What type of conflicts (character vs. character, etc.) do Scout and Jem face as a result of Maycomb's rumors about Boo Radley in Harper Lee's To...

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem face both external and internal conflicts as they deal with Maycomb's rumors concerning Arthur (Boo) Radley.At first, due to rumors, Scout and Jem see their neighbor Arthur as a threat, someone to fear, which is why they call him Boo. Because they see him as a threat, they see him as someone to stay away from. For example, when Jem, at Dill's...

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout and Jem face both external and internal conflicts as they deal with Maycomb's rumors concerning Arthur (Boo) Radley.

At first, due to rumors, Scout and Jem see their neighbor Arthur as a threat, someone to fear, which is why they call him Boo. Because they see him as a threat, they see him as someone to stay away from. For example, when Jem, at Dill's urging, invents the game called "Boo Radley" in which they enact all the rumors and myths they have learned concerning Arthur's life, Scout protests the safety of such a game, saying, "He can get out at night when we're all asleep ...," showing us that the children have to believe that Arthur poses a threat to their lives and is someone to stay away from (Ch. 4). Anytime a character fears another character, we can call this a character vs. character conflict.

However, the conflicts concerning Scout, Jem and Arthur Radley go a bit deeper than that. Both children have a powerful urge to learn the truth about what Arthur is really like; their urge is so strong that it overwhelms their better natures. For example, at Dill's urging, Jem begins pulling foolish stunts to assuage his curiosity such as sneaking on to the Radley property to try and deliver a note to Arthur via fishing pole or to try and get a look at Arthur through a window at night. Both stunts were foolish because, as Atticus warns later in Chapter 26, Mr. Nathan [Radley] shoots "at every shadow he sees," just like he shot at the children's shadows when he thought they were the shadows of a person trying to steal his vegetables. Since sneaking on to the Radley property to try to assuage their curiosity is dangerous, their stunts show that their curiosity has overwhelmed their better natures that are ruled by logic, common sense, and respect for their fellow human beings. An internal conflict occurs when a character struggles with two opposing forces inside of the character, such as the character's good nature vs. the character's bad nature. Therefore, we can call Scout's and Jem's conflict between their curiosity vs. their more rational natures an internal conflict.

What is the appendix for

Ten years ago, this question would have received the stock answer: I don't know. While clearly a part of the digestive system, as it is attached to the large intestine right where that component of the digestive system meets the much longer small intestine (the distinction between "large" and "small" in this particular context refers to the respective diameters of the two organs), the function of the appendix remained a mystery until very recently. Other...

Ten years ago, this question would have received the stock answer: I don't know. While clearly a part of the digestive system, as it is attached to the large intestine right where that component of the digestive system meets the much longer small intestine (the distinction between "large" and "small" in this particular context refers to the respective diameters of the two organs), the function of the appendix remained a mystery until very recently. Other than the fact that, in many people, it eventually becomes inflamed and must be removed lest it burst (a process known as "peritonitis" with potentially fatal implications) it had been written off as a basically useless part of human anatomy. As of the past decade, however, researchers have discovered the appendix's main function, which, appropriately enough, is tied to the digestive process. It has long been known that the digestive system utilizes certain "good" bacteria, the presence of which is essential to a healthy, fully-functioning system. What wasn't known until 2007, however, is that the appendix serves the important function of regenerating the body's supply of "good" bacteria when that supply is depleted due to illness. The answer to the question, then, is that the appendix produces bacteria important to the digestive process.

How is Gatsby's choice of music different than parties in East Egg and in New York?

In Chapter Three, when Nick describes Gatsby's parties, he starts by saying, "There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights." A little farther down he describes the orchestra that plays this music at Gatsby's parties:

By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums.  

By "no thin five-piece...

In Chapter Three, when Nick describes Gatsby's parties, he starts by saying, "There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights." A little farther down he describes the orchestra that plays this music at Gatsby's parties:

By seven o’clock the orchestra has arrived, no thin five-piece affair, but a whole pitful of oboes and trombones and saxophones and viols and cornets and piccolos, and low and high drums.  

By "no thin five-piece affair," Nick is probably alluding to the five-piece band that would usually be hired for typical New York parties.

The orchestra plays jazz music and guests dance the Charleston and other flapper dances. During one of Gatsby's parties, the narrator mentions the song playing: "Three O'Clock in the Morning' a neat, sad little waltz of that year" (page 116).

The several references to music and dancing at Gatsby's parties give the reader an image of really extravagant, exciting affairs. The musical references add to the mood of fun and happiness at Gatsby's parties. In contrast, in Chapter Two when Nick goes to New York City with Tom and they have a small party in Tom's rental apartment, there is no mention of music. The atmosphere is smoky, dank, and silly with drunken conversation.

In Chapter Seven, Nick and Gatsby attend a small party at Tom's house in East Egg. Again, there is no mention of music. The atmosphere is hot and stifling in contrast to the cheerful, cool evenings at Gatsby's.

The group goes into New York City and rents a suite at the Plaza Hotel. Although it's hardly a party, they continue drinking whiskey and chatting. There is no music played in the suite, but at one moment they are able to hear the music of "Mendelssohn’s Wedding March from the ballroom below" where somebody is getting married. After the wedding ceremony finishes, Nick and his friends hear jazz music from the ballroom. This reminds Daisy of her wedding with Tom. Wedding music and discussion increases the tension between Tom and Gatsby in this scene.

Can I have a summary of man of the house please?

In Toni Cade Bambara's short story, "Raymond's Run," very little is said about the man of the house, Squeaky's father. 

This story is told from Squeaky's perspective, and primarily centers around Squeaky's passion for running, and her responsibility taking care of her special needs brother Raymond. In the first paragraph of the story, Squeaky mentions her father:

"I don’t have much work to do around the house like some girls. My mother does that. And...

In Toni Cade Bambara's short story, "Raymond's Run," very little is said about the man of the house, Squeaky's father. 

This story is told from Squeaky's perspective, and primarily centers around Squeaky's passion for running, and her responsibility taking care of her special needs brother Raymond. In the first paragraph of the story, Squeaky mentions her father:

"I don’t have much work to do around the house like some girls. My mother does that. And I don’t have to earn my pocket money by hustling; George runs errands for the big boys and sells Christmas cards. And anything else that’s got to get done, my father does. All I have to do in life is mind my brother Raymond, which is enough." 

Readers must infer what it is that Squeaky's father does from her statement that her father takes care of anything else that has to be done. This could be paying bills, doing odd jobs around the house, fixing things, or administering discipline. 

The second reference to Squeaky's father comes when she is describing her prowess as a runner. She says:

"The big kids call me Mercury cause I’m the swiftest thing in the neighborhood. Everybody knows that—except two people who know better, my father and me. He can beat me to Amsterdam Avenue with me having a two-fire-hydrant headstart and him running with his hands in his pockets and whistling. But that’s private information. Cause can you imagine some thirty-five-year-old man stuffing himself into PAL shorts to race little kids?"

From this quote, we learn Squeaky's father's age, thirty-five years old. We also learn that he pushes and challenges Squeaky to be a better runner. He races her after he gives her a head start, and acts like it's so easy to beat her that he can do it with his hands in his pockets and while whistling. PAL is an acronym that stands for Police Athletic League and is an organization in New York City that provides programs and positive interventions from police to youth in the city. So the reference to her father "stuffing himself into PAL shorts" means they were shorts designed for youth or teenagers, and they didn't fit her father. Readers can also infer from this reference that Squeaky's family doesn't have a lot of money. 

This quote also shows how Squeaky feels about her father. She admires him for his running prowess. He is a worthy opponent to her, and she is somewhat embarrassed by him, as well. She makes a point of saying that his ability to beat her is "private information" because she doesn't want people knowing her father stuffs himself into those shorts and races "little kids." 

Which biomes are found in Sweden?

Sweden's most dominant biome is the boreal forest or taiga. Taigas are defined by the dominant plant type which is the coniferous tree. This includes spruces and pine trees. Much of the taiga is covered with permafrost and the temperatures are cold. In Sweden, the northern region of the country is dominated by this biome.

In the southern quarter of Sweden is the broadleaf and mixed forest biome. This biome is characterized by a more...

Sweden's most dominant biome is the boreal forest or taiga. Taigas are defined by the dominant plant type which is the coniferous tree. This includes spruces and pine trees. Much of the taiga is covered with permafrost and the temperatures are cold. In Sweden, the northern region of the country is dominated by this biome.

In the southern quarter of Sweden is the broadleaf and mixed forest biome. This biome is characterized by a more temperate climate and five layers of diverse plant growth. Pines and broadleaf trees make up the tree stratum, or top layer, of growth. This biome is the smallest of the three that make up Sweden.

A portion of Sweden's northeast corner is tundra, which has very little biotic diversity or plant growth because of the extreme cold.

Who is Caliban? How does Ariel torment him?

According to Caliban himself in Act I, Scene 2, he is the only inhabitant of the island that Prospero and Miranda land on:

This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first, Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give me Water with berries in't, and teach me howTo name the bigger light, and how the less, That burn by day and night: and then...

According to Caliban himself in Act I, Scene 2, he is the only inhabitant of the island that Prospero and Miranda land on:

This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, 
Which thou takest from me. When thou camest first, 
Thou strokedst me and madest much of me, wouldst give me 
Water with berries in't, and teach me how
To name the bigger light, and how the less, 
That burn by day and night: and then I loved thee 
And show'd thee all the qualities o' the isle, 
The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place and fertile: 
Cursed be I that did so! All the charms
Of Sycorax, toads, beetles, bats, light on you! 
For I am all the subjects that you have, 
Which first was mine own king: and here you sty me 
In this hard rock, whiles you do keep from me 
The rest o' the island.

In this speech, Caliban indicates both that the island is his because it was his mother's and he is its sole inhabitant, "For I am all the subjects that you have."

In Act 3, Scene 2, Ariel the fairy torments Caliban by pretending to be Trinculo, a jester on the shipwrecked vessel whose crew lands on the island.  For example, Caliban tells Stephano and Trinculo:

I am subject to a tyrant,/A sorcerer, that by his cunning hath/Cheated me of the island

When Ariel enters invisibly to mimic Trinculo and proclaim "Thou liest," Caliban's response indicates his tormented and enraged state:

Thou liest, thou/jesting monkey, thou!/I would my valient master would destroy thee./I do not lie.

Ariel continues to repeat the accusation and further plots against Caliban by telling Prospero of Caliban's attempt on his life: "This will I tell my master."

Why did Patrick Henry use rhetorical questions in his "Speech to the Virginia Convention"?

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. As such, it's inevitably a very important component of public speaking, especially during periods of great political tumult. Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Virginia Convention certainly falls into this category. Quite a large number of delegates to the Convention still thought it possible to reach some kind of amicable settlement with the British. Henry's speech was a largely successful attempt to disabuse such men of what he regarded...

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. As such, it's inevitably a very important component of public speaking, especially during periods of great political tumult. Patrick Henry's famous speech to the Virginia Convention certainly falls into this category. Quite a large number of delegates to the Convention still thought it possible to reach some kind of amicable settlement with the British. Henry's speech was a largely successful attempt to disabuse such men of what he regarded as their naivety. 

Rhetorical questions are not posed to glean opinions; rather they're a way of forcing each member of a speech's audience to ask themselves the question being raised:

"Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?"

Ask yourself this question, says Henry, if the British really want peace, then why are they sending more ships and troops to America? Henry emphatically answers his original question in the negative, but he's also hoping that some of the waverers in the Convention will arrive at the same conclusion.

"The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?"

Henry's using a clever rhetorical strategy here. He's presenting his audience with a fait accompli. The war has already begun; the only question now is what are we going to do about it. Are we going to just stand around doing nothing, or are we going to fight?  Do we want a nice easy life at the cost of being slaves? Using such black-and-white rhetorical questions to frame the issue presents the assembled delegates with a stark choice and makes it hard for them to oppose Henry's radical position.

Why does Jem ask Scout not to do anything to antagonize Aunt Alexandra? (This is referencing the time when Scout asked what "rape" was.)

Chapter 14 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird starts out with Scout hearing someone say obscurely, "They c'n go loose and rape up the countryside for all of 'em who run this county care" (135). She remembers that she had asked Calpurnia what the word rape means, but Cal told her to ask her father. So when she hears this comment, she decides to ask him. Atticus doesn't seem to catch on to what...

Chapter 14 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird starts out with Scout hearing someone say obscurely, "They c'n go loose and rape up the countryside for all of 'em who run this county care" (135). She remembers that she had asked Calpurnia what the word rape means, but Cal told her to ask her father. So when she hears this comment, she decides to ask him. Atticus doesn't seem to catch on to what Scout is saying and has her explain as Aunt Alexandra listens in. Before Scout can get an answer, Aunt Alexandra shifts the dramatic focus off of the question at hand to the apparently unfathomable fact that the kids visited a colored church with Calpurnia. 

Then Scout forgets about her first question about rape and mentions that Calpurnia had also invited the kids to visit her home sometime. Scout asks Atticus if that would be possible and Aunt Alexandra says, "You may not" (136). Scout says, "I didn't ask you" and Atticus makes her apologize to her aunt. The adults get into an argument and Scout goes off to the bathroom to regroup. This is where Jem gets involved and asks her, "Scout, try not to antagonize Aunty, here?" (137).

Jem explains that the trial is weighing heavily on Atticus's mind, but that's all he can really explain from his twelve year-old perspective. What he means to tell her is Atticus doesn't need Scout to get Aunt Alexandra all screaming and arguing with him about the way the kids are being raised because he's bearing the weight of the community on his shoulders as it is with the Tom Robinson case. Rather than articulate this properly, though, Jem tells Scout that he'll spank her if she antagonizes Aunty again. Scout never gets the exact definition of rape explained to her, either. She partly figures it out later while watching the trial.

Discuss how, on its surface, the ode "To Autumn" seems to be little more than description, an illustration of a season. But underneath its...

This ode is about a moment in time but it also is about change and transformation. Therefore, time is a significant theme here. Consider the first two lines: 

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, 

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; 

Autumn is the season when the warm weather is turning cold. This produces condensation and "mist." Autumn is the end of the growing season. It is the season when farmers harvest their crops. Ideally, the harvest is bursting with "fruitfulness." Thus, it is a time when things are ripe and full of life.

Keats is also making a comparison between the progression of seasons and the progression of the day. Spring is morning and rebirth, Summer is the bulk of the day and growth, Autumn is evening and harvest, Winter is night and death. Here, Keats is comparing autumn to the evening. Thus, autumn is a close friend of the "maturing sun" or the sun as it sets at the end of the day. 

Although notions of evening, the end of growth, and the approaching winter might be described in melancholy terms, Keats celebrates autumn for its particular beauty. The first stanza contains imagery of fruits and plants fully ripe and therefore at their peak conditions. Despite the approaching end of things that upcoming winter represents, autumn is a beautiful time and notion in and of itself. 

The second stanza illustrates ideas about the harvest. Keats describes autumn as "the gleaner." That is, one who gathers the grain. Given the suggested notions of evening at maturing age, he also seems to be saying that autumn is a time for gathering the fruits of our life's labor. It is therefore a time to gather, appreciate, and extract from life whatever we can. Perhaps he is suggesting that as we get older, we should appreciate (gather/glean) life especially in these later stages. 

In the final stanza, the speaker (Keats) basically tells Autumn not to worry about the songs of spring. Autumn has its own songs. In other words, this season, the evening, and the mature stage of life all have elements to be celebrated. This poem is about appreciating autumn as a season. But the symbolism provokes the reader to consider the passage of time in order to appreciate the end of the day and the end stages or the penultimate times of life. 

Name three foreign policy crises of the years 1790-1811, and explain why each was so controversial.

There were several foreign policies crises that we faced between 1790-1811. One crisis dealt with Spain and Great Britain. Both countries were interfering with our trade in the 1790s. Both countries were encouraging Native Americans to attack us. There were some people who wanted us to go to war against these countries. However, President Washington felt going to war would be a mistake and instead negotiated treaties with these countries to try to resolve the issues that existed.

Another crisis also dealt with our trade during the presidency of John Adams. France believed we were becoming more friendly and more supportive with Great Britain in their conflict with France. France began to seize our ships. When we sent representatives to France to discuss this issue, they refused to meet with us. When they eventually said they would meet with us, they wanted us to pay them a bribe to talk with them. Americans were outraged and were willing to prepare for war if necessary. President Adams resolved this crisis through negotiations, which didn’t sit well with some Americans.

A third crisis occurred in the 1800s. Both France and Great Britain were again interfering with our trade because they were at war with each other. We decided to stop all trading with countries to protect our ships. This failed miserably because we needed to trade. When we decided to resume trading with other countries except France and Great Britain that also failed because we did so much trade with Great Britain and France. Ultimately, these trade issues led to the War of 1812 against Great Britain.

We also had issues with the Native Americans. The Native Americans were attacking us in the Ohio Valley. We attacked them in the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The Native Americans lost and were required to give up land and move west as a result of the Treaty of Greenville.

We faced several crises in foreign policy between 1790-1811. Most of them dealt with our right to trade.

How is the magnitude of the magnetic field of an electromagnet enhanced?

An electromagnet is, in very simple terms, a material that behaves like a magnet when electricity passes through it and loses the magnetic properties when electricity is switched off. A simple example of an electromagnet is an iron nail wrapped with coils of wire connected to a battery. The magnetic field strength of an electromagnet of this type is given as:

H = I x N / L

Where H is the magnetic field strength,...

An electromagnet is, in very simple terms, a material that behaves like a magnet when electricity passes through it and loses the magnetic properties when electricity is switched off. A simple example of an electromagnet is an iron nail wrapped with coils of wire connected to a battery. The magnetic field strength of an electromagnet of this type is given as:

H = I x N / L

Where H is the magnetic field strength, I is the current passing through the coil, N is the number of turns and L is the length of the conducting wire.

Thus, magnetic field strength is directly proportional to the number of turns in the coil and can be increased by increasing the amount of these turns (or N). The magnetic field can also be increased by increasing the current passing through the coils. Another way of increasing the magnetic field strength is by changing the core material to something that can concentrate the magnetic flux.

Hope this helps. 

Is Steinbeck fair to the California landowners? Can you find any people in the novel who try to be kind to the migrants who arrive penniless in...

Steinbeck portrays the landowners in both Oklahoma and California as self-serving and callous. Their main interest is to make a profit from their crops. Their attitude toward the migrant workers is similar to that shown toward the slaves in the pre-Civil War South: they are mere tools to be used in their goal of making money. This reflects Steinbeck’s political leaning toward socialism, where government has control of production and distribution. When left to capitalism,...

Steinbeck portrays the landowners in both Oklahoma and California as self-serving and callous. Their main interest is to make a profit from their crops. Their attitude toward the migrant workers is similar to that shown toward the slaves in the pre-Civil War South: they are mere tools to be used in their goal of making money. This reflects Steinbeck’s political leaning toward socialism, where government has control of production and distribution. When left to capitalism, in which owners make a profit they partially distribute to their employees in the form of wages, the workers will become victims of the greed of the owners. Steinbeck believes the government is the savior of the common man, not the landowners. The gentleman who manages the migrant camp is an example of the beneficent nature of government. He (on behalf of the government) is the only one who treats the migrants as human beings. The camp has facilities for cleaning, as well as self-government. The only authority is the people themselves, with the government providing whatever is necessary for life. The landowners are portrayed as a threat from the outside, ready to rush in and destroy the migrants.

Throughout the sixth part of The Book Thief, Death reveals more info about himself. How does this help explain his fascination with Liesel?

Liesel provides Death with distraction and moments of beauty.

Death is haunted by humans.  In this chapter, we learn a little more about why.  He explains that he is not the stereotypical image of the bringer of death that we picture, like the Grim Reaper.  He is a more complex presence.  Death doesn't bringdeath, he cleans up after it.  He also never gets time off, and has to see sadness and pain everywhere.  The...

Liesel provides Death with distraction and moments of beauty.

Death is haunted by humans.  In this chapter, we learn a little more about why.  He explains that he is not the stereotypical image of the bringer of death that we picture, like the Grim Reaper.  He is a more complex presence.  Death doesn't bring death, he cleans up after it.  He also never gets time off, and has to see sadness and pain everywhere.  The reader feels sorry for Death, rather than being afraid of him!

They keep triggering inside me. They harass my memory. I see them tall in their heaps, all mounted on top of each other. There is air like plastic, a horizon like setting glue. There are skies manufactured by people, punctured and leaking, and there are soft, coal-colored clouds, beating like black hearts. (Part 6, Ch. 41)

Death worries about the “leftover humans.”  He has to face humans in their last moments, or after their last moments, all of the time.  Yet some of them stick with him.  Death tries to focus on colors, taking little micro-vacations in the beauty around him, but it doesn’t always work.

In Liesel, Death finds these “strewn pieces of beauty.” 

She’s carrying some snow down to a basement, of all places. Handfuls of frosty water can make almost anyone smile, but it cannot make them forget. (Part 6, Ch. 41)

Liesel is clever, compassionate, and troubled.  She is haunted by death, just as Death is haunted by her.  From the moment Death comes for her brother, the two are linked.  Liesel captures Death’s imagination and her attention.  He finds a vacation in her, because she is a beautiful person.  He reviews the moments of her life and enjoys watching her as if he is her friend.

In Liesel, Death sees one of his leftover humans.  She saw her brother die, and Death was there.  Yet Liesel makes the best of some really bad situations.  In Nazi Germany, suffering is everywhere.  Liesel is a bright spot in the darkness.

In the short story "Thank You M'am" what is a theme I could use and how?

Theme is the underlying message of a literary work. Langston Hughes communicates the theme of dignity and trust in his short story “Thank You M’am.” When Roger attempts to steal the imposing Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’ purse in order to get money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes she has the choice of calling the police or teaching him a lesson herself. She decides to take him home to teach him a...

Theme is the underlying message of a literary work. Langston Hughes communicates the theme of dignity and trust in his short story “Thank You M’am.” When Roger attempts to steal the imposing Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’ purse in order to get money to buy a pair of blue suede shoes she has the choice of calling the police or teaching him a lesson herself. She decides to take him home to teach him a life lesson he will long remember.

Mrs. Jones is a hard working, dignified woman who understands what it is like to be young, poor, and uncared for. She wants Roger to realize that in spite of life’s obstacles he will fare better if he maintains his dignity and trustworthiness. In their short encounter, she provides him with that lesson by taking him to her small room where she shares her supper with him. She has him wash up, and gives him opportunities to take her purse and run off. He seems to surprise himself by demonstrating that he can be trusted. He does not leave with her purse instead he stays and eats with her while she tells him a bit about her life. In the end, Mrs. Jones provides him with money for the new shoes. She does not lecture him or yell at him, instead she allows him to have self dignity and to demonstrate that he can be trusted. He is so overcome by her kindness that he has a hard time thanking her. In this short story, theme is exhibited in the dialogue and actions of characters.

Why does Telemachus doubt that it is indeed his father, Odysseus, who he sees enter the swineherd’s hut?

The reunion between Odysseus and Telemachus is very moving. Odysseus, still in disguise as a beggar, meets Telemachus in the swineherd's hut. Athena tells Odysseus it is time for him to remove his disguise and reveal his true nature to his son, so she waves her golden wand and returns him to normal. Odysseus tells Telemachus that he is his father, but Telemachus cannot believe him. After so many years of waiting for his father...

The reunion between Odysseus and Telemachus is very moving. Odysseus, still in disguise as a beggar, meets Telemachus in the swineherd's hut. Athena tells Odysseus it is time for him to remove his disguise and reveal his true nature to his son, so she waves her golden wand and returns him to normal. Odysseus tells Telemachus that he is his father, but Telemachus cannot believe him. After so many years of waiting for his father to return, Telemachus believes that one of the gods must be playing a trick on him. He exclaims:

You are not my father, but some god is flattering me with vain hopes that I may grieve the more hereafter; no mortal man could of himself contrive to do as you have been doing, and make yourself old and young at a moment's notice, unless a god were with him. A second ago you were old and all in rags, and now you are like some god come down from heaven.

However, Odysseus reassures his son that it is indeed he. Thus reassured, Telemachus embraces his father in a very touching scene.

Nevertheless, the reunion between Odysseus and Telemachus is also ironic. As the royal family, the king and prince should have reunited in the palace, surrounded by great pomp and splendor. However, this king and prince reunited in a servant's hut!

What is the meaning of "snorted," as used by Donne in line 4 of the first verse?

"The Good-Morrow" can be found in John Donne's Songs and Sonnets which was published in 1633.  It chronicles the thoughts of a young man upon awakening next to his beloved.

In order to grasp the full meaning of the use of the word "snorted," as used in this particular writing, you need to understand the reference to the Seven Sleepers. 

Trajan Decius was a Roman emperor who was zealous in his persecution of Christians....

"The Good-Morrow" can be found in John Donne's Songs and Sonnets which was published in 1633.  It chronicles the thoughts of a young man upon awakening next to his beloved.

In order to grasp the full meaning of the use of the word "snorted," as used in this particular writing, you need to understand the reference to the Seven Sleepers. 

Trajan Decius was a Roman emperor who was zealous in his persecution of Christians.  He went so far as to revive the "art form" of sacrifice during pagan worship.  The Catholics had a children's legend, Seven Sleepers, which told of the flight of seven children. These seven children were believers in Christ and as such were sought by Decius in order to be murdered. The children took refuge in a miraculous cave where they slept for hundreds of years.  As you can imagine, seven children soundly sleeping for such a long time would produce quite a bit of slumbering sounds, or snorting. In the poem, "snorting" is used as another word for snoring or loud sounds made while sleeping.  

What is a normal ray? |

In optics, a normal ray is a ray that is incident at 90 degrees to a surface. That is, the light ray is perpendicular or normal to the surface. The angle of incidence (angle an incident light ray makes with a normal to the surface) of the normal ray is 0 degrees. Since, the angle of incidence and angle of reflection are equal to each other, a normal ray will retrace its path upon reflection...

In optics, a normal ray is a ray that is incident at 90 degrees to a surface. That is, the light ray is perpendicular or normal to the surface. The angle of incidence (angle an incident light ray makes with a normal to the surface) of the normal ray is 0 degrees. Since, the angle of incidence and angle of reflection are equal to each other, a normal ray will retrace its path upon reflection from a mirror (since angle of reflection will also be 0 degrees. Another characteristic of normal ray is that it does not undergo refraction as it moves from one medium to another. Light refracts as it crosses the interface separating two media with different refractive indices. In case of a normal ray, no such refraction takes place.

Hope this helps. 

On what page does Timothy die?

Timothy dies at the very end of Chapter 15. In my copy of the novel, it's on page 112:

I said, "Timothy," but he did not answer me. His hand was cold and stiff in mine.

Old Timothy, of Charlotte Amalie, was dead.

If you weren't sure where to find Timothy's death or another event in the story, and if you have to find it quickly rather than waiting for help, there are a few...

Timothy dies at the very end of Chapter 15. In my copy of the novel, it's on page 112:

I said, "Timothy," but he did not answer me. His hand was cold and stiff in mine.

Old Timothy, of Charlotte Amalie, was dead.

If you weren't sure where to find Timothy's death or another event in the story, and if you have to find it quickly rather than waiting for help, there are a few things you can try:

First, you can pick a spot in the novel where you think the event probably happened, then start skimming for a key word, like "dead," "death," or "died." (In this case, for example, you know that Timothy's death comes near the end of the story--because he spent so much time helping Phillip and keeping him company on the island. But you also know that it happens before Phillip gets rescued. So you would start looking toward the end of the novel, but not the very last chapter.)

Second, you can use a search function in an electronic copy of the novel to search quickly for a key word. This is your fastest method, but you have to have access to that electronic version.

Lastly, if you have no idea where the event might be, try this: open the book to the middle, and start reading just a little bit to see what's going on in the story. Now think: did your event happen before or after this? Scoot in the direction you think your event happens, and continue reading small snippets of the text, heading forward or backward based on what you remember about the story until you find the event you're searching for.

What were the short-term and the long-term consequences of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?

Lewis and Clark explored the northern portion of the Louisiana Purchase and the Oregon Territory. Their exploration, along with explorations of Zebulon Pike and of Stephen Long, had both short-term and long-term effects.

There were short-term effects of the exploration of Lewis and Clark. One short-term effect was that they were able to provide important geographic information. This information led to the creation of maps of the region. They were also able to gather scientific...

Lewis and Clark explored the northern portion of the Louisiana Purchase and the Oregon Territory. Their exploration, along with explorations of Zebulon Pike and of Stephen Long, had both short-term and long-term effects.

There were short-term effects of the exploration of Lewis and Clark. One short-term effect was that they were able to provide important geographic information. This information led to the creation of maps of the region. They were also able to gather scientific information about the area they explored. We learned about the wildlife, the soil, and the climate of the region. We also learned about some of the people who lived in the areas they explored.

There were long-term effects of their exploration. Based on the information they gathered, we believed the Great Plains region was a worthless desert. Thus, when policies were developed to deal with the Native Americans, it was decided to relocate the Native Americans to the Great Plains. This led to the forced removal of the Native Americans to the lands west of the Mississippi River beginning around 1830. Their exploration also encouraged other people to head west. People began to move to the Oregon Territory following what became known as the Oregon Trail. The discovery of the South Pass made it possible to travel through the Rocky Mountains to reach the lands bordering the Pacific Ocean. This helped the Oregon Territory grow as Americans moved to that area.

The exploration of Lewis and Clark had many effects, both in the short-term and in the long-term.

Describe the moral atmosphere of your junior high and high school. Were there any overt attempts made to teach morality and encourage students to...

Obviously, as an educator, I do not know where you went to school nor anything about the moral atmosphere of your school; it is unlikely to be identical to that of the school I attended before you were born. Thus I will focus on the final set of questions about the teaching of morality.

Schools share with parents certain duties of teaching and enforcing moral codes. To take a relatively non-controversial example, schools enforce...

Obviously, as an educator, I do not know where you went to school nor anything about the moral atmosphere of your school; it is unlikely to be identical to that of the school I attended before you were born. Thus I will focus on the final set of questions about the teaching of morality.

Schools share with parents certain duties of teaching and enforcing moral codes. To take a relatively non-controversial example, schools enforce rules against violence. As a society, we believe that we do not resolve conflicts by killing or assaulting one another. This is taught both overtly in the attitudes of our readings and discussions and also in school rules that will expel students for violent acts.

Schools also have some responsibility to teach about and enforce other commonly accepted laws; illegal drugs are forbidden, as are use of cigarettes and alcohol. Again, these rules and attempts to educate students about drugs and prevent teen substance abuse are relatively uncontroversial. Even in current debates over nationwide legalization of marijuana, most people agree that use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana should be age-restricted.

An area that is somewhat more controversial is sexual mores, as they vary with culture and religion. On the one hand, one can argue that teen STDs and pregnancy are a problem, and that the more students know about how to prevent them the better. Some people, however, feel that sexual education should be limited to teaching abstinence and should either not discuss homosexuality or present it only in a negative light. My own belief is that one should give students detailed and comprehensive medical information, and then survey the views of various different cultures objectively, explaining that different cultures have different views of how one ought to behave, but still distinguishing between culturally mandated traditions (i.e. whether premarital sex, polygamy, etc. are considered ethical) and science (unprotected sex can lead to STDs and pregnancy). 

Throughout the book, what are some instances of Arnold's personal growth? Please provide examples and discuss the significance of these events.

The protagonist of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is Arnold "Junior" Spirit, usually referred to as Junior. Based on the thinly-fictionalized experiences of the author, this is a coming-of-age story about a Native American boy growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation and having to negotiate the conflicts between white and Indian society, balancing his desire for an education with his loyalty to his tribal heritage.  

The first example of his personal growth is when his dog Oscar gets sick and his family cannot afford to take him to the veterinarian. At first he is angry about the way his family seems to accept the need to kill Oscar, but when he sees his father crying, he begins to understand that the problem is not that his father is cruel, but rather that extreme poverty makes it impossible to save Oscar. 

One major example of his personal growth is his decision to attend a white school outside the reservation. Although he knows that he is likely to face racial discrimination from the white students and that he will also be ostracized by many of his Native American friends, who regard this as a betrayal of their culture, he nevertheless gathers up the courage to do what is needed to develop his intellect.

Another example of Junior's personal growth is his decision to make friends with Gordy. It marks a point when he begins thinking of the white children in the school as people he can interact with comfortably on an individual basis, who have hopes and fears just like his own. 

When he draws a cartoon for Rowdy, we see him growing up in a way in which he begins to realize that what he really wants is not to become exclusively part of white society, despite his concerns about the alcoholism and violence on the reservation. Instead, he wishes to belong to both cultures and he is developing the strength to reach out to his former friend.

After Junior has been attempting to conceal his poverty, he is forced to borrow money from Roger, the star high school basketball player whom Junior has always considered a racist. Not only does Roger loan him the money, but on discovering Junior's issues with transportation, he offers to help him out. It is at this point that Junior has his most important epiphany, realizing:

"...If you let people into your life a little bit, they can be pretty damn amazing."

What is the importance of the capillarity of water?

Capillarity is sometimes referred to as capillary action. Capillary action is ability of a liquid, such as water, to rise up or fall down a narrow space such as tube without the assistance of external forces such as gravity.

The capillary action of water is important because it allows plants to transport nutrients from their roots to structures that are located all the way at the top of the plant.

In water, capillary action is...

Capillarity is sometimes referred to as capillary action. Capillary action is ability of a liquid, such as water, to rise up or fall down a narrow space such as tube without the assistance of external forces such as gravity.

The capillary action of water is important because it allows plants to transport nutrients from their roots to structures that are located all the way at the top of the plant.

In water, capillary action is due to the hydrogen bonds amongst the molecules of water. Hydrogen bonds exist between a hydrogen atom that is attached to an electronegative atom in one molecule and an electronegative atom within a second molecule.

Hydrogen bonds result from electronegativity differences. Electronegativity is the likelihood that an atom will attract a pair of bonded electrons. The oxygen is much more electronegative than hydrogen. Thus, the oxygen in a water molecule pulls the electrons towards it more than the hydrogen atoms do. Therefore, oxygen becomes slightly negative. Likewise, the hydrogens in a water molecule become slightly positive.

As mentioned above, the slight charges within a water molecule result in water attracting other water molecules. When molecules of a substance attract one another it is called cohesion.

The slight charges of water molecules also cause them to attract other substances that also have slightly positive and negative charges. This is called adhesion.

Capillary action is a result of the adhesion of water molecules to the sides of a small tube and the cohesion of water molecules to one another. As a result of these forces, water “sticks” to the side of a small tube and to one another. When the adhesion of water to the surface of a tube is stronger than the cohesion of water molecules to one another, the water molecules move up the tube. This upward movement is called capillary action.

How has the refrigerator impacted society in a negative way?

The proliferation of electric refrigerators has had a negative impact on the environment for many reasons. Throughout the history of refrigeration, harmful coolants have been utilized. As an example chlorofluorocarbons were popular in refrigerators as a coolant for decades. Scientists realized that this gas was collecting in the upper part of our atmosphere and destroying the ozone that protects us from harmful rays from the sun. The early refrigerators utilized toxic chemicals like ammonia and...

The proliferation of electric refrigerators has had a negative impact on the environment for many reasons. Throughout the history of refrigeration, harmful coolants have been utilized. As an example chlorofluorocarbons were popular in refrigerators as a coolant for decades. Scientists realized that this gas was collecting in the upper part of our atmosphere and destroying the ozone that protects us from harmful rays from the sun. The early refrigerators utilized toxic chemicals like ammonia and sulfur dioxide that at times leaked and killed people.

Of the many appliances in the home, the refrigerator accounts for a larger amount of the electricity consumed. This means that refrigerators account for a large amount of the demand for electricity. Aside from the fiscal strain this places on families, power plants emit carbon and other greenhouse gasses that are responsible for global warming. In this way, refrigerators have had a negative effect on the environment and society.

At the time this story was written, how much was 4 British pounds a week worth in American money?

There are several ways to try to evaluate how much money the phony Red-Headed League paid Jabez Wilson for copying pages of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

The exchange rate for American dollars to British pounds in 1891 was $4.86 to 1. Therefore, Jabez earned $19.44 per week for his skills as a scribe.That doesn't seem like much, but we have to consider the effects of inflation. A dollar in 1891 would buy much more...

There are several ways to try to evaluate how much money the phony Red-Headed League paid Jabez Wilson for copying pages of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

The exchange rate for American dollars to British pounds in 1891 was $4.86 to 1. Therefore, Jabez earned $19.44 per week for his skills as a scribe. That doesn't seem like much, but we have to consider the effects of inflation. A dollar in 1891 would buy much more than a dollar in 2016. Plugging $19 into an inflation calculator website (below) shows that the equivalent amount in 2016 is $487, so with rounding we can say Jabez was earning the equivalent of $500 per week in 2016 American dollars. He was working about 20 hours per week for the League, so that was a rate of $25 per hour. Thinking of that another way, he was earning about 3.5 times the current U.S. minimum wage, the wage one might expect to earn for unskilled labor such as Jabez performed. Jabez was sorry to see his gravy train end; if he had been able to keep up his duties for an entire year, he would have pocketed $26,000, a significant boost to his income.

Although significant, even that amount doesn't really convey the plush position Jabez thought he had landed by virtue of his red hair. One can also consider the "economic status value" of that amount in 1891. This measurement takes into account the comparative earnings of others in the society. According to Measuringwealth.com, the economic status value of 4 pounds in 1891 is equivalent to 2917 pounds today, which equates to $4053. That means that his economic status compared to those around him would be similar to someone in our society earning $210,000 per year--from part-time work. Now we can see why Mr. Jabez Wilson considered the loss of this employment a "grave enough" problem. 

How does the economic development of Brazil compare with Cuba from 2012-2016?

This is a fairly short period---four years is not even enough to capture the whole business cycle, much less a long-run development trajectory. Also, 2016 hasn't finished yet, so any figures such as GDP and unemployment for 2016 can only be projections.

That said, we do have figures on Brazil and Cuba for the last few years that would allow us to get some idea about where they are and where they might be going in terms of economic development.

The first thing to note is that these are indeed highly comparable countries in terms of level of development. Both are Latin American countries at a moderate, Second World level of development. Brazil's nominal GDP per capita is about $6,000, while Cuba's nominal GDP per capita is about $5,000. A better measure in terms of real standard of living is GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP), on which Brazil is at $15,400 and Cuba is at $20,000. Prices are lower in Cuba than they are in Brazil, but both places have much lower prices than the United States.

Using PPP as our guideline, we can see that Cuba seems to be undergoing quite strong economic growth lately, perhaps due to the loosening of trade restrictions with the US. The World Bank 2014 figures have not been released for Cuba yet, but using World Bank figures, Cuba's per capita GDP PPP rose 4% from 2012 to 2013, which is quite a healthy growth rate for a country at this level of development. Brazil only grew 3.3% from 2012 to 2013, and from 2013 to 2014, they grew a mere 0.7%---which would be slow even for a First World country. By other estimates, Brazil's economy actually shrank in 2013---meaning that Brazil is now in recession.

The gap between Cuba and Brazil is projected to continue in coming years; by 2020 Cuba is projected to have a per capita GDP PPP of $24,800 while Brazil is only projected to reach $18,800. This would mean that in real terms the standard of living in Cuba is about 30% better than that of Brazil.

Of course, these projections could be wrong, and it will really depend on whether Brazil can implement good fiscal and monetary policies to bring themselves out of this recession. Economies fluctuate over time, and it's dangerous to forecast long-run economic development on the basis of just a few years.

What is Poe suggesting about the limits of human power to escape death and fate?

Ultimately, Poe suggests that humans -- no matter their identity or circumstances -- do not have the power to escape death.  As mortals, we are unable to avoid death, our natural human fate, forever.  Death will always, eventually, come for us all. 

The prince has a lot of money, but it doesn't matter; his money cannot save him.  The prince has an isolated abbey where he can hide away with all his friends; it cannot...

Ultimately, Poe suggests that humans -- no matter their identity or circumstances -- do not have the power to escape death.  As mortals, we are unable to avoid death, our natural human fate, forever.  Death will always, eventually, come for us all. 

The prince has a lot of money, but it doesn't matter; his money cannot save him.  The prince has an isolated abbey where he can hide away with all his friends; it cannot save him.  He has the power and ability to remove himself from the location where the Red Death is decimating the country's population, to surround himself with only happy and healthy friends who bring no risk of disease; these cannot save him either.  He surrounds himself with imaginative fancies, grotesque dreams of feverish imaginations designed to distract himself and everyone else from their mortality, but that's all these dreams can ever be: a distraction only (and even then, they are imperfect because people continue to be reminded of their mortality every time the clock chimes).  They do not and cannot actually shield him from death, as the Red Death makes very clear.

How have the Van Daans, the Franks, and Mr. Dussel changed physically and mentally from the start of the play to the beginning of act 2?

In the beginning of the play, everyone is healthy but very anxious about going into hiding. They fear for their lives each day, but they also have more hope and peace than other Jews because they have Miep, Mr. Kraler, and others to help them each day. Living in cramped quarters with seven other people, twenty-four hours a day for about a year and a half has a lot of side-effects, though. People get to...

In the beginning of the play, everyone is healthy but very anxious about going into hiding. They fear for their lives each day, but they also have more hope and peace than other Jews because they have Miep, Mr. Kraler, and others to help them each day. Living in cramped quarters with seven other people, twenty-four hours a day for about a year and a half has a lot of side-effects, though. People get to know one another so well that pushing each other's buttons becomes very easy, for example. As food becomes less available, everyone's hunger increases as well. As a result, act 2 opens with Anne mentioning that everyone is "a little thinner," the Van Daans' arguments are worse than ever, and she and her mother still don't understand one another. 

The residents in hiding are also a little more desperate at the beginning of act 2 than they were in act 1. For example, Mr. Van Daan asks Miep to sell his wife's fur coat without asking permission. This is something he would never have done in act 1. Mr. Van Daan sells the coat mostly to buy cigarettes for himself, which doesn't make his wife appreciate him at all. Mr. Dussel has become more concerned with the size and distribution of food because he believes that Mrs. Van Daan always gives bigger portions to her husband. Hunger drives Dussel and Mr. Van Daan to be constantly worried about food and survival. The stage directions even say that Dussel is "disgruntled" with the way things are in the annex.

Therefore, most everyone hiding in the annex is stressed out, hungry, and easily irritated with one another. After being cooped up for nearly 18 months and struggling to survive the war on much less than they are used to, these feelings and physical afflictions seem to be quite normal under the circumstances. 

How do snakes excrete or reproduce?

Snakes are classified in the group known as reptiles. These are organisms with dry skin that is protected by a scaly covering. They have adapted to life on land and have well-developed lungs.

In terms of reproduction, snakes have internal fertilization as do all reptiles. Males and females join their cloacas together and sperm is placed into the female cloaca. They have eggs that are known as amniotic eggs with various membranes that assist in the development of the embryo and provide a food supply.

While most reptiles lay eggs that develop externally, there are some Squamata (snakes and lizards) that are known as ovoviviparous and the young can be born alive. There is no placenta, however, as in mammals. The reptile that develops is nourished by food stored within the egg along with some nourishment and oxygen provided by the cells in the female oviduct. The oviduct is where the fertilized eggs develop. An example of a snake that is ovoviviparous is the garter snake.

Adaptations for the excretion of wastes in snakes include the lungs, kidneys, and cloaca. Snakes can excrete carbon dioxide from their lungs.

Snakes have kidneys that are paired. They can excrete their liquid wastes as urine which contains ammonia or urea depending on where the reptile lives. If it lives on land, the more toxic ammonia is converted to less toxic uric acid and is excreted with a small amount of water. If the reptile lives in the water, it will excrete ammonia which is directly passed into their watery habitat. They lack a urinary bladder and the wastes are sent from kidneys to the cloaca to be excreted.

Feces from undigested food materials are passed from the intestine into the cloaca and expelled.

The cloaca is a common duct for many purposes in reptiles-reproduction as well as the excretion of wastes.

I have attached a link about snakes with a nice labeled diagram.

What does Pony mean when he says, “I was supposed to be the deep one” in The Outsiders?

Pony is impressed to realize that there is more to Johnny than he thought.

When Pony and Johnny are on the run after the death of Bob the Soc, Pony gets to know Johnny better.  It has been clear that Pony is considered the brains of the greaser gang.  He gets good grades, likes to read books, and is generally a deep thinker.

Johnny brings Pony a book, Gone with the Wind, because he...

Pony is impressed to realize that there is more to Johnny than he thought.

When Pony and Johnny are on the run after the death of Bob the Soc, Pony gets to know Johnny better.  It has been clear that Pony is considered the brains of the greaser gang.  He gets good grades, likes to read books, and is generally a deep thinker.

Johnny brings Pony a book, Gone with the Wind, because he remembers that Pony once mentioned being interested in it.  Johnny thinks that he book will pass the time, and he actually is quite taken with it.

It amazed me how Johnny could get more meaning out of some of the stuff in there than I could--- I was supposed to be the deep one. Johnny had failed a year in school and never made good grades--- he couldn't grasp anything that was shoved at him too fast … (Ch. 5)

Johnny does not know much about the Civil War, the time period in which the book takes place, but he is very interested in the plot and finds deeper meaning in it than Pony thought he was capable of.  He realizes that even though Johnny never did well in school and his teachers thought he was dumb, he is actually quite bright.

When they notice a sunrise, Pony recites a Robert Frost poem that it reminds him of called “Nothing Gold Can Stay.”  Johnny likes the poem and comments that Pony seems to be unique in his family and in the gang.

"Well," I said, thinking this over, "you ain't like any of the gang.  I mean, I couldn't tell Two-Bit or Steve or even Darry about the sunrise and clouds and stuff. I couldn't even remember that poem around them. I mean, they just don't dig. Just you and Sodapop. And maybe Cherry Valance." (Ch. 5)

When Johnny is lying in the hospital about to die, he remembers the poem and tells Pony to stay gold.  This is a reference to the poem because he is telling Pony to stay innocent.  He wants him to get out of the gang life and take advantage of his intelligence to get an education.

Johnny is the perfect example of not judging a person based on looks.  He may seem like he is just a dropout gang member, but in fact he is a deep thinker.  Johnny and Ponyboy are both young men with more to them than meets the eye.

What kind of person was Scout before the end of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Scout changes a great deal all throughout Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

In the beginning of the novel, Scout has a very hot temper and is prone to violence. Anytime she feels she or one of her family members has been insulted, she is quick to lash out physically, such as when she rubs Walter Cunningham's nose in the dirt or when she punches her cousin Francis in the face. However, her father is resolved to teach her to remain calm in the face of adversity, especially since she'll be facing a great deal of ridicule as a result of his determination to defend Tom Robinson. We see Atticus warn her about the need to stay calm in the following:

You might hear some ugly talk about [the case] at school, but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don't you let 'em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change ... it's a good one, even if it does resist learning. (Ch. 9)

As a result of her lesson in keeping her head, Scout remains calm when Mrs. Dubose insults them by calling their father trash, whereas Jem, who is usually very calm, flies off the handle and seeks revenge by whacking the camellias off of every bush in Mrs. Dubose's garden.

Part of what contributes to Scout's ability to remain calm is her lesson in being able to see from others' perspectives. When Scout feels offended by her first-grade teacher, Atticus teaches her one of the most famous lessons in the book:

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-- ... --until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. (Ch. 3)

Prior to this lesson, Scout was primarily only able to see situations from her own young, self-serving perspective. Scout practices her lesson by trying to see many things from Jem's perspective, as well as from the perspectives of other characters. By the end of the book, Scout has let go of all previous prejudices she had as she stands on Arthur Radley's porch, after having escorted him home, and visualizes him looking out at the neighborhood, watching "his children," meaning Scout and Jem, play, grow, and struggle with sorrows and problems (Ch. 31). By being able to see things from Arthur's perspective, she is finally able to see him as the kind and caring man he truly is.

Prior to these lessons, though a generally good person, we can see that Scout was a young, aggressive, and somewhat selfish person.

What were the social issues during the fall of the Byzantine Empire?

There were basically two social causes to the fall of the Byzantine Empire. First was a class struggle over land between the free peasants and the wealthy aristocracy. Byzantine rulers had depended on the peasants to serve in the military and pay taxes. Over time, as land became a more lucrative investment, wealthy nobles were motivated to grab land and enslave the local populations of peasants. This was similar to the system of feudalism that...

There were basically two social causes to the fall of the Byzantine Empire. First was a class struggle over land between the free peasants and the wealthy aristocracy. Byzantine rulers had depended on the peasants to serve in the military and pay taxes. Over time, as land became a more lucrative investment, wealthy nobles were motivated to grab land and enslave the local populations of peasants. This was similar to the system of feudalism that already existed in Western Europe for centuries. Byzantine emperors obviously wanted to protect the free peasant system, but ultimately failed. The loss of free peasants to serfdom caused a severe loss in tax revenue and hurt the military to the point that the emperor needed to pay others to protect his kingdom.

A second social cause in the fall of the Byzantine Empire was the split in the church between the east and west. This occurred in 1054 and is called the Great Schism. Due to the split in the church, cooperation between east and west was not as easy to achieve. This meant that the Byzantine Empire was left to defend itself from powerful Muslim empires that were emerging to their East. Additionally, the west actually assaulted the Byzantine capital during the Crusades, which weakened the empire even further.

What positive effects did the move out West have on America?

The westward movement of our people had positive effects on many, but not all, Americans. As people moved west, they were able to get land. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered people 160 acres of land for free if they lived on it for five years. Many people went west and began to farm the land in the West.

Another positive effect of the westward movement was that it led to the growth of businesses...

The westward movement of our people had positive effects on many, but not all, Americans. As people moved west, they were able to get land. The Homestead Act of 1862 offered people 160 acres of land for free if they lived on it for five years. Many people went west and began to farm the land in the West.

Another positive effect of the westward movement was that it led to the growth of businesses and the growth of the economy. As people moved to the West, they needed products. Companies began to ship the products to the people living in the West. Eventually, as more and more people moved to the West, the companies also moved to the western regions. When minerals were discovered in the West, companies went westward to mine the minerals, especially those minerals that were deep in the earth. Individuals also moved west, looking to find these minerals. These activities helped our economy expand and grow.

As the West grew, so did our transportation system. Railroads began to spread to the South and to the West. The transcontinental railroad, which connected the east coast to the west coast, was completed in 1869. Eventually, more roads were built in the West. These internal improvements made it easier to get to the West.

Westward movement had many positive effects for our country.

What does the Communist Manifesto mean by the statement that the bourgeoisie has forged the weapons that will be used against it?

Marx means that the bourgeoisie, the owners of the means of production, have created a weapon by exploiting the proletariat, who are the masses of people who work for a living. The owners have paid the workers low wages and forced them to endure poor working conditions. The bourgeoisie do this so they can collect the profit the proletariat's labor produces. The proletariat will become a "weapon" when they rise against their masters. First, since...

Marx means that the bourgeoisie, the owners of the means of production, have created a weapon by exploiting the proletariat, who are the masses of people who work for a living. The owners have paid the workers low wages and forced them to endure poor working conditions. The bourgeoisie do this so they can collect the profit the proletariat's labor produces. The proletariat will become a "weapon" when they rise against their masters. First, since there will always be more people in the proletariat than in the upper classes, the proletariat (often called "the masses") will have numbers on their side. Eventually, Marx argues, these people will be politicized and recognize they "have nothing to lose but their chains," as he says later in this work. Once the workers recognize that their labor creates all the wealth in society and that they greatly outnumber their masters, they will rise up in revolution against the bourgeoisie and take over the means of production for their own benefit.

In the poem Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen, please explain the lines of the last stanza where the gassed soldier suffers after he is put in a...

Wilfred Owen, in depicting the atrocities of war, creates very graphic and distressing visual images in his World War I poem, Dulce et Decorum Est. He makes no apologies in his attempts to remove the romantic notion of war as if, like the title suggests, it is noble and glorious. Owen takes this title, and the last words of the poem, from Horace's Odes and exposes "the Old Lie" by personalizing the poem and...

Wilfred Owen, in depicting the atrocities of war, creates very graphic and distressing visual images in his World War I poem, Dulce et Decorum Est. He makes no apologies in his attempts to remove the romantic notion of war as if, like the title suggests, it is noble and glorious. Owen takes this title, and the last words of the poem, from Horace's Odes and exposes "the Old Lie" by personalizing the poem and reliving one soldier's own trauma as he witnesses a fellow soldier, helpless and dying before him.

The young man whose misfortune it is to be unprepared for the gas attack, "plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning." The man is obviously choking on his own blood and the narrator wants the reader to imagine a terrible ("smothering") dream where the reader is also walking with the men. The dying man has been thrown ("flung") into a wagon while the survivors "pace behind." To the young survivor's horror, he is aware of the dying man's pain and fear; which he can see in "the white eyes writhing in his face." This means that the dying man may not be able to move his body to reveal his pain but his eyes are "writhing" meaning that they are moving rapidly and uncharacteristically in all directions, and together with his "hanging face," reflect the horror of the moment. 

Owen uses a simile to describe how the dying soldier's face is "like a devil's sick of sin." The situation must be dire for the devil to be tired of sin because the devil's very existence relies on sin and so the reader can understand that the dying soldier no longer sees the glory in war just as if the devil no longer sees the so-called glory (for him anyway) in sin. Only the pain and suffering is left behind.  

Every time the wagon goes over a bump ("jolt"), the dying soldier coughs and the blood which has by now filled his lungs, is "gargling." Owen uses the word "gargling" because it sounds inoffensive until you consider it in context with cancer. The dying soldier's mouth is filled with his blood and the sounds and visuals are "obscene as cancer," suggesting that you can't really see the damage (just like cancer) but it is apparent. "Cud" is partly digested food which returns stomach acid to the mouth when it is regurgitated and, in this case, the dying soldier may as well have sores on his tongue. The young soldier is "innocent" and his only part in this war is to fight for his country, to do his duty. It is time to reveal that war is violent and unforgiving and Owen contends that it is not noble at all. Where is the nobility in such suffering?

To The Doctor Who Treated The Raped Baby And Who Felt Such Despair

The title of the poem is unusual in that it is relatively long in relation to the short, terse titles of many poems. Also, this title is unusual in that it is conveyed almost as how one would start a letter to someone to give them a message or an opinion. In addition, this title has a matter-of-fact quality to it – just a straight forward statement from the narrator who wants to let this...

The title of the poem is unusual in that it is relatively long in relation to the short, terse titles of many poems. Also, this title is unusual in that it is conveyed almost as how one would start a letter to someone to give them a message or an opinion. In addition, this title has a matter-of-fact quality to it – just a straight forward statement from the narrator who wants to let this doctor know his or her thoughts and appreciation for all that this doctor did in this very difficult circumstance.

This doctor had to – with professionalism – treat a baby who has been horribly raped. This doctor must save this bleeding baby girl’s life. The doctor must battle emotions and outrage while performing lifesaving duties. This is very difficult to do in this case because of the senselessness of the act on an innocent baby.

The doctor must suppress his emotions to ensure proper, immediate, successful medical action is taken. The title is very conversational and even a touch dry sounding against the intense backdrop of medical professionals trying to save a life. This contrast lends to the unusualness of this title in this poem by Finuala Dowling.

I believe that this title is effective in relation to the poem's contents. The title’s simplicity, but no holds barred choice of words (e.g. “who treated the raped baby”) immediately draws the reader into the poem. The reader wants to know more about this baby and if it has a chance to survive this horrible ordeal. The reader also wants to know how this affected the doctor who “felt such despair.” The reader also wants to know what the narrator of the poem thinks about all of this. Therefore, the effectiveness of the title is that it creates tension and the reader must address this tension by delving further into this intense poem.

In "The Last Leaf," why is it considered that the last leaf was Behrman's masterpiece?

The last leaf is considered Berhman’s masterpiece not because it was a technically beautiful work of art, or because it broke any social boundaries or experimented with style, but because it saved Johnsy’s life.  Johnsy, sick with pneumonia, had declared that when the last leaf had fallen off the tree outside her window, she would fall with it – it would be time for her to die.  The doctor himself told Sue that if a...

The last leaf is considered Berhman’s masterpiece not because it was a technically beautiful work of art, or because it broke any social boundaries or experimented with style, but because it saved Johnsy’s life.  Johnsy, sick with pneumonia, had declared that when the last leaf had fallen off the tree outside her window, she would fall with it – it would be time for her to die.  The doctor himself told Sue that if a patient had no will to live, there was little he could do at this point in her illness; Johnsy had given up.

Mr. Berhman is an old, unsuccessful painter who lives downstairs from the two girls, who drinks too much and who is constantly rambling on about how one day he will paint a masterpiece.  When Sue tells Mr. Berhman about Johnsy’s intentions, he cries in dismay, “’Are there such fools?  Do people die because leaves drop off a tree?...Why do you allow her to think such a thing?’”  He clearly believes the entire situation to be ridiculous, and feels just as strongly as Sue that Johnsy mustn’t die, fond as he is of the girls.  But while Sue works on her own painting in hopes that Johnsy will see it and reconsider – a representation of the last leaf on canvas – Berhman as well works through the night, creating art not in imitation of reality but as a replacement for reality itself.

Johnsy has a change of heart because of the perceived tenacity of the last leaf – its dogged resistance to the wind and the seasons makes her realize how silly she had been to want to die, and allowed her to hold on long enough for her sickness to wane.  Little does she know that the leaf itself is a fiction.

Mr. Behrman’s final painting, therefore, is not only a creative solution to a dismal problem, but is the embodiment of the healing powers of art.

What were causes of the rise and decline of the Meroe Kingdom, and what was the ruler of Meroe called?

Kush was an ancient Nubian kingdom in what is now modern Sudan in Africa. The city of Meroe was located along the middle stretch of the Nile River where the Blue Nile, White Nile and River Atbara run together. At its peak, the Kush Kingdom of Meroe  stretched for over 600 miles north to south along the Nile River. The physical aspects of the geographic location of Meroe likely contributed to its rise as one of the most powerful of ancient African kingdoms. The seasonal flooding of the Nile River helped create rich iron ore deposits in the region. Gold was also plentiful and Meroitic industry began with the mining of these raw materials. The close proximity of rich timberland to Meroe supported the operation of bloomeries and possibly blast furnaces as well, to work the iron and gold into tools, weapons, and jewelry. Meroitic metalworkers were among the best in their contemporary world. Furthermore, the nearby river system provided access to the River Niger and other major trade paths to the rest of Africa, as well as India and China. Flourishing industry and trade, and the wealth that came with it, appear to have been major factors in the political stability and peaceful expansion of Meroe during its heyday.

The prominence of the artisan caste in Meroe could have been a contributing factor in the atypical degree of consent between the rulers of Meroe and the ruled, in a socioeconomic system based more on labor than land ownership or control. The Kush king was selected from among members of the royal family by the Kush nobility and was an administrator of law and custom as interpreted by the priests, rather than an autocratic lawmaker in his own right. In addition, the mother of the King played an important role in rule of Meroe, especially during a period of transition from one reign to the next. A Kush king was often succeeded by his queen (called a "kandake"), lengthening the period of consistent executive rule considerably and creating another layer of political stability.

Rome's conquest of Egypt ushered in a period of conflict between Roman Egypt and Kush that sapped Meroitic power and hindered external trade. By the 1st or 2nd century CE, the decline of Meroe was underway and demand for their traditional industries collapsed with their external trade abilities soon to follow. Sometime between the 3rd and 4th centuries CE, the royal power emanating from Meroe was no longer relevant and the Meroitic state disintegrated.

Why would it be good for Australia to become independent?

Australia is an independent nation, separate from the UK, and has been so officially since 1986, when Australian Parliament passed the Australia Act. Yet Australia was actually considered independent long before 1986. Even though the formal declaration only came in '86, most historians point to 1901, when the six UK crown colonies of Australia joined a federated government, which ratified its own constitution and eventually built a capitol city in Canberra.

As for why it...

Australia is an independent nation, separate from the UK, and has been so officially since 1986, when Australian Parliament passed the Australia Act. Yet Australia was actually considered independent long before 1986. Even though the formal declaration only came in '86, most historians point to 1901, when the six UK crown colonies of Australia joined a federated government, which ratified its own constitution and eventually built a capitol city in Canberra.

As for why it was good for Australia to become independent, the answers are pretty straight forward. What was best for the economy of Australia was not necessarily what was best for England, the seat of the United Kingdom's vast empire. Indeed, today, Australia's economy is far more dependent on trade with China, Indonesia and other neighboring Asian nations than it is on trade with European nations.

Furthermore, the ability of Australia to manage its own currency, set its own domestic agenda based on the unique challenges it faces (like chronic drought and a long history of discrimination against its indigenous population) is essential to its success. Moreover, Australia benefits economically and from a national security point of view because it can formulate a foreign policy that takes into account its geographic location on the other side of the world from England. The notion that the security of the UK and Australia should be bound up together is laughable when one considers the vastly different geo-strategic concerns each confronts.

Even so, Australia and England remain very close allies because of their shared culture, history and interests. Australia is also a vital ally of both the United States and Canada. Ultimately, Australia only benefitted from gaining its independence from the United Kingdom, but one reason that its succession was so smooth was that it happened over a long period of time, from the 1890s until the 1980s. That slow, methodical and mostly amicable approach to sovereignty allowed for less instability and more cooperation from its former mother state. 

What is the narrative technique of "And of Clay We Are Created?"

In the short story “Of Clay We are Created,” Isabel Allende uses a reliable first person narrator, Eva Luna. This story is a work of realistic fiction recounting the plight of a young girl during a volcanic eruption in Columbia in 1985, and the man who attempts to rescue her. Eva Luna is the companion of the story’s protagonist, Rolf Carlé, and she recounts his experiences with the young girl buried in clay, Azucena Lily.

...

In the short story “Of Clay We are Created,” Isabel Allende uses a reliable first person narrator, Eva Luna. This story is a work of realistic fiction recounting the plight of a young girl during a volcanic eruption in Columbia in 1985, and the man who attempts to rescue her. Eva Luna is the companion of the story’s protagonist, Rolf Carlé, and she recounts his experiences with the young girl buried in clay, Azucena Lily.

The author uses a backstory to give the details of the villagers decision to continue living in their homes despite the warnings of the impending eruption, and the disastrous aftermath. There is also evidence of foreshadowing in this section when Eva describes the scene. The world’s eyes are strained upon the scene as the cameras project the event.

And every time we saw her on the screen, right behind her was Rolf Carlé,who had gone there on assignment, never suspecting that he would find a fragment of his past, lost thirty years before.

The story continues through the narrator’s eyes as she watches from a far away newsroom. She is able to see the nuances in Rolf’s face and changes in his demeanor, which she describes in detail. From the look in his eyes, she is aware when he has an epiphany. While staying with the young girl buried in clay, he has flashbacks to his own childhood. Through this experience, he confronts his childhood demons and comes home a changed man. The narrator explains all of this from her perspective.

How does the episode with the mad dog change Scout’s perception (opinion) of her father?

Both Jem and Scout think their father is old and boring.  He won’t throw the ball around with Jem or play in the annual football game between the Baptists and the Methodists, and he doesn’t even hunt or fish.  Although he takes very good care of Scout and Jem, he is a little distant and “uncomfortable” around his children. Raising two young children alone is not easy, and Scout even admits she thinks that there...

Both Jem and Scout think their father is old and boring.  He won’t throw the ball around with Jem or play in the annual football game between the Baptists and the Methodists, and he doesn’t even hunt or fish.  Although he takes very good care of Scout and Jem, he is a little distant and “uncomfortable” around his children. Raising two young children alone is not easy, and Scout even admits she thinks that there are some things Atticus tries to do that need a woman to do them.  Scout complains to Miss Maudie about Atticus, and Miss Maudie begins to fill Scout in about the real Atticus.  Scout learns that Atticus is a master chess player and plays the Jews harp.

Another story she tells Scout is how Atticus use to be the best shot in the county.  He had the nickname One Shot Finch when he was younger.  So, when Scout and Jem see Atticus slowly lower the gun, point it at the rabid dog, and kill it in one shot, they are not only amazed but also proud of their father.  It completely changes their attitudes about Atticus, and Jem especially wants to strive to be like his father.  Jem encourages Scout not to brag about Atticus’ ability and be humble and respectful like Atticus.

It’s a life changing moment for both of the kids as they realize just what kind of man Atticus really is. 

What does Bruno learn about Maria and her life?

In Chapter 6, Bruno asks Maria if she hates the new house, but Maria avoids the question. Bruno mentions that he thinks moving to Out-With was a terrible mistake, and says that his father is stupid. Maria looks shocked and tells Bruno that he must never say that about his father again. Maria tells Bruno that his father is a good man and explains to Bruno that there are many positive things his father has...

In Chapter 6, Bruno asks Maria if she hates the new house, but Maria avoids the question. Bruno mentions that he thinks moving to Out-With was a terrible mistake, and says that his father is stupid. Maria looks shocked and tells Bruno that he must never say that about his father again. Maria tells Bruno that his father is a good man and explains to Bruno that there are many positive things his father has done for her and her family over the years. Maria says that Bruno's father took her in and gave her a job when she was unemployed and hungry. Maria tells Bruno that her mother knew his father when he was just a boy because she worked for Bruno's grandmother. Maria's mother was a fine seamstress and remained close with Bruno's grandmother when she retired. Bruno's father offered Maria the first job she ever had and paid for her mother's hospital expenses out of his own pocket when she became ill. When Maria's mother passed away, Bruno's father paid for all of her funeral expenses. Bruno begins to see Maria as an individual with a separate life for the first time. Bruno is proud to hear about how generous his father was, but Maria seems perplexed at his decision to become a Commandant in the Nazi regime.

What kind of person is Nat in "The Birds"?

Nat Hocken is very aware of and connected to nature. He is the first person, for example, who notices the change in the birds' behaviour on December third.  Nat is also dependable and reliable: despite being an injured veteran, he works on the farm to support his family and, when the birds attack, takes charge of the situation. He ensures that all of the windows and doors are barricaded, for instance, and that the family...

Nat Hocken is very aware of and connected to nature. He is the first person, for example, who notices the change in the birds' behaviour on December third.  Nat is also dependable and reliable: despite being an injured veteran, he works on the farm to support his family and, when the birds attack, takes charge of the situation. He ensures that all of the windows and doors are barricaded, for instance, and that the family has enough supplies to survive. This practical side of Nat's character may be the result of his military training but, whatever the case, is instrumental in the survival of his family.

Arguably, Nat's family are the most important people in his life and he works hard to protect them from danger. He jumps in to defend his children on the first night that the birds attack, for example, and risks his life to collect his daughter, Jill, from the school bus. He also tries to protect Mr and Mrs Trigg by offering them advice on how to stay safe.

Nat's fate remains a mystery to readers but, with his survival skills and dependable character, he may have outlived the birds. 

In what movie are the characters similar to Gatsby in thinking that their significant others are not as great as they had originally thought?...

The movie that comes most instantly to my mind is (500) Days of Summer. This movie, which is told in a nonlinear narrative style, explores the relationship between Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a hopeless romantic, and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), who claims to not believe in love. The movie explores both the budding of the relationship and its ending with a series of scenes that do not follow chronological structure (the movie starts on Day 488 and...

The movie that comes most instantly to my mind is (500) Days of Summer. This movie, which is told in a nonlinear narrative style, explores the relationship between Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a hopeless romantic, and Summer (Zooey Deschanel), who claims to not believe in love. The movie explores both the budding of the relationship and its ending with a series of scenes that do not follow chronological structure (the movie starts on Day 488 and then jumps back to Day 1). This structure allows the viewer to see the relationship from Tom's point-of-view and how his memories of their good times clouds his judgment about the relationship itself. 

In fact, Tom's precocious little sister Rachel (Chloe Grace Moretz) tells Tom that maybe the relationship wasn't as great as he remembers:

"Look, I know you think she was the one, but I don't. Now, I think you're just remembering the good stuff. Next time you look back, uh, I really think you should again."

One big difference between the women is that while Daisy turns out to be a horrible person in the book and seems to not really care about Gatsby's death, Summer at least wants Tom to be happy. 

Imagine that you are Canterville ghost. Describe the Otis family as you see them.

Cool question.  I am not allowed to write it out word for word for you though.  I will try and steer you in the right direction though.  Based on how I read the writing prompt, it sounds like you need to write about your initial impressions about the Otis family.  Obviously Sir Simon's opinions of the Otis family change as the story progresses.  He actually gets more and more frightened and frustrated with the family as the story goes on.  

However, in the beginning of the story, Sir Simon is likely overconfident in his ability to scare off the Otis family.  He has a right to be confident as well.  He has been successfully scaring off owners of the Canterville chase for hundreds of years.  

I would focus your description on things that you know for sure about the Otis family early on.  They are a married husband and wife.  There are three children.  I would focus on the children.  The twins and Virginia are your way in to scaring the family.  Kids should be easy to scare.  Twin young boys should make you lick your lips with anticipation at how easy this is going to be.  Virginia should be making you think that your job will be easy as well.  She's a 15 year old girl, which means she is likely an emotional roller coaster that probably has daddy wrapped around her finger.  I would also have something in your description about how the Otis family appears to be quite overconfident.  Perhaps even stupid or naive.  The reason for that is because they have been told about the presence of the ghost, but they completely blow it off.  Lastly, I would mention that they are American. 

When Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, every one told him he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place was haunted. . . "But there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy."

How do I teach Spanish year 3 and Spanish year 4 in the same period?

When I was still in school, my French 4 class shared a time and room with the French 5 class. My teacher had the desks in the classroom organized into groups of four, and French 4 took up one group, while French 5 took up another. Of course, that particular arrangement works best if you have smaller classes, but you could arrange the desks in multiple different ways. The teacher would go back and forth...

When I was still in school, my French 4 class shared a time and room with the French 5 class. My teacher had the desks in the classroom organized into groups of four, and French 4 took up one group, while French 5 took up another. Of course, that particular arrangement works best if you have smaller classes, but you could arrange the desks in multiple different ways. The teacher would go back and forth between the groups, helping and teaching each in turn. Each group had exercises or tasks to complete, and when she was with a group, she answered whatever questions they had regarding the assignment while the other group worked on their own. She usually started with French 4 and had the French 5 kids go over their homework with each other and try to answer questions between themselves. Then once she had helped French 4 get started, she would go over to French 5 and help them. She visited each group two or three times each class.

This particular method does rely on smaller classes, so I am not sure if that will work for you. It also relies on a certain amount of self-motivation and self-sufficient students. The method was effective, and I probably learned even better than a normal class because we were expected to teach ourselves to some degree, which was incredibly helpful.

What methods does Sherlock Holmes use to solve the murder in the story The Hound of the Baskervilles?

First of all, there technically was no "murder" to be solved in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sir Charles died under mysterious circumstances that indicated his ancestral curse may have been to blame, but the cause of death was a heart attack. Although Stapleton, who sent out the glowing hound to scare Sir Charles, was the cause of that heart attack, whether Stapleton could actually be convicted of murder for...

First of all, there technically was no "murder" to be solved in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. Sir Charles died under mysterious circumstances that indicated his ancestral curse may have been to blame, but the cause of death was a heart attack. Although Stapleton, who sent out the glowing hound to scare Sir Charles, was the cause of that heart attack, whether Stapleton could actually be convicted of murder for Sir Charles' death is uncertain since "no signs of violence were to be discovered on Sir Charles's person." Nevertheless, Holmes is able to discover the underlying foul play in Sir Charles' death and prevent a more overt murder of Sir Henry by his excellent detective work. Some of the methods he uses to solve the case are interviews and research, occult observation, first-hand observation of the suspect and the setting, and a "sting" operation. 

Interestingly in this story, Holmes is absent for multiple chapters because he sends Watson to be the on-site attendant of Sir Henry, the client who is in danger. Holmes uses this time when Watson takes the attention off of Holmes to do a lot of background research and interviews which are not revealed to Watson or the reader until later. At the same time, he engages in occult, or hidden, observation of the setting by living in one of the Neolithic huts on the moor. Watson notices a mysterious "man on the Tor" who turns out to be Holmes. Holmes then makes himself available outwardly at the home of Sir Henry, where he is able to observe that the portrait of one of the Baskerville ancestors bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Stapleton, confirming his suspicion about Stapleton. Holmes and Watson then arrange with Sir Henry to take a dangerous walk home in the dark from the Stapletons, which is designed to lure Stapleton into making his move against Sir Henry. Although this risky sting operation imperils Sir Henry, Holmes is able to shoot the attacking hound before it harms his client, and the perpetrator of the crime runs off into the moor, presumably to be sucked into the Grimpen Mire. At the end, Holmes reveals to Watson any remaining loose ends. 

Holmes' behind-the-scenes research, use of Watson as a distraction while he observes the suspect from a distance, on-site observation to confirm his theories, and final sting operation are some of the main techniques Holmes uses to clarify the circumstances of Sir Charles' death and to prevent the untimely demise of Sir Henry.