II were the...

There were several causes of World War II. One cause was the German anger with the harsh Versailles Treaty. Germany believed the Versailles Treaty treated them unfairly. This treaty required Germany to pay the Allies $33 billion in reparations. It also required Germany to accept the responsibility for World War I. Germany felt this was unfair because Austria-Hungary started the war by declaring war on Serbia.

Two additional causes of World War II were the Allies ignoring the violations of the Versailles Treaty by Germany and the aggressive actions of the Axis Powers prior to the start of the war. Germany began to violate the Versailles Treaty by building up its military. It also moved its military into the Rhineland. Both actions weren’t allowed in the Versailles Treaty. The Axis Powers became aggressive in the 1930s. Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and China in 1937. Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935. Germany annexed Austria in 1938. Very little was done when these actions occurred. Then, the leaders of Great Britain and France appeased Germany by allowing Germany to take the Sudetenland in 1938 with an agreement called the Munich Pact. When Germany broke their promise to take no more land by taking the rest of Czechoslovakia in 1939, the stage for World War II was set. Italy also invaded Albania in 1939.

Other factors led to the start of World War II. Intense feelings of nationalism emerged in Germany, Japan, and Italy. These countries believed they were superior to other countries and could do almost anything they wanted to do. They also build up their military and had plans to use it. Along with the desire to gain more land, these factors were very significant in leading to the events that were involved in the start of World War II.

There were many factors involved in the start of World War II.

What are two early-morning routines seen in Act 1 of Our Town?

Our Town is an exceptional play in that it has a seemingly omniscient narrator in the person of the character called the Stage Manager. He tells the audience about the past, present and future. In the opening act the town is just starting to wake up and some of the early risers are going about their daily routines. The Stage Manager tells the audience:

The First Act shows a day in  our town. The day is May 7, 1901. The time is just before dawn.

One of the routines is seen when Joe Crowell, Jr. comes around delivering the newspaper called Sentinel. He is an eleven-year-old boy who is "hurling imaginary newspapers into doorways." In this play there are few settings or props, and a lot of the actions are imaginary ones. The State Manager shows his omniscience by telling the audience that World War I broke out and Joe Crowell died in France. The war would have broken out about fourteen years later, but America would not have gotten into it until 1917, when Woodrow Wilson was President. Joe Crowell would have been around twenty-six.

Another routine event is the appearance of Howie Newsome delivering the milk. He is still using a horse-drawn wagon in those days. His part of his routine is described in the stage directions.

Howie Newsome, about thirty, in overalls, comes along Main Street from the left, walking beside an invisible horse and wagon and carrying an imaginary rack with milk bottles. The sound of clinking milk bottles is heard.

Howie's horse and wagon are imaginary, and he is delivering imaginary milk bottles held in an imaginary rack. The audience soon gets accustomed to the unusual production technique which requires their own participation through their imaginations. Both the delivery of the small-town newspaper and the delivery of the morning milk are intended to show the simplicity and uneventfulness of life in this little New Hampshire town called Grover's Corners, population 2,642.

In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, how do the children react to Mayella's testimony?

Scout pitied Mayella.  She found Mayella to be ignorant, and she knew that she was poor.  In fact, everyone in the Ewell family was poor.  Scout seemed to be the most moved out of the three children by Mayella's story.  Dill and Jem yawned when Mayella finished testifying.  They did not react otherwise.  

When Atticus began questioning Mayella, he treated her with politeness.  He addressed her as he would any lady.  Scout observed that...

Scout pitied Mayella.  She found Mayella to be ignorant, and she knew that she was poor.  In fact, everyone in the Ewell family was poor.  Scout seemed to be the most moved out of the three children by Mayella's story.  Dill and Jem yawned when Mayella finished testifying.  They did not react otherwise.  

When Atticus began questioning Mayella, he treated her with politeness.  He addressed her as he would any lady.  Scout observed that Mayella may have never been treated in such a respectful way before.  Mayella was offended by the polite words Atticus used.  She thought he was making a mockery of her.  Scout knew her father well.  She knew that he treated everyone with respect.  Mayella was no different.  As she listened and watched, Scout "wondered if anybody had ever called her 'ma'am,' or 'Miss Mayella' in her life; probably not, as she took offense to routine courtesy" (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 18).  When Mayella was finished speaking, Scout "discovered that [she] had been sitting on the edge of the long bench."  

What did Bud carry in his suitcase and why were those items important to him?

Bud carries around several important items in his suitcase throughout the novel. These items are significant to Bud because they remind him of his mother who passed away when he was six, and he believes they are clues that will lead him to his biological father. Bud carries around five flyers that depict Herman E. Calloway, a famous musician, and his band performing at various locations.Bud believes that Herman E. Calloway is his biological...

Bud carries around several important items in his suitcase throughout the novel. These items are significant to Bud because they remind him of his mother who passed away when he was six, and he believes they are clues that will lead him to his biological father. Bud carries around five flyers that depict Herman E. Calloway, a famous musician, and his band performing at various locations. Bud believes that Herman E. Calloway is his biological father. Bud also carries around a picture of his mother wearing a gigantic cowboy hat, while she is sitting on a small horse. Bud keeps this photo of his mother in an envelope and recalls why she looks so sad in the photo. Bud also keeps five rocks that belonged to his mother in a brown tobacco bag. These rocks have locations and dates written on them. The rocks come from places where Herman E. Calloway has performed. At the end of the novel, Bud learns that Herman's daughter asked him to bring back a rock when he went to play a concert out of town one day. Ever since, Herman has collected a rock at each place that he plays. Bud uses these items to guide him to Grands Rapids where he meets his grandfather, Herman E. Calloway.

Where was Daniel hidden in Hezron's house?

In Chapter 6 of the Bronze Bow, a Roman soldier disrespects Daniel while Daniel is drinking at a well. Daniel loses his temper and throws the bowl of water in the Roman soldier's face and begins to run away. The soldier manages to strike Daniel with his spear, injuring Daniel's ribs. Daniel flees and narrowly escapes the pursuing soldiers. He eventually makes his way to Hezron's house where Malthace meets him at the door....

In Chapter 6 of the Bronze Bow, a Roman soldier disrespects Daniel while Daniel is drinking at a well. Daniel loses his temper and throws the bowl of water in the Roman soldier's face and begins to run away. The soldier manages to strike Daniel with his spear, injuring Daniel's ribs. Daniel flees and narrowly escapes the pursuing soldiers. He eventually makes his way to Hezron's house where Malthace meets him at the door. Thace tells him that Joel and Hezron will be home soon, so she hides Daniel in a closet. Malthace gives Daniel wine and nurses his wounds until Joel arrives. Joel is worried that a servant will open the closet and discover that Daniel is hiding in it. Joel mentions to Daniel that there is a narrow space between two walls in the house that he discovered as a child. Malthace and Joel drag Daniel on a mat into the passage between the two walls. The space is only two cubits wide, which is equivalent to three feet. Thacia gives Daniel sacks of grain for pillows and covering. Daniel spends five days and five nights in the small passage until he regains enough strength to leave Hezron's house.

What happens after the anthem in The Hunger Games?

After the anthem plays, the images of the dead appear in the sky.

During the Hunger Games, the anthem is played each night.  After the anthem is played, the cannon goes off and a picture of the tributes who died that day appears in the sky for all of the others to see.  That way they can keep track of their competition.

Night has just come when I hear the anthem that proceeds the death...

After the anthem plays, the images of the dead appear in the sky.

During the Hunger Games, the anthem is played each night.  After the anthem is played, the cannon goes off and a picture of the tributes who died that day appears in the sky for all of the others to see.  That way they can keep track of their competition.

Night has just come when I hear the anthem that proceeds the death recap. Through the branches I can see the seal of the Capitol, which appears to be floating in the sky. … I take a deep breath as the faces of the eleven dead tributes begin and tick them off one by one on my fingers. (Ch. 11)

The purpose of the anthem and the pictures is to remind everyone of the stakes of the game and how many players are left.  It is a macabre display, and is intended to frighten the remaining tributes while it entertains those watching at home.

Katniss uses the anthem several times to cover noise she is making, and to determine who is alive and who isn’t.  For example, when the dogs drag off Cato she realizes that he is not dead yet because she doesn’t hear the cannon and see his picture.

Night falls and the anthem plays and there’s no picture of Cato in the sky, only the faint moans coming through the metal beneath us. The icy air blowing across the plain reminds me that the Games are not over and may not be for who knows how long, and there is still no guarantee of victory. (Ch. 25)

Even though Katniss and Peeta are the only ones to survive the games, at the last minute an announcement is made that says that two winners are no longer allowed.  This means that one is supposed to kill the other.  However, Katniss is not willing to kill Peeta.  She chooses to use the poisoned berries she found to blackmail the Capital into making them both winners by threatening to commit dual suicide.

The anthem and cannons are just another mind game played on the tributes.  Although it is useful information to know who died on a given day and how many competitors are left, the gruesome display serves to entertain the masses and terrorize the participants.

What does the Declaration of Independence say?

The Declaration begins by describing the purpose of government. It argues that all men have basic rights, and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights--"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It further says that if governments, which are established by men, fail to uphold these rights, then it is the right of the people to "alter or abolish" those governments. It then proceeds to list a series of grievances against the...

The Declaration begins by describing the purpose of government. It argues that all men have basic rights, and that the purpose of government is to protect these rights--"life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It further says that if governments, which are established by men, fail to uphold these rights, then it is the right of the people to "alter or abolish" those governments. It then proceeds to list a series of grievances against the King, who is made to stand for all of Great Britain. It accuses him of taxing the colonies without their consent, of raising slaves and Native Americans up to fight against the colonists, of dissolving assemblies and failing to approve laws that would be good for the colonists, among many other accusations. Because the king had violated their rights in these ways, the colonies assert that they will, through the delegates chosen to attend the Continental Congress, declare their independence from Britain, and that the Declaration is their formal announcement of this action to the world. So, very briefly, it is an assertion of rights, a statement of the foundations of government, a list of the ways in which the king had violated their rights, and a formal declaration of independence.

What events set the stage for World War II to begin in Europe?

There were several events that led to the outbreak of World War II. One event was the Versailles Treaty, which was very harsh on Germany. Germany had to pay the Allies $33 billion in reparations. They also had to accept the responsibility for World War I. Germany resented these harsh actions, and when Germany struggled economically in the 1920s, Adolf Hitler vowed to get revenge.

Other events that led to the start of World War...

There were several events that led to the outbreak of World War II. One event was the Versailles Treaty, which was very harsh on Germany. Germany had to pay the Allies $33 billion in reparations. They also had to accept the responsibility for World War I. Germany resented these harsh actions, and when Germany struggled economically in the 1920s, Adolf Hitler vowed to get revenge.

Other events that led to the start of World War II were the aggressive actions of Germany, Japan, and Italy coupled with the lack of an Allied response to these actions. Germany began to build up its military, which was done in violation of the Versailles Treaty. In 1936, Germany moved its military into the Rhineland, which also violated the Versailles Treaty. Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 and invaded China in 1937. Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935. Germany annexed Austria in 1938. The Allies had little to no response to all of these actions, mainly because the Allies were also dealing with effects of the Great Depression and weren’t prepared to go to war so soon after World War I ended. When Germany wanted to annex the Sudetenland in northwest Czechoslovakia, the leaders of Britain and France agreed to give Germany this land in return for a promise to take no more land, with an agreement known as the Munich Pact.

World War II became much more of a reality in the late 1930s. Germany broke the Munich Pact in 1939 when Germany took the rest of Czechoslovakia. The leaders of Great Britain and France responded by saying any more aggressive actions would lead to war. Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union in August 1939. This agreement would prevent a two-front war for Germany. In September, Germany invaded Poland leading to the start of World War II.

There were many factors that contributed to the outbreak of World War II.

Why was The Great Gatsby important during the Jazz Age? How was it influential and what is its meaning?

The Great Gatsby represented all the excesses and exuberances of the Jazz Age, the time between the end of World War I and the stock market crash in 1929 that led to the Great Depression. The novel reflects the spirit and the texture of life in that period. As readers, we witness the sense of optimism, consumerism and good times that characterize the Jazz Age, primarily through Gatsby's wild parties. The parties show the period's rebellion against Prohibition: in this novel, the booze runs freely, and Gatsby builds his fortune, in part, on bootlegging. The novel also depicts the new sexual freedom of the age, as well as the New Woman, represented most fully by Jordan Baker, an athletic golfer with short hair (a new and daring style for women in the 1920s) and the freedom to come and go as she pleases.

For the first time, millions of Americans owned cars, and cars become an integral part of Gatsby's story, carrying legions of guests to Gatsby's parties on the edge of Long Island, causing Myrtle Wilson and Tom Buchanan to meet through her husband's gas station, carrying our main characters to New York City and finally, creating tragedy. 

The Great Gatsby became most influential during (and after) World II, when the army gave out copies to the troops. The book did not sell as well as expected when first published, but two decades later came to represent a lost and hopeful period of American life.

The book captures the flavor of the Jazz Age like no other, by one who lived through it and was one of its chief representatives. Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, young, beautiful, partying and audacious, were the face of a new age that rejected Victorian repression--and this novel also became its face.

However, the novel's meaning is more complex. While writing it in 1925, Fitzgerald couldn't have foreseen the stock market crash that ended the decade-long party, but he did show the undercurrents of careless and excess that, in the end, would undo the economy. Beneath the celebration, the book is a somber look at the problems caused when we base our lives on illusions, in the champagne bubble of a dream. 

Could Shylock have been a hero in The Merchant Of Venice?

Shylock could have been a hero if he had been merciful towards Antonio and extended him the courtesy by not being insistent that the Christian should be punished for forfeiting on the bond.

In terms of their agreement , Shylock lent Bassanio three thousand ducats, whilst Antonio stood as his surety. In terms of the contract, the bond was to be paid within three months and if Antonio forfeited, Shylock could then demand a pound of his flesh. Antonio, a wealthy sea merchant, was confident that he would easily meet the terms of their arrangement and willingly signed the deed, against Bassanio's wishes.

At the end of the agreed term, Antonio suffered a few serious mishaps. None of his ships had arrived back safely and he was unsure of their fate. It was assumed that the ships had either been wrecked, looted by pirates or caught in some natural disaster at sea. Salarino divulged some of what he had heard to Salanio;

Why, yet it lives there uncheck'd that Antonio hath
a ship of rich lading wrecked on the narrow seas;
the Goodwins, I think they call the place; a very
dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcasses of many
a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip
Report be an honest woman of her word.

Tubal also reported the same to Shylock later. The moneylender was overjoyed on hearing of Antonio's misfortune. The end result was that Antonio could not settle his debt in time and was thus forfeit with regards to the bond and had to pay the penalty - one pound of his flesh, as had been agreed..

Shylock did not display his Christian debtor even an ounce of compassion or empathy. He took a very harsh approach and had Antonio jailed, pending a trial before the duke. He was merciless in his treatment of the unfortunate Antonio, to such an extent that he even scolded the jailer for allowing Antonio, what he believed, were unwarranted freedoms.

Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy;
This is the fool that lent out money gratis:
Gaoler, look to him. 

When Antonio asked to speak to him, he refused to listen, insisting that he would have his bond. He relentlessly pursued this course even when the duke, Portia and others beseeched him to show mercy. He refused even an offer of twice the amount owed, when Gratiano offered it. It is clear that Shylock was driven by vengeance and malevolence, inspired by his deep hate for Antonio.

If Shylock were compassionate, he would have agreed to other terms when Antonio met his misfortune. He could have either extended the loan period or have told Antonio that he would accept settlement from whichever source it came. He would have been regarded as a true gentleman and would have gained the respect of all and sundry and more importantly, the gratitude and respect of Antonio, for not insisting on restitution. he would not have lost anything since Antonio later recovered his fortune.

However, he chose to self-destruct. So deep was his malice that he refused any compromise and, in the end, was severely punished for it.

In the final stanza of the poem, we discover that the lovers are soon to be parted. What effect, if any, do you suppose this impending separation...

“A Red, Red Rose” is a poem of love everlasting—though it can be interpreted ironically, the speaker here seems sincere; he is caught in the deepest throes of his passion, such that he will love his “bonnie lass … Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, / And the rocks melt wi’ the sun.” If we take the speaker at his word, and believe his earnest claims, it would be safe to assume that,...

“A Red, Red Rose” is a poem of love everlasting—though it can be interpreted ironically, the speaker here seems sincere; he is caught in the deepest throes of his passion, such that he will love his “bonnie lass … Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, / And the rocks melt wi’ the sun.” If we take the speaker at his word, and believe his earnest claims, it would be safe to assume that, though the lovers are being rent apart, their love will endure.

The two are being separated because the speaker is going away. Why or where we can only guess, but it does seem that he has every intention of returning to his love—he says “fare thee weel awhile,” indicating an impermanence to his journey, and states hopefully that “I will come again, my luve.” These could be empty words meant to appease a lover stricken at his absence, or it could be hope, or it could have been the plan all along—we have no way of knowing. Perhaps he is a sailor, and is embarking on a long voyage— there is much imagery that recalls the sea in the poem, and what other way would there have been at the time the poem was written to travel “ten thousand mile” than by boat? Maybe the distance is not merely a hyperbole of passion. I like to take this poem at face value, and believe that the speaker truly believes he will return, and that both he and the woman he leaves behind wait for each other, keeping their love intact across the miles.

In The Minister's Black Veil, why did the minister's reflection cause him to run into the darkness?

The narrator tells us that when Mr. Hooper caught sight of his own reflection, just about to toast the happiness of the newly-married couple, he drops his wine on the ground and runs out into the night because "the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others."  In other words, Mr. Hooper had the same reaction to seeing himself as others have when they see him.  When he...

The narrator tells us that when Mr. Hooper caught sight of his own reflection, just about to toast the happiness of the newly-married couple, he drops his wine on the ground and runs out into the night because "the black veil involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed all others."  In other words, Mr. Hooper had the same reaction to seeing himself as others have when they see him.  When he first began to wear the veil, members of his congregation had a hard time believing that it really was their "good Mr. Hooper" behind it.  Further, one woman said, "'He has changed himself into something awful, only by hiding his face.'"  Children run away from him, he stops receiving dinner invitations, and even his fiancee leaves him as a result of how uncomfortable the black veil makes them.  When Mr. Hooper sees his own reflection, then, he has a similarly visceral response to its horror, and this causes him to run away from the sight of himself.

What is odd about Atticus' behavior, and why does Jem follow him in town?

In Chapter 15, a group of men show up at Atticus' house to discuss their concerns about Tom's upcoming trial and their concerns about Atticus having taken the case. Link Deas tells Atticus that he has "everything to lose" by taking Tom's case. Atticus responds, "Do you really think so?" Scout says this is Atticus' dangerous question. In other words, Atticus asks this question in the attempt to get the other person to rethink things. 

...

In Chapter 15, a group of men show up at Atticus' house to discuss their concerns about Tom's upcoming trial and their concerns about Atticus having taken the case. Link Deas tells Atticus that he has "everything to lose" by taking Tom's case. Atticus responds, "Do you really think so?" Scout says this is Atticus' dangerous question. In other words, Atticus asks this question in the attempt to get the other person to rethink things. 

This was Atticus’s dangerous question. “Do you really think you want to move there, Scout?” Bam, bam, bam, and the checkerboard was swept clean of my men. “Do you really think that, son? Then read this.” Jem would struggle the rest of an evening through the speeches of Henry W. Grady. 

The next evening, Atticus goes out for the evening but he does something that strikes Jem and Scout as quite odd: 

We parted at suppertime, and after our meal Jem and I were settling down to a routine evening, when Atticus did something that interested us: he came into the livingroom carrying a long electrical extension cord. There was a light bulb on the end. 

Atticus did have a custom of going for a walk during the evenings but the extension cord and the light suggest something strange to Jem. This is why he follows Atticus downtown. Scout and Dill go with Jem and they discover that Atticus has gone to guard the Maycomb jail where Tom is being held. A mob does show up, presumably to lynch Tom, but Atticus and the intervening children convince the mob to go home. 

Why is diamond used as an abrasive?

Diamond is useful as an abrasive because of its hardness. It is the hardest naturally occurring mineral, rated at 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Diamond is also chemically inert to most corrosives. These two properties make it strong and wear-resistant. Diamond's hardness is a result of its strong covalent bonds. It's a covalent network solid with each carbon atom covalently bonded to four surrounding carbon atoms, creating a strong crystal lattice. 

Diamond is...

Diamond is useful as an abrasive because of its hardness. It is the hardest naturally occurring mineral, rated at 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Diamond is also chemically inert to most corrosives. These two properties make it strong and wear-resistant. Diamond's hardness is a result of its strong covalent bonds. It's a covalent network solid with each carbon atom covalently bonded to four surrounding carbon atoms, creating a strong crystal lattice. 

Diamond is used for drilling, cutting, grinding and polishing other materials. Examples of products made for these purposes are abrasive powders, grinding wheels, cutting blades and discs, knife sharpeners and glass cutting points. Diamond is more expensive than other abrasives, but cutting tools made from diamond last longer.

What does the title "Ozymandias" suggest about its subject?

"Ozymandias," a simple, one-word title, suggests the focus of the poem will be on Ozymandias, whoever that might be. The name sounds "Oriental," and at the time Shelley wrote the poem, in 1819, there was much interest in England in all things "Oriental," so the title would have sparked interest in contemporary audiences. (As Edward Said has shown, "the Orient" stretched in the popular imagination as a "single monolith" from the Middle East to Asia.)...

"Ozymandias," a simple, one-word title, suggests the focus of the poem will be on Ozymandias, whoever that might be. The name sounds "Oriental," and at the time Shelley wrote the poem, in 1819, there was much interest in England in all things "Oriental," so the title would have sparked interest in contemporary audiences. (As Edward Said has shown, "the Orient" stretched in the popular imagination as a "single monolith" from the Middle East to Asia.) The short title, with its commanding sound, also suggests that we will read about a commanding person.

The poem, in fact, does focus on Ozymandias, who is based on the Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, whose statue was being shipped to England at the time. The poem examines primarily the broken statue of this man who once thought himself the greatest of rulers, presiding at the head of a great kingdom, inspiring terror in his enemies. Instead of greatness, we see the scattered pieces of a ruin, strewn across not a kingdom but a desert waste. The title, after we have read the poem, thus reflects Shelley's irony: great tyrants come to nothing, no matter how they might delude themselves into thinking their glory will never end. 

What are the problems that contributed to violence in the story?

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat," the narrator attributes his violent behavior to alcoholism. He states that the first black cat, Pluto, was an especially beloved pet, but over the course of a few years, the "Fiend Intemperance" caused the narrator to become more violent and irritable day by day. Under the effects of alcoholism, the narrator becomes verbally and physically abusive toward his wife. He abuses "rabbits, the monkey, or even the dog."...

In Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat," the narrator attributes his violent behavior to alcoholism. He states that the first black cat, Pluto, was an especially beloved pet, but over the course of a few years, the "Fiend Intemperance" caused the narrator to become more violent and irritable day by day. Under the effects of alcoholism, the narrator becomes verbally and physically abusive toward his wife. He abuses "rabbits, the monkey, or even the dog." One night when he comes home drunk, he mistreats Pluto, who bites him. In a fit of "fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured," the narrator cuts out Pluto's eye with a pen-knife. Even the realization of what drinking has led him to do does not keep him from going back to liquor. After hanging Pluto, the narrator takes on another cat  when he is "half-stupefied" from alcohol. 

While the narrator's "disease," alcoholism, sets his violent behavior in motion, once the second black cat comes to live with him, the narrator doesn't speak much of liquor as the cause of his temper and violence. Instead, it seems that the cat reminds him of his previous crimes, and those pangs of conscience lead him to give way to "the darkest and most evil of thoughts." He continues to abuse his wife. One day they go into the cellar, and there the cat "exasperated me to madness." With "a rage more than demoniacal," he buries the axe in his wife's head. In prison, awaiting death by hanging, he considers the "hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder." Now he is blaming his violence not on alcoholism, but on some supernatural ability of the cat to inspire his actions.

Ironically the narrator wants to blame alcohol, a disease, or the cat for his actions, but each step of the way the man chose to follow his lower instincts, even when he recognized the evil in himself, rather than take responsibility for his faults and seek to correct them. So the narrator's unwillingness to accept responsibility for his actions is what causes the downward spiral into violence and murder.

What is the basic plot of Langston Hughes' short story, "Salvation"?

The story is a memoir by the author about a particular incident in his life when he was just about to turn thirteen, which made a huge impression on him.

The narrator had attended a revival service at his fanatically religious aunt Reed's church. Before the end of the revival, time was set aside to save the souls of young churchgoers. His aunt had previously told him that he would see Jesus and he would be saved. When the request was made that the youngsters should come forward for redemption, he waited for Jesus to come.

Many of the youngsters got up and were saved, to great praise from the congregation. The narrator, though, was waiting to see Jesus appear for he believed that that would be a sign for him to get up. With him on the bench was another boy, Westley - they were the last of the young ones left. The preacher and others made passionate appeals to the two to get up and be saved. Westley later relented and the narrator was alone on the bench.

He was convinced that he would see Jesus and that he would be saved, but nothing happened and he stayed seated. It was getting late and the cries for him to come to the Lord grew ever more impassioned. Even his aunt came to sit next to him for encouragement. The preacher, who had by know learned his name, begged him directly.

The speaker eventually relented to avoid any more trouble, even though he had not yet seen Jesus. He did what he believed Westley did, he lied. He was saved, much to the joy and relief of all concerned.

Later that night the speaker cried copiously when in bed. His aunt believed that he was tearful because he had found Christ. The speaker confesses, though, that he was crying because he had lied. He had not seen Christ and only got up because of all the pressure and that he did not believe in Jesus anymore since he did not come to help him.

What happens in the book I Totally Funniest?

I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story is a novel by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. The main character of the book is Jamie Grimm, who has been in a wheelchair since an accident that killed his parents and sister. Jamie is a comedian, or at least wants to be a famous one! Jamie uses comedy as a way to cope with his tragic past.

He has been competing in a nationwide contest to see who the funniest kid...

I Totally Funniest: A Middle School Story is a novel by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein. The main character of the book is Jamie Grimm, who has been in a wheelchair since an accident that killed his parents and sister. Jamie is a comedian, or at least wants to be a famous one! Jamie uses comedy as a way to cope with his tragic past.

He has been competing in a nationwide contest to see who the funniest kid in the nation will be. This is the third book in the series. In this book, he has finally made it to the final round of the competition. As he has moved further in the competition, he has become more famous. The fame has started to change Jamie. We see Jamie acting differently with his friends because of the fame. But Jamie finally sees that he is being mean to his friends and ends up apologizing to his friends for the way he has been acting towards them. 

Jamie will also have to be on national television and the nerves are getting to him! He isn't sleeping well and has nightmares. Jamie's friends come to the rescue and help him prepare for the final contest.

Who took more the liberal approach, President Hoover or President Roosevelt?

If we are using "liberal" in the modern sense, which generally is taken to mean someone who believes that the government should play an active role in economic matters, then Franklin Roosevelt took by far the more liberal approach. Indeed, his New Deal is often understood as the foundation of modern liberalism. Roosevelt's approach to the Great Depression included many relief efforts, including the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and recovery programs like the National Industrial...

If we are using "liberal" in the modern sense, which generally is taken to mean someone who believes that the government should play an active role in economic matters, then Franklin Roosevelt took by far the more liberal approach. Indeed, his New Deal is often understood as the foundation of modern liberalism. Roosevelt's approach to the Great Depression included many relief efforts, including the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and recovery programs like the National Industrial Recovery Act. Both of these marked direct interventions on the part of the federal government to boost the economy and ameliorate the effects of the depression on American businesses and individuals. Perhaps the most important aspects of the New Deal were attempts to establish structural reforms that would regulate the economy in such a way as to stabilize the economy. These included the Social Security Act, and the National Labor Relations Act. These measures, and the philosophy behind them--namely, that the federal government should, to a limited extent, manage the extremes of a capitalist economy--are at the heart of modern liberalism. So FDR's approach was far more liberal than that of Hoover, who generally advocated very limited intervention in the economy.

In "A Rose for Emily," why didn't Emily run away and live elsewhere when her father was driving off her suitors?

The most straightforward answer is that Miss Emily did not go to live elsewhere because it would not have been proper for her to do so. The narrator describes her family as being a model of old tradition of the American South. Within that model, female children, even when adults, lived with their parents until they were married. Further, their parents had a great measure of control over the suitors for their daughters. Had Miss Emily left, she would have not only been defying her father, but also the traditions in which she was raised and to which her family adhered strongly. It is likely, given what we learn about Miss Emily throughout the story, that not only would she not have defied her father, she might not have even thought of it as an option at all.

In addition to tradition, which would have kept her from leaving, the narrator seems to indicate that perhaps Miss Emily’s father exerted greater than normal control over her, so we need to consider their particular relationship as well. While Miss Emily had cousins who lived elsewhere, she and her father were the only Griersons then living in the town. The narrator does not explain what happened to Miss Emily’s mother, or whether she had any siblings, so all we know is that she and her father lived alone at least from the time of her early adulthood until his death. As such, they seem to have been unusually attached to each other.

Therefore, we can see her father’s acts of driving away possible suitors as a means of trying to keep her from leaving him. Further, her reaction when he dies – an extreme unwillingness to let him go even after his death – shows the reader that she did not want to lose him either. Given the level of attachment they had for each other, even if we might deem it an unhealthy attachment, it is unlikely that Miss Emily would have voluntarily left her father no matter what actions he took against potential suitors.

In addition to the attachment Miss Emily and her father seemed to share, fear may have been a factor as well. We are not told of her father ever physical mistreating Miss Emily, but the narrator’s description of him standing in front of her in the doorway of their house, a horsewhip in his hand, in the context of a suggested potential suitor calling, gives the reader a glimpse of potential violence from Emily’s father and perhaps in their relationship. Any fear she had of her father, coupled with the strength of their attachment, may have precluded her from conceiving of leaving, even if it had been socially proper.

What is the conflict in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird actually has two central plot lines and, therefore, has two central conflicts. The first plot line concerns the children's coming-of-age-story; the second concerns Atticus's decision to defend Tom Robinson in court, a decision that significantly influences the manner in which his children mature as they grow older.

The children's coming-of-age story involves many minor conflicts as the children encounter people and situations that influence their thinking. Many of these minor conflicts are character vs. character conflicts that reflect the children's fears. For example, the children enter into conflicts with Arthur (Boo) Radley and Mrs. Dubose, characters the children are afraid of. However, the central conflict in the children's coming-of-age story is best identified as character vs. self.

Scout is in conflict with herself because, being a tomboy, she wants to act like a boy; yet, because she is a girl, she also has feminine instincts. Her feminine instincts particularly surface when Jem and Dill begin playing the "Boo Radley" game. Scout hesitates to participate because she fears for their safety if they antagonize their neighbor Arthur Radley, whom they call Boo. Scout expresses her fears when she says in reply to Dill's question if she is scared, "He can get out at night when we're all asleep ..." (Ch. 4). As a result of her feminine instincts, that summer, she has to let the boys go off on their own and enact their boyishly foolhardy schemes while she spends most of her time with Miss Maudie. As the book progresses, Scout resolves her internal conflict by accepting the amount of courage it takes to be a lady, as demonstrated by her Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie.

Similarly, as Jem matures, he faces the internal conflict of being foolhardy vs. being a brave gentleman. He soon comes to learn that being brave isn't necessarily doing anything rash, like trespassing on the Radleys' property when he could get shot, but rather doing what he knows is right despite the odds of being able to complete his goal. Jem learns this lesson from his father's actions in defending Tom Robinson and from Mrs. Dubose, who fought against her morphine addiction despite the fact that she was on her deathbed. Jem learns what true bravery is from Mrs. Dubose when Atticus explains he wanted Jem to get to know Mrs. Dubose because he wanted Jem to see that courage is not "a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" (Ch. 11).

In contrast to Jem and Scout's internal character vs. self conflicts in their coming-of-age story, the conflict in the plot line concerning Atticus's decision to defend Robinson can be seen as an external conflict. In defending Robinson, Atticus is acting contrary to the rest of the members of society, who automatically judges Robinson to be guilty due to their racial prejudices. As a result, Atticus and his children suffer a great deal of ridicule. Therefore, this conflict can be considered a character vs. society conflict. The children grow a great deal as a result of experiencing the conflict.

What are the aims of measurement of coefficients of static friction and dynamic friction?

Friction or friction force resists the motion of two surfaces past each other. There are two types of frictional forces (especially when discussing the motion of objects): static friction and dynamic friction. The static friction opposes the motion of an object at rest. Once this friction is overcome, only then can the object move. Dynamic friction opposes the motion of an object that is moving. For example, a stationary car will not start moving till...

Friction or friction force resists the motion of two surfaces past each other. There are two types of frictional forces (especially when discussing the motion of objects): static friction and dynamic friction. The static friction opposes the motion of an object at rest. Once this friction is overcome, only then can the object move. Dynamic friction opposes the motion of an object that is moving. For example, a stationary car will not start moving till it overcomes the static friction between tires and road surface. And once it is in motion, the movement of car is resisted by dynamic friction.

A measure of frictional forces, through coefficients of static and dynamic friction, is necessary to determine the forces necessary to overcome the friction and ensure motion. A road surface with higher friction causes more fuel consumption, while a very smooth road surface will have lesser braking (and hence more stopping distance). Friction is also needed for walking and running and hence our shoe surfaces need to have appropriate material for ensuring that we can walk and run, without too much effort. 

These are just a few examples, where we need to determine the coefficient of static friction and dynamic friction.

Hope this helps. 

Identify and discuss five examples of imagery in "Winter Dreams" that convey the emotional intensity of Dexter and Judy's entanglement.

I love that word "entanglement" as a description of Judy and Dexter's relationship. It's perfect for them: Judy keeps drawing Dexter in with her charms and beauty, filling his head with thoughts of marrying her, and then pushing him away while she gets involved with other men. Helplessly lovesick, Dexter willingly lets her do all this. And the intensity of their on-again, off-again liaison is beautifully conveyed by Fitzgerald's use of imagery. Let's check out some examples.

1. "It was a mood of intense appreciation, a sense that, for once, he was magnificently attune to life and that everything about him was radiating a brightness and a glamour he might never know again."

Here's an example of imagery so vibrating with intensity that it's not even focused on any particular object. Dexter imagines himself as surrounded by "brightness" and "glamour" as Judy approaches him from the water. His entire world is humming with light and beauty because she's in it.

2. "Early in their acquaintance it had seemed for a while that there was a deep and spontaneous mutual attraction that first August, for example--three days of long evenings on her dusky veranda, of strange wan kisses through the late afternoon, in shadowy alcoves or behind the protecting trellises of the garden arbors, of mornings when she was fresh as a dream and almost shy at meeting him in the clarity of the rising day."

The intensity of their relationship here, in its early stages, is communicated through images of darkness, shadows, and light. The image of the "protecting trellises," in particular, emphasizes the passionate secrecy of their affair.

3. "Judy Jones, a slender enamelled doll in cloth of gold: gold in a band at her head, gold in two slipper points at her dress's hem. The fragile glow of her face seemed to blossom as she smiled at him. A breeze of warmth and light blew through the room."

This is how Judy waltzes back into Dexter's life just when he'd made up his mind to forget her and marry Irene. Imagery of Judy as not even human but a perfect "doll," dressed in heavenly "gold," almost literally an angel wearing a golden halo, and emanating "warmth and light" from her smile--all of this is classic material from Fitzgerald, who likes to overwhelm us with this kind of passionate imagery.

4. "The strong walls, the steel of the girders, the breadth and beam and pomp of [the mansion] were there only to bring out the contrast with the young beauty beside him. It was sturdy to accentuate her slightness--as if to show what a breeze could be generated by a butterfly's wing."

Here, the imagery of the strong, masculine mansion is juxtaposed with Judy's graceful, slender figure, a comparison which reveals the depth of Dexter's obsession with her. That is, he is so focused on her that he perceives everything else in terms of her. 

5. "The gates were closed, the sun was gone down, and there was no beauty but the gray beauty of steel that withstands all time."

This imagery plays out in Dexter's mind when he realizes that Judy's desirability as a creature of eternal beauty was an illusion. The images of a closed gate, darkness, and cold steel combine to convey the crushing depth of Dexter's sense of loss. It's not just that he's losing Judy forever, but that he's losing his entire conception of what she was.

What do the lyrics of the song have to do with signing the petition?

Lyddie's roommate, Betsy, becomes more and more dissatisfied with the work at the factory as the novel progresses. She complains that she can no longer handle the speed of the equipment and the greater demands being placed on her as a worker. She says to Amelia, "We're all working like black slaves, is what." She then says she is ready to sign the petition for working ten-hour instead of thirteen-hour days. Over Amelia's objections, she...

Lyddie's roommate, Betsy, becomes more and more dissatisfied with the work at the factory as the novel progresses. She complains that she can no longer handle the speed of the equipment and the greater demands being placed on her as a worker. She says to Amelia, "We're all working like black slaves, is what." She then says she is ready to sign the petition for working ten-hour instead of thirteen-hour days. Over Amelia's objections, she resolves to sign the petition, explaining to Lyddie, "Our real wages have gone down more often than they've gone up. Merciful heaven! Why waste our time on a paper petition? Why not a good old-fashioned turnout?"

By this she means that the workers should participate in a rally protesting the poor working conditions. She then sings the song, "I cannot be a slave." She learned the song when she was only ten, working as a doffer. This indicates that Betsy has been working many years in the factory already. The line that says "Isn't it a pity that such a pretty girl as I should be sent to the factory to pine away and die" actually foreshadows Betsy's fate. She becomes very ill and ends up using all her savings to pay for the doctor and the hospital. She was saving money so she could go to college and have a chance to do what she wanted to do with her life. However, she ends up almost dying and then having no "liberty" to do what she really wants to do despite having slaved away for all those years.

Identify traits of Montresor from "The Cask of Amontillado."

Montresor, first and foremost, has a great deal of personal pride.  As soon as he felt truly insulted by Fortunato, "[he] vowed revenge."  Thus, it is somewhat ironic that he chooses to exploit Fortunato's one "weak point" -- hispride -- in order to lure him to his death.  In addition to Montresor’s personal pride, he feels a keen sense of family pride. When Fortunato remarks on the size of the family catacombs, Fortunato replies...

Montresor, first and foremost, has a great deal of personal pride.  As soon as he felt truly insulted by Fortunato, "[he] vowed revenge."  Thus, it is somewhat ironic that he chooses to exploit Fortunato's one "weak point" -- his pride -- in order to lure him to his death.  In addition to Montresor’s personal pride, he feels a keen sense of family pride. When Fortunato remarks on the size of the family catacombs, Fortunato replies that “’The Montresors […] were a great and numerous family.” Perhaps they are no longer such “a great and numerous family” (he speaks in the past tense) and this is why Montresor feels such a responsibility to live up to the family motto, a Latin phrase that translates to “You will not harm me with impunity.” In the first paragraph, he specifically says that his goal is to “punish with impunity.” In other words, he is going to best Fortunato by harming him in such a way that it can never come back on him. His family pride will not let him be wounded without punishing the one that wounds him, and his personal pride compels him to punish his enemy without fear of being punished in return.

Montresor is also extremely calculating and adept at dissembling. He says, “It must be understood, that neither by word or deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.” He basically lies to the man’s face day in and day out, without making Fortunato suspicious at all, until the right time comes to commit the murder. Then, he arranges it so that all his servants will be away from home and brings along a “mask of black silk” and a long cloak (complete with hidden trowel), to hide his identity so that Montresor will not even be seen with him as they walk back to his palazzo. He is a good liar, and he is so cunning, and his revenge is perfectly staged as a result.

In Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, why is Holden acting like a hypocrite?

Holden Caulfield has many issues he's dealing with as a teenager. He's afraid of becoming a phony adult like many he's encountered in his life. He's an idealist who wants the world to be perfect because he's had quite a rough time in life in his 16-17 years. For example, his little brother Allie died about 3-4 years previous to his telling of his story, and he never received the help necessary to deal with his grieving process. Holden was simply sent to boarding schools where he felt lonely most of the time. His resentment and grief boil over, and he blames others for his life. Little does he know that as he blames others for being hypocrites, he himself starts acting like one. Such is the case with hypocrites because they can see the hypocrisy in others, but not in themselves.

One example of Holden being a hypocrite is when he goes out with Sally Hayes. They meet George, one of Sally's friends, at the movies, and Holden gets jealous. Rather than identifying the jealousy in himself, he criticizes her and George as they talk.

"Finally, when they were all done slobbering around, old Sally introduced us. . . You should've seen him when old Sally asked him how he liked the play. He was the kind of a phony that have to give themselves room when they answer somebody's questions. He stepped back, and stepped right on the lady's foo behind him" (127).

The above passage shows Holden judging George and calling him a phony, when just a little bit later on, Holden becomes the phony by asking Sally to run away with him. He says he loves her, but after talking with George, he wanted to take her home and never see her again. Then he turns around and asks her to run away with him. This behavior clearly shows that he is not self-aware and cannot see when he is being a hypocrite.

One more example of Holden being a hypocrite is when he criticizes someone for being a phony (acting fake, or saying one thing and doing another), and then he says the following:

"I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera" (16).

It seems that Holden can blame others for being phony or fake, but with almost every turn, he's lying to people and pretending he's something he's not. Maybe as Holden gets the help he needs in that hospital in California, he will understand how to be less of a hypocrite.

When George learns of Curly's wife's death what does he do in Of Mice and Men?

When George realizes that Curley's wife is dead, he feels that the others must be told what has happened so that they do not think he has had any part in the death, but only after he goes in the bunkhouse and pretends that he does not know anything.

Earlier in the novella, George has instructed Lennie that if he should get into trouble Lennie must hide in the clearing where they camped the night...

When George realizes that Curley's wife is dead, he feels that the others must be told what has happened so that they do not think he has had any part in the death, but only after he goes in the bunkhouse and pretends that he does not know anything.

Earlier in the novella, George has instructed Lennie that if he should get into trouble Lennie must hide in the clearing where they camped the night before going to work at the ranch. So, after Candy tells the men about Curley's wife's death, they pursue Lennie and make George accompany them. But, George lags behind the other men in their search for Lennie and finds him hiding in the brush at the edge of the stream.

The child-man asks George if he is not going to scold him, and George tells him despondently that "it don't make no difference." Soon, Lennie asks George to recite their parable of the dream. As he does so, George hears the other men approaching; quickly, he tells Lennie to remove his hat. George raises the muzzle of the gun, puts it close to the back of Lennie's head, and fires. As Lennie's falls forward and dies, George hastily throws the gun away. When the other men enter the area, Slim comes to George and tells him, "Never you mind....A guy got to sometimes." George lets himself be helped up, agreeing to accompany Slim to get a drink.

In The Death of a Salesman, what compels Willy Loman to commit suicide, for the sake of his family?

Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman is about the gradual but steady degradation of a human being. Willy Loman has spent his life on the road working as a traveling salesman. His perpetually suffering wife Linda takes care of their house while their two grown sons, Biff and Happy, aimlessly stumble through life. Willy treats Linda poorly and is frequently critical of Biff for the latter’s failure to find his place in life. Willy, however, is increasingly forced to come to grips with the approaching end of his career and life. He and Linda have struggled to stay above water, never quite able to reach their goal of financial security. In one exchange between the two, Willy and Linda discuss the approaching attainment of one major goal, the final mortgage payments on their home:

WILLY: Whoever heard of a Hastings refrigerator? Once in my life I would like to own something outright before it’s broken! I’m always in a race with the junkyard! I just finished paying for the car and it’s on its last legs. The refrigerator consumes belts like a goddam maniac. They time those things. They time them so when you finally paid for them, they’re used up.

LINDA (buttoning up his jacket as he unbuttons it): All told, about two hundred dollars would carry us, dear. But that includes the last payment on the mortgage. After this payment, Willy, the house belongs to us.

Willy kills himself. He has fallen asleep at the wheel in the past, but this time he deliberately crashes his vehicle so that Linda can use the life insurance payment to finally pay off the mortgage. It is the final act of desperation by a man beaten down by life. Willy is being marginalized by his job and the secret buried deep within himself. His secret, namely, his own extramarital affair, was accidentally discovered by his son and has torn at the moral fabric of the father-son relationship. Willy has reached a point where he believes he has nothing to gain by continuing to live the only life he has known. The business contacts he has maintained over the years have proven ephemeral and, in the end, only Charley is there to mourn Willy’s passing.  Willy’s funeral is attended only by Willy’s family and Charley despite Willy’s protestations over the years of being rich in personal relationships. With the family in disarray, constant financial pressure, and the specter of death as a pauper staring at him in the mirror, Willy reacts the only way he can contemplate: suicide. While Willy’s death enables Linda to pay off the mortgage, his death is more than financial in nature. In the play’s final scene, Linda expresses her surprise at Willy’s act just when they were on the cusp of paying off the mortgage. Charley’s response captures the essence of Willy Loman and why he killed himself:

LINDA: I can’t understand it. At this time especially. First time in thirty-five years we were just about free and clear. He only needed a little salary. He was even finished with the dentist.

CHARLEY: No man only needs a little salary.

Willy was a lonely, bitter man whose failure as a salesman and as a father haunted him, so he escapes through death.

Why was Tom getting very disturbed for Dr. Robinson?

Interesting question! In the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Tom witnesses a very unusual incident.

In the book, Tom and Huck visit a graveyard, which leads to them witnessing a murder. When Tom and Huck first see Dr. Robinson and the men with him (Injun Joe and Potter), Tom and Huck believe that they are devils. However, they soon realize who the individuals are. Subsequently, the boys watch the men.

As...

Interesting question! In the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Tom witnesses a very unusual incident.

In the book, Tom and Huck visit a graveyard, which leads to them witnessing a murder. When Tom and Huck first see Dr. Robinson and the men with him (Injun Joe and Potter), Tom and Huck believe that they are devils. However, they soon realize who the individuals are. Subsequently, the boys watch the men.

As the boys watch, Tom and Huck realize that Dr. Robinson is having Injun Joe and Potter unbury a body. After completing their task, Injun Joe begins threatening Dr. Robinson. As the text reveals:

“He [Injun Joe] was threatening the doctor, with his fist in his face, by this time.”

Subsequently, Injun Joe stabs Dr. Robinson. The boys become very alarmed and disturbed. However, they are afraid to say anything due to their fear of Injun Joe. As the text reveals:

“Why, he’d [Injun Joe] kill us some time or other, just as dead sure as we’re a laying here.”

Thus, the boys become disturbed and frightened for Dr. Robinson. Subsequently, this fear eventually incites fear for themselves and they promise not to tell anyone about the events they witnessed at the graveyard.

How did the Great Depression help contribute to the selection of Hitler as German Chancellor in 1933?

After the U.S. stock market crash in October of 1929, the German economy began to suffer. The economy was largely built on American loans to pay back war reparations after World War I, and these loans were not possible after the crash. In addition, the American market for German exports also shrank. The German economy was in terrible straits, and millions of Germans were out of work.

Before the Great Depression, the Nazis, Hitler's party,...

After the U.S. stock market crash in October of 1929, the German economy began to suffer. The economy was largely built on American loans to pay back war reparations after World War I, and these loans were not possible after the crash. In addition, the American market for German exports also shrank. The German economy was in terrible straits, and millions of Germans were out of work.

Before the Great Depression, the Nazis, Hitler's party, were largely the refuge of marginalized World War I veterans, but during the Great Depression, the party started to expand its reach. By the 1930s, Hitler had become popular with mainstream middle-class people, who saw in Hitler a chance for them to regain economic strength and national glory. In the elections of 1924, only 3% of the population voted for the Nazis, but by 1932, the Nazis garnered 33% of the vote. In addition, the German government was falling apart. The parties in the Reichstag, the German Parliament, disagreed about how to govern. In 1933, they turned to the Nazis, and Hitler was chosen as Chancellor.

Which version of Macbeth is most often performed? Which is the best production of the play?

These are difficult questions, as there are no clear answers, but searching for answers can still be an illuminating process.

In regards to question #1, there are many published versions of Macbeth. Each version has differences in punctuation, and some versions will even change lines to be more comprehensible to a contemporary English audience. Many theater teachers and producers will craft their own version of the play when they produce it. In regional theaters,...

These are difficult questions, as there are no clear answers, but searching for answers can still be an illuminating process.

In regards to question #1, there are many published versions of Macbeth. Each version has differences in punctuation, and some versions will even change lines to be more comprehensible to a contemporary English audience. Many theater teachers and producers will craft their own version of the play when they produce it. In regional theaters, such as the Guthrie Theater or Steppenwolf, a dramaturg will often pull passages from the First Folio, or from standard texts like the Riverside, to create a version that fits the theater's needs. Unlike contemporary playwrights, there are no royalties or regulations when it comes to producing Shakespeare, and so the productions of the play tend to be wildly different. However, if you must find a specific text, a good place to look might be on Amazon since they rank their bestsellers. The bestselling version of Macbeth is currently the Folger Shakespeare Library's version of the play. 

Now, on to question #2. It is also difficult to pinpoint the most famous production of Macbeth, although it is less difficult than finding the most performed version of the play. A person's opinion on the "best" production will depend on how they like to see Shakespeare performed. Do they prefer adaptations? Original practices? These opinions will alter someone's perception of whether or not a play is spectacular. In regards to filmed adaptions, this link can be illuminating. In regards to live performances, there are a few touchstone productions that are frequently mentioned regarding Macbeth. You could say the best production was (1.) the original production starring Richard Burbage, (2.) David Garrick's production in 1744, (3.) Robert Elliston's production in 1809, or (4.) Gregory Doran's production in 1999. Of course, there are countless productions to choose from, as the play has been produced for centuries and each production is different. 

I need to know the meaning of "the visible becomes inevitable."

In Chapter 37, Enzo is diagnosed with 'degenerative arthritis caused by hip dysplasia.' He finds that his movements are no longer smooth and easy, and he surmises that the diagnosis foreshadows the beginning of a journey that will ultimately lead to his demise.

With my diagnosis, I knew, would come my end. Slowly, perhaps. Painfully, without a doubt; marked by the signposts laid out by the veterinarian. The visible becomes inevitable.The car goes where...

In Chapter 37, Enzo is diagnosed with 'degenerative arthritis caused by hip dysplasia.' He finds that his movements are no longer smooth and easy, and he surmises that the diagnosis foreshadows the beginning of a journey that will ultimately lead to his demise.

With my diagnosis, I knew, would come my end. Slowly, perhaps. Painfully, without a doubt; marked by the signposts laid out by the veterinarian. The visible becomes inevitable. The car goes where the eyes go.

Enzo is resigned to his fate, but more than anything, his fundamental goal is to be reborn as a man in his next life. In the story, Enzo believes that everyone is the master of his own destiny, and it is his destiny to be reborn as a human being.

...we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves.

Enzo's chronic condition worsens as the story concludes, but he is unperturbed because he is more than ready to relinquish his canine existence on earth. Both his mortal and immortal eyes are turned towards his goal. The visible (the long-looked for destiny) becomes inevitable and manifests itself when one's energies are focused on it. Hence, the 'car goes where the eyes go:' where the mind leads, the body will follow. Hope this helps!

What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?

Genetically-modified foods are part of a larger category of "genetically-modified organisms" and frequently abbreviated "GMOs." While the short-term advantages of GMOs are easy to quantify, the long term disadvantages may not be discoverable until they have been in use for many decades, and thus many people are concerned about the long-term effects of their use.

The main advantages of GMOs are that they can be tailored to solve specific problems. For example, GMO crops can...

Genetically-modified foods are part of a larger category of "genetically-modified organisms" and frequently abbreviated "GMOs." While the short-term advantages of GMOs are easy to quantify, the long term disadvantages may not be discoverable until they have been in use for many decades, and thus many people are concerned about the long-term effects of their use.

The main advantages of GMOs are that they can be tailored to solve specific problems. For example, GMO crops can be tailored to be resistant to specific pests or diseases. This has an obvious benefit of increasing agricultural productivity. The problem is that pests and diseases evolve quickly, and this year's pesticide or GMO may no longer be effective in a few decades, leading to a constant race between genetic engineers and natural evolution. 

GMOs can also be tailored to adapt to specific environments. For example, plants can be designed to be drought- or heat- or cold-resistant. Again, this can have obvious benefits, especially in light of global climate change. 

A major question concerning GMOs is that they increase the tendency towards monocultures, which are highly vulnerable to both climate change and new strains of diseases and pests. Also, GMO seeds are often more expensive than regular ones and tailored to create plants that do not produce viable seeds, making them especially problematic for farmers in developing countries. 

What does Martin Luther King, Jr. say about resentment in his "Letter from Birmingham City Jail"?

In his "Letter from Birmingham City Jail," Martin Luther King, Jr. uses the word resentment in a paragraph relaying to his readers the social injustices African Americans suffer in an effort to explain why African-American people cannot simply wait for society to become more just. Towards the middle of the letter, King uses a very long sentence to list social injustices, which culminates in the following clauses, one of which contains the word resentment:

...

In his "Letter from Birmingham City Jail," Martin Luther King, Jr. uses the word resentment in a paragraph relaying to his readers the social injustices African Americans suffer in an effort to explain why African-American people cannot simply wait for society to become more just. Towards the middle of the letter, King uses a very long sentence to list social injustices, which culminates in the following clauses, one of which contains the word resentment:

When you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodiness"—then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait.

In his letter, King is responding to an earlier letter written by clergymen and published in the Birmingham Post Herald. In their letter, the clergyman said that, while they opposed segregation, they also opposed protest—even nonviolent protest—against segregation, proposing instead that African Americans simply continue to wait patiently for justice to be served. King uses this paragraph to argue the absurdity of the notion of simply waiting.

The word resentment can be defined as the feeling of "indignation at some act" thought to be injurious or unjust (Random House Dictionary). Resentment is acted upon outwardly because the emotion drives us to want to combat the unjust circumstance with the hope of creating change. Since resentment is acted upon outwardly, King refers to "outer resentments," which he also juxtaposes with the "inner fears" felt by African Americans that makes them feel and act upon their "outer resentments." King uses the earlier clauses of the paragraph to describe the social injustices creating both "inner fears and outer resentments," such as lynch mobs, segregation, the "airtight cage of poverty," and humiliation. He then ends the paragraph by asserting the urgency of fighting for justice now and pointing out there is a "moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws" to fight against injustice now. 

What was the effect of the Quit India movement on the struggle for Indian freedom?

In August of 1942, Gandhi began the Quit India movement by giving a speech that called for passive resistance to British rule in India. As a result, the All-India Congress Movement started a mass protest to call for the peaceful British withdrawal from the country. In the short term, the Quit India movement had a deleterious effect on the struggle for Indian freedom, as almost all the leaders of the All-India Congress Movement were jailed...

In August of 1942, Gandhi began the Quit India movement by giving a speech that called for passive resistance to British rule in India. As a result, the All-India Congress Movement started a mass protest to call for the peaceful British withdrawal from the country. In the short term, the Quit India movement had a deleterious effect on the struggle for Indian freedom, as almost all the leaders of the All-India Congress Movement were jailed within hours of Gandhi's speech. Opposition to the speech came not only from the British but also from internal sources. This speech, demanding the end to British rule in India, took place during World War II, and many Indian businesspeople resisted Gandhi's call, as they were profiting from British wartime spending.

However, in the long term, the movement spurred international support, as U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to convince British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to grant some of Gandhi's demands.  In the end, Britain decided to leave India after World War II because the cost of running the country was too great, given Britain's wartime debts. 

Who is Teofilo in “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”? A. a Roman Catholic missionary B. Louise's son C. an old Pueblo Indian who has died before...

The correct answer to this question is (C) an old Pueblo Indian who has died before the story opens.

The story opens on Ken and Leon, Teofilo’s grandsons, discovering the old man’s body under a cottonwood tree near the sheep camp, where he had been tending the flock.  “He had been dead for a day or more,” we learn. This points to (C) as the correct answer. He is not (A), a Roman Catholic missionary,...

The correct answer to this question is (C) an old Pueblo Indian who has died before the story opens.

The story opens on Ken and Leon, Teofilo’s grandsons, discovering the old man’s body under a cottonwood tree near the sheep camp, where he had been tending the flock.  “He had been dead for a day or more,” we learn. This points to (C) as the correct answer. He is not (A), a Roman Catholic missionary, though there is a priest in the story. He is not (B) Louise’s son, because in Part Three of the story Louise says she has been thinking “about the priest sprinkling holy water for Grandpa.” Louise is actually Teofilo’s granddaughter. And we can discard (D) the leader of the Pueblo community, because there is no evidence anywhere in the story to support this claim. Indeed, one could imagine that if Teofilo had been the leader of the community, he would not have been tending sheep, and his funeral would attract much more attention than it does.

What are the areas where the bones of the skull fuse together called?

These areas where the bones of the skull fuse together are called sutures. In total, there are around 20 sutures on the human skull. Although some of them have special names, most of them are named based on the bones they articulate. A couple of examples are the Coronal suture and the Lambdoid suture.These sutures are made up of what we call Sharpey's fibers - a thin layer composed of collagen fibers that connects...

These areas where the bones of the skull fuse together are called sutures. In total, there are around 20 sutures on the human skull. Although some of them have special names, most of them are named based on the bones they articulate. A couple of examples are the Coronal suture and the Lambdoid suture.

These sutures are made up of what we call Sharpey's fibers - a thin layer composed of collagen fibers that connects two adjoining bones.

Although these fibers connect two bones, they do allow small movements of the skull bones, causing the skull to be somewhat flexible (which is good for avoiding severe damage to the brain upon impact). Also, during the adult life of a human, the skull continues to change, although not as rapidly as that of a new-born. This in turn allows us to deduce the age of a human based on its skull (which is good knowledge for archaeology). But as the individual gets even older, these sutures may turn into bone completely (they become ossified). There are cases where these sutures ossify in a newborn skull. This is a condition called Craniosynostosis and it can severely affect the brain's development.

Will anything positive come out of Max's terrifying experience in Freak the Mighty?

Maxwell Kane experiences one of the worst things that could ever happen to a kid. He witnesses the murder of his mother when he is four years-old, and then nearly ten years later, his dad kidnaps him and tries to tell him that he never killed her. Max reveals to his dad that he saw him murder his mom just before his friend Kevin saves the day by shooting soap, vinegar and curry powder from a squirt gun into the criminal's eyes. Fortunately, this gives the two boys time to escape to the police cars outside, but it is certainly a traumatizing experience.

Not only that, a little while later, Kevin dies and Max is left without his best friend in the whole world. All of this happens within a year that the story covers and Max, who had once needed Kevin to drag him out of his basement bedroom, reverts back to his old, avoid-the-world ways as he grieves. It would seem that nothing positive would come out of such terrifying experiences, but thanks to what Kevin left behind, Max emerges triumphant. 

First, Kevin made Max his own dictionary so he could look up words and help himself to become smarter and better at reading. Then, before Kevin died, he gave Max a journal and told him to fill it up with all of the adventures that they went on together. Because of Kevin's friendship and belief in Max, the story Freak the Mighty is written down for others to enjoy. Max will probably be able to stay in the smart classes at school rather than going back to the L.D. classes (Learning Disabled) and he will be successful. Max ends the story as follows:

"So I wrote the unvanquished truth stuff down and then kept on going, for months and months, until it was spring again, and the world was really and truly green all over. By the time we got here, which I guess should be the end, I'm feeling okay about remembering things. And now that I've written a book who knows, I might even read a few" (160).

How does Hurst use symbolism, tone, and conflict to make us sympathize with the narrator in "The Scarlet Ibis"?

James Hurst's short story "The Scarlet Ibis" is told as a flashback by a first person narrator. We never learn the narrator's name as he recounts the story of his childhood with his brother Doodle. The fact the narrator already knows the outcome of the story colors his telling. He is obviously feeling guilty about what happened, yet the reader can't help but feel some sympathy for him.  

There are three distinct symbols which help us understand the narrator's actions. One of the first places the narrator ever takes Doodle is "Old Woman Swamp." Hurst writes, "I dragged him across the burning cotton field to share with him the only beauty I knew, Old Woman Swamp." Despite the fact the narrator sometimes considers Doodle a burden, sharing the beauty of the outdoors is a symbol of his love for the boy. In fact, the best times the two have are at the banks of the swamp as they make "honeysuckle wreaths" and tell "crazy" stories.

Another symbol that helps us sympathize with the narrator, and understand the conflict between the narrator and Doodle, is the mention of World War I by the boys' mother. Hurst uses the war as a symbol for the conflict between the brothers. The narrator is pushed by a blind source, his pride, to figuratively wage war on Doodle. His embarrassment at having a crippled brother makes him do things he wouldn't otherwise consider. Like the soldiers in a war, he is innocent as he is pushed by a source he doesn't understand.

The third symbol is the ibis, which represents Doodle. In the end, the narrator recognizes that the elegant fragility of the bird mirrors his brother. When he goes back, after abandoning Doodle in a rainstorm, he cries over his dead brother. Hurst writes,

For a long, long time, it seemed forever, I lay there crying, sheltering my fallen scarlet ibis from the heresy of rain.

The tone of the story is one of remorse and regret. From the outset, the story stinks of death as the narrator uses words such as "rotting," "rank," "empty," "untenanted" and "graveyard." Because of the somber tone and the death imagery of the first two paragraphs we already feel sorry of the narrator. Throughout the story he uses retrospect to explain his actions. He was often prideful, selfish and mean. 

This internal conflict in the story also helps us understand the narrator's actions. Before showing Doodle the coffin that was made when it looked like Doodle might die as a baby, the narrator explains his actions:

There is within me (and with sadness I have watched it in others) a knot of cruelty borne by the stream of love, much as our blood sometimes bears the seed of destruction, and at times I was mean to Doodle.

Later, he also admits he taught Doodle to walk, not for his brother's benefit, but for his own because he couldn't abide having an invalid for a brother. He launches into a rigorous training routine for Doodle for the same reason. He very much wants a brother that is equal to the other boys at school. This internal conflict is finally deadly for Doodle. The narrator, frustrated that he cannot remake his brother, runs away from him, ultimately contributing to the boy's death.

In the dialogue between the narrator and the major (lines 113-146), what kind of loss has the major experienced, and how does he respond to his...

The major has just lost his young wife whom he has rather recently married, and he is unable to accept this loss after his injury. The narrator feels "sick for him."

The narrator's initial remark that he and the other wounded soldiers do not go to the war any more indicates their feelings of isolation from the other soldiers, who are fighting. Added to this, their therapy involves the use of new and alien rehabilitation...

The major has just lost his young wife whom he has rather recently married, and he is unable to accept this loss after his injury. The narrator feels "sick for him."

The narrator's initial remark that he and the other wounded soldiers do not go to the war any more indicates their feelings of isolation from the other soldiers, who are fighting. Added to this, their therapy involves the use of new and alien rehabilitation machines, machines of which the men are mistrustful despite the photographs that the doctor provides as evidence of the restorative value of these machines. Certainly, the major has no confidence in the machine which is meant to restore use to his wounded hand even though he has seen a picture of a withered hand like his that became larger after "it had taken a machine course."

One day as the machine works on his withered hand, the narrator practices his Italian, speaking to the major. However, when he says that he would like to be married after he returns to the States, the major argues with the narrator, telling him he is a fool to want to marry. He adds, "A man must not marry."

"Why must not a man marry?"
"....He should place himself in a position to lose. He should find things he cannot lose."

The narrator observes that the major speaks with anger and bitterness, looking straight ahead as he speaks. So, the narrator asks him why the man would necessarily lose in marriage. Petulantly, the major insists that the man will lose and shouts, "Don't argue with me!" He then calls to the attendant to shut off the machine from which he has pulled his hand. Then. the major moves to another therapy room; after a while, he is heard asking the doctor to use the telephone. When he returns he informs the narrator that his young wife has died. "You must forgive me," he adds, apologizing for his earlier behavior.

The narrator "feels sick for him," and he says, "I am so sorry" in a consoling and sympathetic tone. The American feels very badly for the major who was the "greatest fencer in Italy" and can no longer fence; now he suffers the devastating loss of his young wife, whom he has just married recently. 

How did people send messages in olden days?

By "olden days" I will assume you mean the days before technology, or perhaps even the days before the telephone was in widespread use. Letters were a common means of communication prior to the electronic age. Unlike today, when letters take as many as two to three days or longer to travel across the continental United States by mail, letters written during the Victorian era could be exchanged on a much faster basis. Generally the...

By "olden days" I will assume you mean the days before technology, or perhaps even the days before the telephone was in widespread use. Letters were a common means of communication prior to the electronic age. Unlike today, when letters take as many as two to three days or longer to travel across the continental United States by mail, letters written during the Victorian era could be exchanged on a much faster basis. Generally the wealthy classes had servants delivering letters to local residents by carriage or horseback; and in this way an urgent correspondence could take place and several letters a day could be sent and received. The "Pony Express" was a method used to deliver mail in the western states after the Civil War ended and settlements sprung up slowly with the building of the railroads. Horses were used and could cover an amazing amount of territory in a short period of time, making it a very efficient message delivery system.

The invention of the telegraph in the 1830s did allow a sort of electronic message to be sent, but this was mainly for military usage. However, the telegraph could be used to send an urgent message for personal delivery called a telegram. When a soldier was killed in war, as during World War I or World War II, the family would often be notified by a telegram sent by the US government. 

In the third stanza of a poison tree what happens when the speaker told his friend that he was angry? What happens when the speaker does not tell...

If I may, I'd like to clarify your question a bit.  The second line of the poem tells the reader that the speaker admitted his anger to his friend.  That wound up being a good thing, because his anger abated and his wrath went away. 

I was angry with my friend; 

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

Following those two lines in the first stanza, the speaker announces that he was angry again....

If I may, I'd like to clarify your question a bit.  The second line of the poem tells the reader that the speaker admitted his anger to his friend.  That wound up being a good thing, because his anger abated and his wrath went away. 

I was angry with my friend; 

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

Following those two lines in the first stanza, the speaker announces that he was angry again.  But this time, he doesn't tell his foe.  That winds up being a mistake, because the harbored anger begins to grow. 

I was angry with my foe: 

I told it not, my wrath did grow. 

Stanza two narrates how the speaker nurtures and cares for his anger.  It gets bigger and bigger until it bears fruit in stanza three.  

And it grew both day and night. 

Till it bore an apple bright.

The narrator's enemy sees this fruit and attempts to steal it in stanza four.  That winds up being a mistake for him, because by the end of stanza four the foe is dead, and the narrator is really happy.  

In the morning glad I see; 

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.