Hamlet: How would you characterize the relationship between Gertrude and Claudius throughout the whole tragedy?

The relationship is something of a strange one. Based on the way Hamlet describes it and the way his father's ghosts relates his betrayal, it appears that this is a passionate and lustful relationship, and yet this is not exactly supported by the characters' actions. The couple gets married shortly after the death of Hamlet's father. This is certainly strange behavior and a sign of disrespect to Hamlet's father. Some might suggest that the two...

The relationship is something of a strange one. Based on the way Hamlet describes it and the way his father's ghosts relates his betrayal, it appears that this is a passionate and lustful relationship, and yet this is not exactly supported by the characters' actions. The couple gets married shortly after the death of Hamlet's father. This is certainly strange behavior and a sign of disrespect to Hamlet's father. Some might suggest that the two had even been engaging in a sexual relationship before the death of Hamlet's father. This could possibly be one of several motivations for the king's murder.

This does not appear to be the case, however. The play shows several signs (such as Hamlet's play, and Gertrude's own actions) that Gertrude was unaware of the plot against her former husband. While this does not mean a relationship did not occur, it at least removes the possibility that the two planned the treachery together. It seems more likely that Gertrude's role in the play is somewhat passive. She naively closes her eyes to the crimes of her new husband and tries to pacify her son to hold everything together. She remarries quickly, not because she is so in love with Claudius, but because of a desire to keep things in order. 

After a lifetime of obeying her royal husband she appears simply to allow Claudius to fill the vacant role in her life. She trusts him to help her discover why her son is acting so strangely, and she hopes that Hamlet will view him as a father figure. There is little sign of any lustful passion on her part, and she even attempts to save Hamlet at the end of the play. For this reason, it seems that while Claudius might view marrying Gertrude as a part of his treachery, Gertrude is merely passively trying to continue life as it was before. She wants things to remain as they were and for Claudius to continue in the role her husband left behind.

Why has the book To Kill a Mockingbird had such a profound impact on this world?

To Kill a Mockingbird regularly appears in reading curriculums and on 'must-read' book lists because it deals with universal themes of integrity, fairness, courage, friendship, and forgiveness. 

It is also an accurate portrayal of the South at that time, when African Americans faced blatant racism. The story can be compared to the trial of "The Scottsboro Six," six young African American men who were convicted of raping two white women. Though there was no tangible...

To Kill a Mockingbird regularly appears in reading curriculums and on 'must-read' book lists because it deals with universal themes of integrity, fairness, courage, friendship, and forgiveness. 

It is also an accurate portrayal of the South at that time, when African Americans faced blatant racism. The story can be compared to the trial of "The Scottsboro Six," six young African American men who were convicted of raping two white women. Though there was no tangible evidence and the women seemed to be lying, the men were found guilty simply because the women were white.

Atticus Finch reminds us of what it is to do what is right even when your friends and neighbors turn against you because of it. He defends Tom Robinson with the same dedication and skill he would offer a white client, even though he knows the jury will find Tom guilty simply because he is African American and Mayella is white.

The book also teaches tolerance. Scout learns how to look at things from another person's point of view. This ability will grow into empathy as she matures and is certainly a valuable life lesson for anyone: treat others with respect and compassion.

Obviously other works address these themes as well. Part of the great appeal of this novel is Scout's narration. We see Scout's world of childhood games and innocent misunderstandings so common to many of us. She, Jem, and Dill are likable characters, and we watch them grow in knowledge and maturity throughout the novel. The Scout who viewed Boo Radley as a scary crazy man at the start of the story is very different from the Scout who took Mr. Arthur's hand in the final pages of the book.

To Kill a Mockingbird gains its appeal from themes which resonate with many people, characters who are realistic and appealing, a plot which draws the reader into the story, and an unflinching portrayal of a sad time in American history.

Angus and Ross approach Banquo and Macbeth with great news. How and why do Banquo and Macbeth respond after Ross gives them the good news? What do...

After the witches tell Macbeth and Banquo the prophecy (that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and later king, and that Banquo's children will becomes kings), they run into Ross and Angus. The men give news that the King has decided to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. This is good news, of course, but it also shows that the prophecy might actually be true.

The two men react differently. Macbeth believes the prophecy and asks...

After the witches tell Macbeth and Banquo the prophecy (that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and later king, and that Banquo's children will becomes kings), they run into Ross and Angus. The men give news that the King has decided to make Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. This is good news, of course, but it also shows that the prophecy might actually be true.

The two men react differently. Macbeth believes the prophecy and asks Banquo if he wants his children to be kings. Banquo distrusts the witches and comments that the devil often tells half truths. The two men agree to speak on the prophecy later in private. Macbeth is already wondering if he will become king naturally or if he will have to take the throne through dark deeds.The split reaction shows a difference in character between the two men. Macbeth, overcome with ambition, can think only of his chance at power, while Banquo is much more concerned about how the witches might deceive him into committing evil deeds.

What is the message in chapter 7 of The Last Lecture?

The main message that emerges from Chapter 7 of The Last Lecture is that our life experiences contain lessons that can stay with us for quite a while. 

Randy would agree that the "will to win" is just as, if not more, important than actually winning.  In Chapter 7,  Randy talks about how one of his childhood dreams was to play "tackle football" and he never accomplished it. However, Randy acknowledges the influence that Coach...

The main message that emerges from Chapter 7 of The Last Lecture is that our life experiences contain lessons that can stay with us for quite a while. 

Randy would agree that the "will to win" is just as, if not more, important than actually winning.  In Chapter 7,  Randy talks about how one of his childhood dreams was to play "tackle football" and he never accomplished it. However, Randy acknowledges the influence that Coach Graham had on his life. Coach Graham specialized in teaching life lessons to the boys on Randy's football team.  He stressed "fundamentals," hard work, and dedication.  

While he was never able to succeed as a football player, Randy realized that Coach Graham's lessons were profound because they were beyond football. The lesson that Randy takes from this is that while we might not accomplish all of our dreams, we will be more successful if we can display the desire to do so. Randy's experiences in football were preparations for his success in life. Randy talks about how this was the first time that he learned about "the head fake:"

What we really want them to learn is far more important: teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, the value of hard work, an ability to deal with adversity. This kind of indirect learning is what some of us like to call a 'head fake."

In Chapter 7, Randy's message is that life's "head fakes" possess a great deal of instructional merit.  The lessons he learned from Coach Graham transcended the field of athletics. Randy's main message in this chapter is to appreciate the head fakes in life and the lessons they teach us, an idea that plays a vital role in the construction of Randy's narrative.

If you were able to design the EDSs in Tom Godwin's "The Cold Equation," would you make any changes to the way the ships functioned? Why or why not?

In Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equation," the purpose of the Emergency Dispatch Ships (EDS) is to deliver emergency supplies and other emergency assistance to colonies that are so distant that it is expensive for the hyperspace cruisers to reach them by making unscheduled stops. In order to ensure that the EDSs reach their very distant destinations at a useful time and speed, the EDSs must be very small and lightweight. Since...

In Tom Godwin's short story "The Cold Equation," the purpose of the Emergency Dispatch Ships (EDS) is to deliver emergency supplies and other emergency assistance to colonies that are so distant that it is expensive for the hyperspace cruisers to reach them by making unscheduled stops. In order to ensure that the EDSs reach their very distant destinations at a useful time and speed, the EDSs must be very small and lightweight. Since they must be small, their only possible source of fuel is rocket fuel. But, since they must remain lightweight, they can only carry a very limited supply of rocket fuel. Though the engineering poses unexpected problems, such as the possibility of having to execute innocent stowaways, the reality is that if the design was any different, the EDSs would not reach their destinations in the short amount of time needed to be able to save lives.

The only way in which one might imagine designing the EDSs in such a way as to prevent a situation like Marilyn's is if we imagine that a newer, lighter weight fuel source might be discovered in outer space. Otherwise, sadly, according to the laws of physics, the design of the EDSs would have to remain the same.

Identify your in-groups and your out-groups. How have your in-groups influenced the way you see the world? And what influence have your out-groups...

This is really not a question that we can answer for you.  It is very likely that I identify with different in groups than you do.  It is likely that out groups have impacted me in different ways than they have affected you.  In this answer, I will define in groups and out groups and suggest some ways in which you might think about how you want to answer this question.

An in group is a group with which you identify strongly.  Your membership in this group constitutes a strong part of your identity.  What groups do you belong do that really matter to you?  Does your race or national background matter a great deal to you?  What about your religion?  Do you play sports or play in the school band?  If so, do you really identify yourself with those things or are those just things you do for fun?  In answering this part of the question, you have to ask yourself what really matters to you.  If I asked you to define who you are, what group affiliations would you mention?

For the next part of the question, you have to ask how you would be different if you were a member of different in groups.  If you include your race as an in group, what is different about you because of your race?  If you were of a different race, why would you be a different person?  If you belonged to a different high school clique, would you see the world differently?  Imagine that you are a popular kid, a jock.  How would that change the way you look at the world compared to how you would look at it if you were a smart kid who isn’t particularly popular?

Finally, you need to look at out groups.  These are the people who are not “like you.”  Have they had an effect on you?  If you identify whites as an out group, how have they impacted your life?  If your sex is an important part of your identity, how has the opposite sex affected you?  If, for example, you are male and you see that as an important part of your identity, how have female teachers affected you?  How have girls in your school affected you?  Have they forced/influenced you to act in ways that you would not otherwise act?  Do you act different when you are around members of your in group?  Why and how?  These are issues that you can ask yourself about as a way to think about how members of other groups have affected you.

Find the angle of reflection and angle of incidence on mirrors for oncoming traffic at a blind corner.

Firstly, I have made and attached a crude diagram of the situation that I believe is being described in your question. My advise for anyone reading is to look at the diagram, because a picture speaks a thousand words and it will clear things up a bit.

In this scene, we have car B rolling up to the intersection. Meanwhile we have car A speeding along intending to continue straight through the intersection (and off...

Firstly, I have made and attached a crude diagram of the situation that I believe is being described in your question. My advise for anyone reading is to look at the diagram, because a picture speaks a thousand words and it will clear things up a bit.

In this scene, we have car B rolling up to the intersection. Meanwhile we have car A speeding along intending to continue straight through the intersection (and off of the right edge of the diagram). Cars A and B cannot see each other because of the blind corner created by some type of obstruction like a building. The approximate position and angle of a traffic mirror that would be employed in this type of situation is drawn in the diagram. While the diagram is crude and the mirror would likely be in a slightly different position (raised and not in the middle of the road), and a different size (not bigger than the cars), the angle of this mirror is what matters in a 2D representation of the situation. The angle of the mirror in the scene relative to the cars is also the only thing needed to solve the problem. In this type of situation, where one needs to see around a 90 degree corner, the mirror needs to be 45 degrees to the incoming (incident) light rays coming from around the corner. This is the same angle used with the mirror in a simple periscope, or when someone uses a reflective object to look around a corner in an action movie. By simple geometry, if the mirror surface needs to be 45 degrees from the incident light rays coming from around the corner, then the angle of incidence is 45 degrees and the angle of reflection is also 45 degrees (Angle of Incidence = 90 degrees - Angle of Reflection).

What is the central theme or the main theme of "The Yellow Wallpaper?"

The primary theme of "The Yellow Wallpaper" is that women who are suffering from post-partum depression, or any kind of depression, should be respected and allowed to make decisions regarding their own lifestyle and health. The rapid decline that Jane experiences under her husband's care and watchfulness and "the rest cure" could have been prevented if John had listened to Jane's desires. Jane wants to write, which would have certainly been a healthy pursuit for her if she had been allowed to do it openly. If others had taken an interest in her writing, that would have boosted her self-esteem. Perhaps she could have written about the sadness she felt, and getting it down on paper in a way that she could share with others might have been a tonic for her. Only being able to write on the sly turns her legitimate desire to express herself inward, exacerbating her dark thoughts.

Jane also expresses the desire to go visiting, but her husband squashes the idea, assuming it would be too hard on her. Seeing friends could have done wonders for her psychological state, but John is perhaps too embarrassed that his wife is suffering from a "nervous" condition to allow her to appear in public and possibly damage his reputation as a physician.

Jane's original complaints about her environment should have been heeded, as well. She did not seem to be in favor of the move to the country house, and she detested the wallpaper. Surely a small investment in making the room cheerful and attractive was not too much to ask, yet her requests for changes in living arrangements were consistently ignored. 

John generally treats Jane with a lack of respect. When she tries to express herself, he often laughs at her or cuts her off. He manages to do this in a way that seems kind, making his control over her all the more egregious because she feels ungrateful for balking at his rules. Having a husband and doctor who respected her as a complete person, not as some childish half-wit, could have spared her the plunge into insanity that she experiences at the end of the story. 

Often authors leave it to readers to determine the themes of their stories. In the case of this story, however, we are blessed with a specific explanation from Charlotte Perkins Gilman of her purpose in writing the story. You can see her explanation at the link below. Ms. Gilman suffered from "melancholia" herself and was prescribed the rest cure; she knew first-hand how destructive it was. She wrote the story as a way to encourage doctors to stop prescribing it and to bring attention to its dangers. She was able to return to a normal state of mind because a "wise friend" respected her and helped her pursue her own instincts about what she needed to do. Gilman left a powerful illustration of how important it is for women to be respected. 

How do the citizens of the kingdom feel about the king's way of justice?

The king's justice in Frank Stockton's short story "The Lady or the Tiger" involves an arena and pure luck. An accused man is led into an amphitheater where he has the choice of two doors. Behind one door is a tiger which promptly kills him, or from behind the other door is a lady who promptly marries him. If he's lucky, he chooses the lady and, in the king's mind, proves his innocence. The opposite...

The king's justice in Frank Stockton's short story "The Lady or the Tiger" involves an arena and pure luck. An accused man is led into an amphitheater where he has the choice of two doors. Behind one door is a tiger which promptly kills him, or from behind the other door is a lady who promptly marries him. If he's lucky, he chooses the lady and, in the king's mind, proves his innocence. The opposite choice proves his guilt.

Stockton tells the reader the institution was widely popular and well attended. He writes,

The institution was a very popular one. When the people gathered together on one of the great trial days, they never knew whether they were to witness a bloody slaughter or a hilarious wedding. This element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion which it could not otherwise have attained. Thus, the masses were entertained and pleased, and the thinking part of the community could bring no charge of unfairness against this plan, for did not the accused person have the whole matter in his own hands?

Of course, if you were part of the family of a man who found himself face to face with a hungry tiger you might not think much of the king's justice. Also, if you were a woman who was married to an accused man after he chose the door with a lady, you might not care for it either.

The crowds are particularly interested in the trial of princess's lover. He has been accused of simply being in love with royalty. More than ever, the arena was packed with interested subjects. Stockton writes,

From far and near the people gathered, and thronged the great galleries of the arena, and crowds, unable to gain admittance, massed themselves against its outside walls.

What does it mean to be human? Is Matt just a clone, or animal? Can a clone truly experience feelings?

I can offer you some interesting background information that might help inform your decision and provide you with some reasons for your decision. 

What does it mean to be human?

This is a question that has preoccupied scholars, philosophers, and scientists for an incredibly long time. Some people define humanity as a biological genetic sequence; some as an ability to reason; some through means of communication; others by still more reasons. I've attached a link...

I can offer you some interesting background information that might help inform your decision and provide you with some reasons for your decision. 

What does it mean to be human?

This is a question that has preoccupied scholars, philosophers, and scientists for an incredibly long time. Some people define humanity as a biological genetic sequence; some as an ability to reason; some through means of communication; others by still more reasons. I've attached a link to a TED talk debate that contains many different opinions that you could peruse. Try and see which one you agree with best. 

Is Matt just a clone, or an animal? 

Again, this depends on your definition of humanity. It goes without saying that Matt's genesis was through cloning, but then the question becomes whether or not he should be considered human despite this fact. For the past century or so, the ethics of cloning - and whether or not clones would be considered humans - has entered the scientific and religious worlds. I've attached a link that presents you with the debate on human cloning; as you can see, people have many different reasons that justify their opinions. 

Can a clone truly experience feelings? 

A clone is, by definition, an exact genetic replica. The question is: do humans experience feelings because of our biology, or because of something more ethereal, like a soul? I've attached more information on clones in general to help you formulate an opinion. 

What three adjectives would best describe the setting of the first paragraph in the story "The Devil and Tom Walker"? Pick out words or phrases to...

The opening paragraph of Washington Irving's short story "The Devil and Tom Walker" describes a wooded area just outside the city of Boston. It is here that the greedy Tom Walker first meets "old scratch" and later makes a deal with the "black woodsman."

The area could be characterized as ominous, ancient and tempting. The setting is "thickly wooded" with "gigantic trees" in a "dark grove" and could be considered the perfect backdrop for some...

The opening paragraph of Washington Irving's short story "The Devil and Tom Walker" describes a wooded area just outside the city of Boston. It is here that the greedy Tom Walker first meets "old scratch" and later makes a deal with the "black woodsman."

The area could be characterized as ominous, ancient and tempting. The setting is "thickly wooded" with "gigantic trees" in a "dark grove" and could be considered the perfect backdrop for some ghost or horror story. It's also a "morass" where nothing good could take place. The area is quite old in myth and story as judged by the tale of the pirate Captain Kidd. The trees are very old and "remarkable," alluding to the fact that this area has been basically untouched for many years. The setting could also be referred to as tempting because Kidd's treasure is supposedly buried under one of these trees. It is described as a "great amount of treasure." Of course, the devil controls this treasure and uses it to lure souls, such as Tom Walker, to hell.

How did Plato's ideas influence or reflect the values and beliefs of his society? What are some famous quotes of Plato's? How are they still...

Plato was a famous philosopher who probably lived from around 470-399 BCE in Athens, Greece. While his ideas have influenced the history of western thought to such an extent that a 20th century philosopher once remarked that all philosophy consisted of "footnotes to Plato," the contemporary relevance of his ideas is not obvious. 

To answer the first part of your question, Plato's writings reveal a critique of his society and do not, as such, mirror...

Plato was a famous philosopher who probably lived from around 470-399 BCE in Athens, Greece. While his ideas have influenced the history of western thought to such an extent that a 20th century philosopher once remarked that all philosophy consisted of "footnotes to Plato," the contemporary relevance of his ideas is not obvious. 

To answer the first part of your question, Plato's writings reveal a critique of his society and do not, as such, mirror the values of his time. In his Republic, he imagines an ideal state ruled by a few highly trained and wise philosopher-kings. There is a strict hierarchy in Plato's ideal city — the philosopher-kings, the warriors, and then the craftsmen. Athens, where democracy was born, was nothing like Plato's ideal and he even offers pointed criticisms of democracy in the Republic and elsewhere. He supposedly went to Sicily to implement a version of his ideal city but, from what we know, he failed. He did have an immense influence philosophically, though, and insofar as philosophy eventually has an influence on values and beliefs, he can be said to have had an influence of values and beliefs even today.

There are many famous quotes from Plato's works, and I would encourage you to read these in their entirety. I will leave you with one quote, though, which was supposedly uttered by his teacher Socrates: "The unexamined life is not worth living." (Plato, Apology). I can only hope that this quote is of the utmost relevance today and for all time to come. 

What is the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

There were several purposes of the Declaration of Independence. The main purpose was for the colonists to let Great Britain and the rest of the world know that were free from British rule. This declaration stated that we considered ourselves an independent country. We wanted the other countries in the world to know they could now make various agreements with us.

Another purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to explain to everybody why we...

There were several purposes of the Declaration of Independence. The main purpose was for the colonists to let Great Britain and the rest of the world know that were free from British rule. This declaration stated that we considered ourselves an independent country. We wanted the other countries in the world to know they could now make various agreements with us.

Another purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to explain to everybody why we were declaring independence. We explained that we believed the job of government is to protect the rights of the citizens that it is governing. We believed that if a government stopped protecting the rights of the people, the people had to remove the government and replace it with a new government that would protect the people’s rights. The Declaration of Independence went on to say all the things the King of England had done that were in violation of the rights of the colonists. Thus, we had no choice but to replace the government after attempts to resolve our differences with Great Britain failed to work.

What made Mr. Otis write a letter to Mr. Canterville informing him that the ghost had gone away ?

In Chapter Four of "The Canterville Ghost," Mr Otis writes a letter to Lord Canterville in which he conveys his family's belief "that the ghost has gone away." The Otises believe this because they have not seen the ghost on his "nocturnal expeditions" for some time. 

What Mr Otis does not realise, however, is that the ghost is simply in hiding. He has been humiliated and defeated by the Otises at every turn. On his...

In Chapter Four of "The Canterville Ghost," Mr Otis writes a letter to Lord Canterville in which he conveys his family's belief "that the ghost has gone away." The Otises believe this because they have not seen the ghost on his "nocturnal expeditions" for some time. 

What Mr Otis does not realise, however, is that the ghost is simply in hiding. He has been humiliated and defeated by the Otises at every turn. On his last appearance, for example, the ghost was making his way to the library to check on the blood stain when the twins leapt out at him, "waving their hands wildly" and shouted "Boo!" The ghost ran away in the direction of the staircase, only to find Washington Otis waiting for him with a large "garden syringe." The ghost, "hemmed in all sides" was forced to retreat into a fireplace and the incident left him feeling in a "terrible state of dirt, disorder, and despair."

The ghost thus felt unable to fulfill his duty of scaring the residents of Canterville Chase. This prompts him to remain in hiding, for fear of another assault by the Otises. Of course, the ghost is still at Canterville Chase, unbeknownst to the family, and is simply nursing his wounded pride. He will only leave Canterville Chase when the prophecy is fulfilled and he receives redemption for his sins. 

What was William Wordsworth's nationality?

William Wordsworth was English. He was born, educated, and lived almost his entire life in England. As a child, he read such great English writers as Spenser, Shakespeare and Milton. Later, after he became famous, Oxford awarded him an honorary degree, and he was named Poet Laureate of England.

Wordsworth did spend some time in France as a young man, where he fathered a child and was much taken with the ideals of the French...

William Wordsworth was English. He was born, educated, and lived almost his entire life in England. As a child, he read such great English writers as Spenser, Shakespeare and Milton. Later, after he became famous, Oxford awarded him an honorary degree, and he was named Poet Laureate of England.

Wordsworth did spend some time in France as a young man, where he fathered a child and was much taken with the ideals of the French Revolution. But while the talk of equality, liberty and brotherhood may have influenced his style of poetry, especially in encouraging him to write in the language of the common person and about the common person, he was an English poet through and through, and later in life, a political conservative.

He moved in early adulthood to the north of England and lived in the Lake Country, a beautiful and isolated area filled with hills and water features, where he moved because, by living frugally with his sister Dorothy, he could survive on a small income and devote himself to poetry. He became so identified  with the area that he is known as one the English Lake poets. His poetry is intimately associated with this particular natural English landscape as well as such distinctly English sites as the ruins of Tinturn Abbey. He is a writer, like Shakespeare or Jane Austen, who would be considered an emblem of his country. Once you learn about him, it becomes difficult to forget he is English.

How does the death penalty apply to Romeo and Juliet?

In Act I, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet there is a major brawl between the Montagues and Capulets. It begins with the Capulet servants "biting their thumbs" (a severe insult) at their Montague counterparts. It escalates as Tyblalt, despite the attempts by Benovlio to mitigate the situation, joins in and says he hates the Montagues as much as hell. The scene provides exposition for the remainder of the play.

The battle in the street...

In Act I, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet there is a major brawl between the Montagues and Capulets. It begins with the Capulet servants "biting their thumbs" (a severe insult) at their Montague counterparts. It escalates as Tyblalt, despite the attempts by Benovlio to mitigate the situation, joins in and says he hates the Montagues as much as hell. The scene provides exposition for the remainder of the play.

The battle in the street is eventually broken up by the Prince, who rules Verona. He is obviously fatigued by the continual outbreaks of violence in the city streets, so he issues an edict which outlaws the fighting between the two families and threatens the death penalty for anyone who breaks his proclamation. He says,

Three civil brawls bred of an airy word
By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets
And made Verona’s ancient citizens
Cast by their grave-beseeming ornaments
To wield old partisans in hands as old,
Cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate.
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.

Later, however, the Prince reconsiders his proclamation when Tybalt kills Mercutio and Romeo, in a fit of revenge, kills Tybalt. After hearing the story of the fight, which breaks out in Act III, Scene 1, from Benvolio he sentences Romeo to banishment rather than death. The Prince listens to the pleas of Lord Montague and agrees that exile is the just decision. He says at the end of the scene,

And for that offense
Immediately we do exile him hence.
I have an interest in your hearts’ proceeding:
My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding.
But I’ll amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of mine.

His decision may have also been influenced by the fact he was related to Mercutio, as he is to Count Paris, who dies later at the hands of Romeo outside the Capulet tomb.

What is the importance and significance of "Mrs. Warren's Profession"?

Perhaps the single most important and significant feature of George Bernard Shaw's play, Mrs. Warren's Profession, is its frank and unsentimental treatment of the business of prostitution. 

In this play, Vivie is a typical "new woman," intelligent, well educated, and independent. As part of a new generation of women, and building upon a financial foundation that enabled her to attend university, Vivie is one of the first of a generation of British women to...

Perhaps the single most important and significant feature of George Bernard Shaw's play, Mrs. Warren's Profession, is its frank and unsentimental treatment of the business of prostitution. 

In this play, Vivie is a typical "new woman," intelligent, well educated, and independent. As part of a new generation of women, and building upon a financial foundation that enabled her to attend university, Vivie is one of the first of a generation of British women to have the freedom to create careers for themselves in the male world of business. As various men propose to her, she begins to realize that marriage in her society is not greatly different from prostitution. 

Mrs. Warren represents an earlier generation and class. Brought up in poverty in a society in which one of the few professions open to women was prostitution, she has become the successful owner of a group of brothels. In a sense, both women represent the spirit of entrepreneurial drive, channeled into the paths available to their class and generations. 

The play addresses many of the double standards of British society of the period. The respectable rector, the Reverend Samuel Gardner, whose current wife refuses to even talk to Mrs. Warren, and was one of Mrs. Warren's former clients and the father of Vivie, is socially accepted, as is Crofts who is Mrs. Warren's business partner. 

Perhaps the most radical part of the play is the suggestion that work, whether in the form of Vivie's business or Mrs. Warren's brothels, is essential to women's character and happiness, and that the real problem with the double standard is the way it injures women's characters by trivializing them. Vivie states:

I know very well that fashionable morality is all a pretence, and that if I took your money and devoted the rest of my life to spending it fashionably, I might be as worthless and vicious as the silliest woman could possibly be without having a word said to me about it. But I don't want to be worthless. I shouldn't enjoy trotting about the park to advertize my dressmaker and carriage builder, or being bored at the opera to shew off a shopwindowful of diamonds.

How does Calpurnia grow up in To Kill a Mockingbird?

During a conversation about Calpurnia's educational background, Scout and Jem find out that the older woman was originally from Finch's Landing.  Finch's Landing is the longtime family estate of the Finch family.  It was where their father grew up.  It was also, as they discover, where Calpurnia grew up.

Finch's Landing is located on the river, not far from Maycomb, Alabama.  In her younger years, Calpurnia "grew up down there between the Buford Place and...

During a conversation about Calpurnia's educational background, Scout and Jem find out that the older woman was originally from Finch's Landing.  Finch's Landing is the longtime family estate of the Finch family.  It was where their father grew up.  It was also, as they discover, where Calpurnia grew up.

Finch's Landing is located on the river, not far from Maycomb, Alabama.  In her younger years, Calpurnia "grew up down there between the Buford Place and the Landin'" (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 12).  Calpurnia spent nearly her whole life working for either the Finch family or the Buford family.  Miss Buford was the person who had taught Calpurnia how to read.  Miss Buford was the aunt of Miss Maudie Atkinson.  Calpurnia lived at Finch's Landing even before Atticus, because she is older than him.  She only left when Atticus got married and he and his wife moved to Maycomb.  Calpurnia also moved to work for them.

In the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, what does it mean by "two roads diverged in a yellow wood"? What does it mean by "yellow wood"?

It means there is a fork in the road, and it is autumn in the woods. 

The two roads diverged into a fork in the road, meaning that the roads went in two separate directions. The “yellow wood” means the poem is set in autumn. This also means there were leaves on the ground that might have obscured tracks in the roads.  

The speaker has come to two roads in a wood. He has...

It means there is a fork in the road, and it is autumn in the woods. 

The two roads diverged into a fork in the road, meaning that the roads went in two separate directions. The “yellow wood” means the poem is set in autumn. This also means there were leaves on the ground that might have obscured tracks in the roads.  

The speaker has come to two roads in a wood. He has to choose one. One was “grassy and wanted wear,” but overall the roads are similar. Since it is fall, the roads look different.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

One of the roads is covered with leaves and the other isn’t. Frost says there is a yellow wood to inform us that it is fall. The leaves are falling off the trees. The narrator has to decide if he wants to take the road “less traveled by.”  

The speaker tells us he took the road he thought was less traveled and says doing so made “all the difference.” This is open to interpretation, but you might take it to believe if you do something differently than what everyone else has done, you will get something positive out of it. For the speaker, that seems to have been the case.

Why does the government handicap George but not Hazel?

In this story, which takes place in a futuristic dystopia, people are handicapped according to their abilities. If you are slightly intelligent, you are slightly handicapped. If you are extremely intelligent, your handicaps are extreme and even more debilitating. The same prescription goes for physical ability. The stronger you are, the stronger your handicaps will be. The goal is to make everyone equal. The government wants to bring the smart people down to a certain...

In this story, which takes place in a futuristic dystopia, people are handicapped according to their abilities. If you are slightly intelligent, you are slightly handicapped. If you are extremely intelligent, your handicaps are extreme and even more debilitating. The same prescription goes for physical ability. The stronger you are, the stronger your handicaps will be. The goal is to make everyone equal. The government wants to bring the smart people down to a certain socially common level of intelligence. They also want to make everyone equal in terms of physical ability and looks. 

Hazel is completely average. She has a "perfectly average intelligence" and since she is right at the common average, she doesn't need a mental handicap. If she was a bit smarter, she would require a mild handicap. George, on the other hand, has a much higher intelligence. So, in order to bring him down to the common, average level, he is given a handicap in his ear that disrupts his thinking whenever his thoughts get too profound or intellectual.

Their son, Harrison, is profoundly gifted, mentally and physically. This is why he is given the most severe handicaps the H-G men can come up with.

Is healthcare for all a good thing?

Most people would say that health care for all is a good thing.  However, people might not agree with the way in which health care is provided for everyone.  They might think that a given way of providing health care for everyone is bad for a country.  There are at least two aspects of how health care is provided that could cause people to think that a program that provides health care for all is not actually a good thing.

First of all, the health care program could work in a way that deprives people of their rights.  Many conservatives in the United States dislike “Obamacare” in part because it requires every individual in the US to either buy health insurance or pay a fine to the government.  Some people believe that this infringes on people’s rights to choose what to do with their own money.  In this view, health care for all is a good thing, but it is not appropriate to provide it by infringing on the rights of the people.

Second, we can argue that some ways of providing health care for all are less efficient than others and could actually harm both the health care industry and the economy as a whole.  This is another reason why many conservatives in the US dislike Obamacare.  They believe that Obamacare is bad because it is run too much by the government.  They would like health care for all to be provided by the market rather than by the government. They want a health care plan that has fewer government regulations and therefore allows market forces to play the main role.  They believe that such a program would provide consumers with the best choices at the best prices while still allowing the health care companies to make money.  In this view, health care for all is a good goal, but it should be provided in the most economically efficient way.

So, most people would say that it is good to provide health care to all people in a country. They might, however, argue about the best way to do it and they might reject a certain health care plan because they might think that its bad points outweigh its good points.

How do Ulrich and Georg become friends in "The Interlopers"?

Ulrich is out patrolling his land, hoping to find Georg and perhaps catch him in the act of poaching. He and Georg meet and confront one another. Each man threatens the other. They seem poised for a deadly confrontation as both men are armed. But they both hesitate. During these moments of mutual hesitation, a storm hits and lightning strikes a tree, bringing it to the ground. Ulrich and Georg are trapped beneath the tree....

Ulrich is out patrolling his land, hoping to find Georg and perhaps catch him in the act of poaching. He and Georg meet and confront one another. Each man threatens the other. They seem poised for a deadly confrontation as both men are armed. But they both hesitate. During these moments of mutual hesitation, a storm hits and lightning strikes a tree, bringing it to the ground. Ulrich and Georg are trapped beneath the tree. Ulrich warns Georg that he will be sorry when his (Ulrich's) men arrive. Georg argues the same point, that his men are out on this night as well. They are both still threatening murder at this point. 

Neither man could get free of the downed tree. Ulrich concentrates his energy on opening his flask of wine. The wine is invigorating and Ulrich looks at Georg with pity. He offers him some wine. 

“Could you reach this flask if I threw it over to you?” asked Ulrich suddenly. “There is good wine in it, and one may as well be as comfortable as one can. Let us drink, even if tonight one of us dies.” 

Even though Georg refuses to drink with his enemy, Ulrich continues to lose the hateful feelings he has always had toward Georg. He tells Georg that if his men arrive first, that Georg will be freed first and unharmed. Georg pauses, warmed by this generous gesture, and responds that it would cause quite a stir if word got out that they had become friends. Georg concludes that they should become friends. The feud ends as a result of being in a dire situation together. With the wine, it is something like a "last supper," a time when they bond under extreme circumstances. 

What are some dramatic ironies in Romeo and Juliet?

When Romeo and Juliet first take notice of one another and begin to speak in Act 1, Scene 5, the audience already knows that each of them is the child of their father's enemy.  Though they do not know each other's names yet, they fall in love at first sight.  However, the audience knows -- before they do -- that their love is going to be terribly problematic even before they know themselves.  

In...

When Romeo and Juliet first take notice of one another and begin to speak in Act 1, Scene 5, the audience already knows that each of them is the child of their father's enemy.  Though they do not know each other's names yet, they fall in love at first sight.  However, the audience knows -- before they do -- that their love is going to be terribly problematic even before they know themselves.  

In another example, we know that Romeo has been exiled from Verona for the murder of Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, before either Romeo or Juliet finds out.  This builds tension while we wait for them to learn that there are now even more insurmountable stumbling blocks placed in their path: the increased and renewed animosity between the families as well as Romeo's removal from the city.

However, the most prodigious example of dramatic irony in the play is when Romeo does not get the letter that explains the plan for Juliet to drink the potion that will make her appear as one dead.  Instead, he hears that she is actually dead (which is the story given out to everyone but Romeo via this mislaid letter), and so goes to buy a terrible poison that will "dispatch" him, too.  We know that Juliet is not dead, but Romeo does not.  He goes to her tomb, slays Paris, drinks his poison, and dies.  Meanwhile Friar Lawrence arrives, saying, "Fear comes upon me. / O, much I fear some ill unthrifty thing" (5.3.139-140).  We ought to feel the same, knowing that Juliet is about to awaken and find Romeo dead by her side.  This is, by far, the most upsetting example of dramatic irony in the play.  There have been other delays and misunderstandings, etc., but there is no coming back from this one.  Romeo's ignorance of Juliet's plan leads him down a path that ends in the ultimate tragedy.  Finding Romeo dead, Juliet kills herself, and thus the play ends.  

What would the Americas be like without the Europeans?

What America would be like without the Europeans is an interesting question to ponder. I will look at this from a few different angles.

If the Europeans never came to the Americas, the Native Americans would very likely have been in a better situation. The Europeans mistreated the Native Americans from the time they came to the Americas. The Europeans took their land and also brought diseases from which they died. The Native American way...

What America would be like without the Europeans is an interesting question to ponder. I will look at this from a few different angles.

If the Europeans never came to the Americas, the Native Americans would very likely have been in a better situation. The Europeans mistreated the Native Americans from the time they came to the Americas. The Europeans took their land and also brought diseases from which they died. The Native American way of life was disrupted. Thus, the Native Americans would very likely have been better off if the Europeans never came.

It is possible there may have been a greater conservation of our resources and a greater respect for our land. The Native Americans believed the land belonged to everybody. They believed the land was holy and should be respected. Thus, our resources might have been conserved. It also is possible the Americas wouldn’t be developed as much as they are today. The Europeans used the land and the resources to grow and develop the Americas. If they didn’t do this, it is possible there would have been less development in the Americas.

It is also important to consider the likelihood of the Americas not being discovered by the Europeans. The Europeans had been constantly growing and progressing. It is highly unlikely to think the Europeans would never have come to the Americas at some point in time. The Europeans were also looking to expand, and they eventually would have come to the Americas.

What attitude did the manager and pilgrims display towards Marlow in the story the Heart of Darkness?

The manager appears essentially indifferent and slightly rude to Marlow. The unnamed manager is the head of the Central Station, keeping his position because he has outlived everyone else and has a knack of making those around him "uneasy." Marlow says, "He was neither civil nor uncivil. He was quiet. He allowed his 'boy'...to treat the white men...with provoking insolence."

His self-absorption makes him ignore the fact Marlow is tired and extremely hungry. The manager...

The manager appears essentially indifferent and slightly rude to Marlow. The unnamed manager is the head of the Central Station, keeping his position because he has outlived everyone else and has a knack of making those around him "uneasy." Marlow says, "He was neither civil nor uncivil. He was quiet. He allowed his 'boy'...to treat the white men...with provoking insolence."

His self-absorption makes him ignore the fact Marlow is tired and extremely hungry. The manager just wants to know how long it will take to repair the steamship. But the question is moot because the manager has already decided it should take three months. "Let us say three months. Yes. That ought to do the affair."

The pilgrims are not actually religious missionaries. They are the agents for the Central Station, determined to make as much money as possible through the ivory trade. However, they are not doing a lot of work to really get ahead. Marlow calls them pilgrims because they carry staves and wear loose clothing.

When Marlow first meets the Pilgrims, he realizes the pilgrim he is talking to is pumping him for information. He keeps asking Marlow questions about Europe and the people that sent Marlow to Africa. Marlow doesn't know what information the man wants. Finally the man "covers a gesture of fury with a yawn," and Marlow realizes the man thinks he (Marlow) is a liar.

How does literary theory direct literary criticism?

When writing literary criticism, or when writing any work that seeks to interpret and understand a work of literature, it is helpful to have an understanding of literary theory, also known as critical theory. Theory and criticism go together, in fact. The idea of criticism is not necessarily linked to a critical reading of a text in a negative sense; rather, criticism is a way of reading a text closely and understanding its structure, origins,...

When writing literary criticism, or when writing any work that seeks to interpret and understand a work of literature, it is helpful to have an understanding of literary theory, also known as critical theory. Theory and criticism go together, in fact. The idea of criticism is not necessarily linked to a critical reading of a text in a negative sense; rather, criticism is a way of reading a text closely and understanding its structure, origins, meanings and implications within wider contexts. According to this scholarly article on the subject, this theoretical discipline is undergoing changes to accommodate cultural change:

"Literary theory," sometimes designated "critical theory," or "theory," and now undergoing a transformation into "cultural theory" within the discipline of literary studies, can be understood as the set of concepts and intellectual assumptions on which rests the work of explaining or interpreting literary texts.

In using critical theory to examine and interpret a text (for example, novel), it is important to understand the basis of the particular theory you're working with. It is possible to use a general critical approach based in literary structure, but for many texts a more specific approach is entirely appropriate. Some critical theories are based upon more specific sets of assumptions, in order to provide a more focused reading of the text. These examples include Marxist theory (which examines texts based upon economic and class inequality for example), feminist critical theory (also known as gender theory, which is intended to closely examine the text's expression of gender roles, sexism, and cultural attitudes about gender, among other topics), or post-colonialism (a theory that includes awareness of the impact of colonialism, or the settlements imposed upon indigenous peoples by white Europeans, on a text's cultural implications).

3(X+y)=y if (X,y) is a solution to the equation above and y is not equal to 0 what is the ratio x/y ? I don't understand this question and would...

Hello!

It is not hard. As you know, usually to find two unknowns two equations are required. There are only one equation, so probably we cannot find `x` and `y` separately. But the question is not about finding `x` and `y` but `x/y` only.

First, open the parentheses using the distributive law:

`3(x+y)=3x+3y=y.`

Then, move all terms with `x` to the left and all with `y` to the right (actually, add `-3y` to both sides):

...

Hello!

It is not hard. As you know, usually to find two unknowns two equations are required. There are only one equation, so probably we cannot find `x` and `y` separately. But the question is not about finding `x` and `y` but `x/y` only.

First, open the parentheses using the distributive law:

`3(x+y)=3x+3y=y.`

Then, move all terms with `x` to the left and all with `y` to the right (actually, add `-3y` to both sides):

`3x=y-3y=-2y`

(`y-3y=1y-3y=(1-3)y=-2y` by the distributive law also).

Now divide both sides of `3x=-2y`  by `y` and then by `2` and obtain

`x/y=-2/3.`

This is the ratio in question, -2/3.

What are some quotes in The Outsiders that show that Ponyboy is judgmental?

There are many quotes in the novel, The Outsiders, that showcases Ponyboy's judgment of others. Most of those judgmental quotes involve Dally, while some others are about family, and how Ponyboy perceives them. 

The first example of Ponyboy's judgement comes in chapter 5. At that point in the novel, Ponyboy and Johnny were on the run for about 4 to 5 days. Soda wrote a heartfelt letter to Ponyboy, asking him to turn himself...

There are many quotes in the novel, The Outsiders, that showcases Ponyboy's judgment of others. Most of those judgmental quotes involve Dally, while some others are about family, and how Ponyboy perceives them. 

The first example of Ponyboy's judgement comes in chapter 5. At that point in the novel, Ponyboy and Johnny were on the run for about 4 to 5 days. Soda wrote a heartfelt letter to Ponyboy, asking him to turn himself in and come home. Instead of listening to Soda's feelings, Ponyboy responds,

He could improve his spelling...

There was no real sentimentality on Ponyboy's part. He did not concern himself with the passion or tone of Soda's letter. He criticized and judged his spelling, then moved on. 

Another example of how Ponyboy judges others happens in chapter six. Dally is trying to convince Johnny not to turn himself in and go to jail. He opens up about being hardened in jail, and that Johnny doesn't know what jail will do to him. Instead of hearing the pleas that Dally is making, and accepting his truth, Ponyboy judges him again. 

Dally never talked like that. Never. Dally didn't give a Yankee dime about anyone but himself, and he was cold and hard and mean. 

Ponyboy allows his bias and disdain for Dally to cloud his perception. He doesn't listen to Dally's words, nor does he understand or accept Dally's truth. Instead, he judges him and ignores all evidence to the contrary of what he perceives. 

Why were the Jewish musicians not allowed to play music by Beethoven?

Night is Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel's memoir of his experiences in the Nazi death camps of World War II while still a teenager. The book chronicles his final days in the ghetto of Sighet, Poland and transfer to Auschwitz and then Buchenwald. Wiesel is originally deported to Birkenau and then to the infamous Auschwitz. After a short time at Auschwitz, he and his father are transferred to Buna, a work camp. It is...

Night is Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel's memoir of his experiences in the Nazi death camps of World War II while still a teenager. The book chronicles his final days in the ghetto of Sighet, Poland and transfer to Auschwitz and then Buchenwald. Wiesel is originally deported to Birkenau and then to the infamous Auschwitz. After a short time at Auschwitz, he and his father are transferred to Buna, a work camp. It is at Buna that Wiesel and his father are placed in a cell block with several musicians. The musicians played in a marching band and also worked in a warehouse with electrical equipment. 

Several of the Jews in this block were "distinguished" musicians before the war. It is Louis, a violinist from Holland, who tells Wiesel that the Germans would not allow the Jews to play music written by Germans such as Beethoven. The Nazis worshipped the music of Beethoven and some historians misleadingly labeled the great composer an anti-semite, though there is not a shred of evidence to back this claim. Wagner too has often been labeled as anti-semitic, but this idea is also dubious, despite the fact Hitler loved his music and the composer is sometimes credited with influencing German National Socialism.

Which elements tend to lose electrons? What charge will they become?

Elements that are metals tend to lose electrons and become positively charged ions called cations. Elements that are nonmetals tend to gain electrons and become negatively charged ions called anions. 

• Metals that are located in column 1A of the periodic table form ions by losing one electron. This gives them a charge of 1+. 

• Metals that are located in column 2A of the periodic table form ions by losing two electrons. This gives them a charge of 2+.

• Metals that are located in column 3A of the periodic table form ions by losing three electrons. This gives them a charge of 3+.

• The transition metals zinc (Zn), silver (Ag), and cadmium (Cd) form ions by losing one electron. This gives them a charge of 1+.

• Most other transition metals and the group 4A metals (lead (Pb) and tin (Sn)), tend to form two or more different positively charged ions. For example, iron (Fe) can either lose two electrons and form an ion with a 2+ charge, or lose three electrons and form an ion with a 3+ charge.

What advice does Atticus give his children to help them grow as individuals?

Atticus is a principled man, and so he takes great care to ensure that Scout and Jem both grow up to live as moral adults. He gives them a great deal of advice throughout the novel, both directly and indirectly. One of his most important lessons is his instruction to be the same person in all areas of life, whether one is at home or in public. 

This idea is fundamental to the novel. Since...

Atticus is a principled man, and so he takes great care to ensure that Scout and Jem both grow up to live as moral adults. He gives them a great deal of advice throughout the novel, both directly and indirectly. One of his most important lessons is his instruction to be the same person in all areas of life, whether one is at home or in public. 

This idea is fundamental to the novel. Since he cannot adopt a fake persona, Atticus must live up to his true nature and honestly defend Tom Robinson, though he knows that the public expects him to live up to their racist expectations and allow Robinson to be charged guilty of a crime he didn't commit. Atticus faces a great deal of criticism, and even violent threats, as a result of his actions. However, by being the same person in public as he is at home, Atticus teaches Scout and Jem the importance of living authentically and striving to think for oneself, no matter what public opinion might be. By teaching them this lesson, Atticus takes an important step in ensuring his children grow up to be principled and honorable adults. 

Women play a vital role in The Odyssey. Select two female characters. Analyze them as characters. What role did they play in the story? Would the...

Though The Odyssey is primarily a story about men, it features a number of important women. For the most part, a woman's function within the world of The Odyssey is to influence the deeds of men either negatively or positively. Athena and Circe illustrate this trend perfectly, as one exists primarily to help Odysseus, while the other exists to antagonize him.

Athena: Athena is the goddess of wisdom and is essentially Odysseus' biggest fan. She...

Though The Odyssey is primarily a story about men, it features a number of important women. For the most part, a woman's function within the world of The Odyssey is to influence the deeds of men either negatively or positively. Athena and Circe illustrate this trend perfectly, as one exists primarily to help Odysseus, while the other exists to antagonize him.

Athena: Athena is the goddess of wisdom and is essentially Odysseus' biggest fan. She protects him from Poseidon's wrath, urges Telemachus to search for his father, and encourages the king of Ithaca when he contends with the suitors for possession of the palace. As such, she exists primarily to help Odysseus accomplish his most important tasks, and the king's journey would be far more perilous if she did not exist. 

Circe: Circe is the enchantress who lives on Aeaea an turns Odysseus' men into swine. She is the main antagonist of the Aeaea episode and primarily tries to hinder Odysseus' attempt to get home. As such, she represents the opposite of Athena, acting as the woman whose main function is to stop the men in the poem from getting what they want. If she weren't in the poem, Odysseus' journey would be considerably easier (and, by extension, considerably more boring). The case can be made that she's not all bad, as she does amend her ways and entertain the wandering sailors for a year after Odysseus gets the better of her, but she's most memorable for her stint as a villain.  

What is "break of bulk point" and why is it important when studying the concept of industrialization.

A break of bulk point (or a break in bulk point) is a place where cargo is shifted from one form of transport to another.  The most obvious example of this would be a sea port or an airport.  At such places, cargo comes in on a ship or an airplane.  It would then need to be moved across land on some other sort of transport.  Most likely, this would be a truck or perhaps...

A break of bulk point (or a break in bulk point) is a place where cargo is shifted from one form of transport to another.  The most obvious example of this would be a sea port or an airport.  At such places, cargo comes in on a ship or an airplane.  It would then need to be moved across land on some other sort of transport.  Most likely, this would be a truck or perhaps a train.  At the break of bulk point, the cargo is transferred from the one form of transportation to the other.

This idea is important in the study of industrialization because it helps to explain why some places became industrialized before others.  Industrialization often occurred at break of bulk points.  This made sense because this was a point where cargo was going to have to be offloaded and transferred anyway.  For example, imagine that you transport iron ore from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to a port at Gary, Indiana.  Once your ship reaches Gary, you are going to have to take the ore off the ship anyway.  That means that Gary would be a good place to build a steel mill so that you could move the ore directly from the ship to the mill rather than putting the ore on a train and moving it somewhere else to make it into steel.

Because of this, break of bulk points often became centers of industrialization.  This is why the idea of a break of bulk point is important when we study industrialization.

What is a quote from The Great Gatsby on illegal business being conducted?

In chapter seven, Tom Buchanan confronts Jay Gatsby with the information he received from a private investigator he hired to learn about Gatsby's criminal activities. Tom explains to Nick, Jordan, and Daisy that Gatsby and Meyer Wolfsheim bought small drugstores in New York and Chicago and "sold grain alcohol over the counter." Gatsby does not deny it, responding, "What about it?"

Tom threatens to carry his investigation further, implying that Gatsby and Wolfsheim have been...

In chapter seven, Tom Buchanan confronts Jay Gatsby with the information he received from a private investigator he hired to learn about Gatsby's criminal activities. Tom explains to Nick, Jordan, and Daisy that Gatsby and Meyer Wolfsheim bought small drugstores in New York and Chicago and "sold grain alcohol over the counter." Gatsby does not deny it, responding, "What about it?"

Tom threatens to carry his investigation further, implying that Gatsby and Wolfsheim have been engaged in a gambling racket and something bigger that one of his sources, Walter Chase, is afraid to divulge. Once again, Gatsby is unmoved by Tom's threats and accusations, replying, "You can suit yourself about that, old sport." He also points out to Tom that Walter Chase, though a friend of Tom Buchanan, was willing to join him in the bootlegging enterprise.

What are some major events in Chapters 18, 19, 20, and 21? What is the climax in these chapters? What could have Isabel done to avoid the situation...

The main focus of Chapter 18 is the hanging of Thomas Hickory, accused of plotting the assassination of George Washington.

Isabel attends the hanging, and meets Curzon there, the slave who has persuaded her to spy on her masters. She asks him when she and Ruth will be able to leave New York, but he brushes her aside, saying they will be free eventually.

In Chapter 19, Isabel is forced to go to an Anglican...

The main focus of Chapter 18 is the hanging of Thomas Hickory, accused of plotting the assassination of George Washington.

Isabel attends the hanging, and meets Curzon there, the slave who has persuaded her to spy on her masters. She asks him when she and Ruth will be able to leave New York, but he brushes her aside, saying they will be free eventually.

In Chapter 19, Isabel is forced to go to an Anglican church service, and she compares it (unfavorably) to the open, straight-forward Congregational church she used to attend. 

The British arrive in town during the service, and the Tory congregation packs up to run home. Ruth is frightened and refuses to move for some time, but Isabel plays it off. 

What Isabel is not able to play off is when Ruth dumps muddy water in the washing bin where Isabel had been doing the laundry. Madam Lockton sees her and knows something is wrong with Ruth. 

In Chapter 20, the town is preparing for a big battle between the redcoats and the rebels and excitement is high.

Meanwhile, Isabel returns from an errand to hear that Madam has made the slaves gingerbread and milk and given them the night off, after begin lectured on her treatment of them by the preacher's wife. Isabel is suspicious, but Becky encourages her to enjoy it while it lasts. 

In Chapter 21, Isabel wakes up to discover that Madam has drugged her with the milk.

While she was sleeping, and Becky had the night off, Madam sold Ruth to be a doctor's maid in the Caribbean. 

At the climax of this section of the novel, Isabel confronts Madam for what she's done. Afraid of Isabel's anger and refusal to obey an order, Madam breaks a painting over her head.

Isabel runs to the rebel camp, demanding help, with Madam hot on her trail. Colonel Regan insists that Isabel return with Madam. Isabel tried to escape, but it hit on the head. 

As to the question of what Isabel could have done to escape the tragedies of Chapter 21, it's hard to say whether or not she could do anything. Certainly she has misplaced her trust in Madam's kindness and the Colonel's promises. Still, she had misgivings about both already, and trusted in them because she felt she had little choice. I would argue that these events were unavoidable, due to the way slavery limited Isabel's options. 

What is the French Revolution?

The French Revolution was a series of rapid social and political changes in the nation of France during the late eighteenth century. 

Prior to the Revolution, French society was composed of the bourgeoisie elite class and the proletariat peasantry. France was in the last dwindling stages of a feudal society, where ownership of land and resources was in the hands of the nobility, but peasants worked the land. As was common in many of the...

The French Revolution was a series of rapid social and political changes in the nation of France during the late eighteenth century. 

Prior to the Revolution, French society was composed of the bourgeoisie elite class and the proletariat peasantry. France was in the last dwindling stages of a feudal society, where ownership of land and resources was in the hands of the nobility, but peasants worked the land. As was common in many of the European revolutions, the peasantry were angry that they had no rights to the land they lived on or goods they produced- their labor was exploited for the benefit of the upper class.

This general undercurrent of societal tensions was really brought to a head with the growing debt of the French government and numerous crop failures in the years leading up to the Revolution. Peasants in particular suffered from crop failure because they were giving bigger and bigger portions of the foods they produced to be eaten by wealthier people. Prices of foods sold in markets were on the rise, leading to a number of riots in protest of the high price of bread. Additionally, the French involvement in the American Revolution and an increase in study of philosophy (particularly that to do with social liberty) were major inspirations for the French Revolution.

In 1789, representatives of the Three Estates of French society (the nobility, clergy, and peasantry) met to try and negotiate some of the issues creating conflict. They disagreed over how much power each had in voting, and the Third Estate (the peasantry) threatened to isolate themselves as a group and take charge in the decision making process. The king could smell a revolution brewing, and encouraged the nobility and clergy to cooperate with the peasantry- forming the National Constituent Assembly. Things were slow to progress with the assembly, while the food shortages continued to get worse outside of the halls of government. On the 14th of July, peasants gathered to attack the royal prison- La Bastille- which was a symbol of the king's power. 

Things escalated quickly after the attack on the royal prison. In August, the ancien regime  was outlawed, as was tithing, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was written as a new governmental document. The Declaration held that the highest values of the new France were equality, brotherhood, and freedom- still the motto of France, today.

After the abolition of the constitutional monarchy and the feudal system, France rapidly transformed into a secular, democratic republic which valued the needs and voices of all citizens (now including Blacks and Jews,) over the wants of a privileged few. 

What is the major ideological conflict within Islam?

The root of most of the ideological conflict within Islamic religion stems from a difference in belief of who was and is the appropriate successor to the Prophet Muhammad. In fact, the greatest divide in Islam is between the Sunni and Shi'a sects of Islam.

Sunni Muslims, who make up about 85% of the worldwide Muslim population, believe that the successor to the Prophet Muhammad as caliph (the highest religious authority) was his father-in-law Abu...

The root of most of the ideological conflict within Islamic religion stems from a difference in belief of who was and is the appropriate successor to the Prophet Muhammad. In fact, the greatest divide in Islam is between the Sunni and Shi'a sects of Islam.

Sunni Muslims, who make up about 85% of the worldwide Muslim population, believe that the successor to the Prophet Muhammad as caliph (the highest religious authority) was his father-in-law Abu Bakr. Shi'a Muslims constitute about 15% of the worldwide Muslim population and believe that the rightful successor was Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law to the Prophet Muhammed. 

This divide is not just about who succeeded Muhammed as caliph, but also about how the successors are chosen. Sunni Muslims believe that leaders should be elected by a consensus of the Ummah, or Muslim community. Shi'a, on the other hand, assert that before his death, Muhammad appointed his son-in-law Ali and his descendants as the succeeding caliphs. 

Why should Juliet be pardoned from the events leading up to her death? I have to prove that Juliet is not guilty. For example, one of my reasons...

It could certainly be argued that Juliet is not at fault for her eventual death. After all, she is only 13 years old and is deeply in love with an older man. She does act on impulse but she is steered toward her ultimate demise by the people around her. 

First, Romeo should have known better. He rushes into the relationship even though he lacks the maturity to make proper decisions. He probably should have consulted his parents before marrying Juliet. He also should have held his temper during Act III, Scene 1 when Mercutio is killed. He must have known that going after Tybalt, who was Juliet's cousin, could lead to tragedy. He also might have shown more patience when Balthasar delivers the message about Juliet's death. If he hadn't been so headstrong about committing suicide the Friar would have eventually gotten him the message about Juliet faking her death.

Second, Juliet's father changed his mind about Count Paris at a most inopportune moment. Previously, Lord Capulet told Paris to "win" Juliet's love. When Tybalt is killed Capulet backtracks on his earlier suggestions to Paris and promises his daughter to the Count. This presents a terrible dilemma for Juliet as she has to decide between betraying Romeo or defying her father. When she refuses to marry Paris, her father threatens to disown her, her mother spurns her and the Nurse advises her to forget Romeo and marry Paris. She has no one to turn to but Friar Lawrence.

Third, the Friar goes way too far in enabling Romeo and Juliet to act on their impetuous love affair. Although he thinks the marriage will end the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, which it does, it also costs the lives of  two young people he obviously loved. Even though he advises Romeo to "love moderately" and to take things slowly, he agrees with every whim on Romeo's mind. He even confesses to guilt in the double suicide. In Act V, Scene 3, he says,

I am the greatest, able to do least,
Yet most suspected, as the time and place
Doth make against me, of this direful murder.
And here I stand, both to impeach and purge
Myself condemnèd and myself excused.

Finally, the biggest culprit in the death of Juliet is the feud between the two families which has been going forever. It is stoked by the personalities who live at the time of Romeo and Juliet, specifically Tybalt and Mercutio. In the end, she was only doing what her heart told her to do. She didn't want to live without "her Romeo."

In To Kill a Mockingbird, how does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he right to do so?

Reverend Sykes was the kindly pastor of First Purchase, Calpurnia’s church. When Jem and Scout attend a service with Cal, he gives them a warm welcome and treats them kindly.

In this time, many white people in the South considered African Americans ‘second class citizens.’ Whites passed laws to segregate African Americans in many ways: separate bathrooms, water fountains, housing, stores, etc.  In a courthouse, African Americans were not allowed to sit on the main...

Reverend Sykes was the kindly pastor of First Purchase, Calpurnia’s church. When Jem and Scout attend a service with Cal, he gives them a warm welcome and treats them kindly.

In this time, many white people in the South considered African Americans ‘second class citizens.’ Whites passed laws to segregate African Americans in many ways: separate bathrooms, water fountains, housing, stores, etc.  In a courthouse, African Americans were not allowed to sit on the main floor. That was reserved for the ‘more important’ white people. African Americans could sit in the balcony, which was not considered a favorable place to sit.

Scout and Jem try to find seats on the main floor in order to watch their father Atticus defend Tom Robinson. But every bit of sitting and standing space is taken.  Reverend Sykes sees that the children have no place to sit, so he invites them to join him on the balcony.

Is he right to do so? This is an opinion question. Looking at this query from a general human kindness standpoint, yes, he is justified.  He is making sure Scout and Jem have seats to watch their father during a trial, which has cost their family a lot of stress. He takes a risk in doing so: white people may say negative things about him for bringing white children into the African-American section of the court, and even some African Americans may say Scout and Jem do not belong there.  But Reverend Sykes is looking beyond the color barrier. He understands the children’s’ feelings and wants them to be able to watch their father. No white person on the main floor offered seats.

How would you explain the relevance of the Iliad in modern-day life with regard to the heroic code and its motivations?

In  one sense, one could say that the particular heroic culture in which the Iliad was embedded no longer actually exists. Warfare, for example, is not a matter of single combat between two males born into noble families according to a series of well-defined rituals, but instead involves extensive teamwork, planning, and technological expertise. Even actual combat in the sub-Mycenaean period was probably less ritualized and heroic than many books of the Iliadmight have...

In  one sense, one could say that the particular heroic culture in which the Iliad was embedded no longer actually exists. Warfare, for example, is not a matter of single combat between two males born into noble families according to a series of well-defined rituals, but instead involves extensive teamwork, planning, and technological expertise. Even actual combat in the sub-Mycenaean period was probably less ritualized and heroic than many books of the Iliad might have suggested; the introductory episode of the Greeks pillaging an innocent village and raping female teenagers is probably a realistic view of ancient warfare. 

On the other hand, the myth of the "heroic code" still does influence our society. For example, from any practical viewpoint, going to war over a woman ditching her middle-aged husband for a handsome young man seems silly, as does the notion of throwing away hundreds of lives on the basis of wounded pride. Yet, in much of the rhetoric in the 2016 U.S. election campaign, and also in that espoused by many of the right-wing nationalist parties in Europe, one hears much of the same emphasis on tribalism and pride as opposed to a more modern pragmatism. 

The issue of pride and petulance, especially as seen in Achilles' sulking over his honor to the point of subverting his own side in the war, has certain similarities to gang culture, in everything from its treatment of women simply as trophies to an exaggerated concern with status and image. As we look back at the Iliad, we can use it as a mirror to critique our own emphasis on pride and image and the way it stands in the way of sensible compromises and the ability to negotiate rather than resort to violence. 

Sally Monilla has started serving lunch at her new business called Salmonilla’s Diner. During lunch hours, they serve an average of 10 customers...

This is a question of queuing theory and the Poisson process would be applicable in this question. Sally typically serves 10 customers per hour.

The number of customers served in a given 15 minute window

= 10 customer/hour x 15 minutes x 1/60 hour/minute = 2.5 customers

This can also be termed as mean serving rate (number of customers served per unit time) or `lambda`. Thus,

`lambda` = 2.5 customers

The probability of serving less...

This is a question of queuing theory and the Poisson process would be applicable in this question. Sally typically serves 10 customers per hour.

The number of customers served in a given 15 minute window

= 10 customer/hour x 15 minutes x 1/60 hour/minute = 2.5 customers

This can also be termed as mean serving rate (number of customers served per unit time) or `lambda`. Thus,

`lambda` = 2.5 customers

The probability of serving less than 3 customer per block of 15 minutes can be determined as

P (x < 3) = P (x = 0) + P (x = 1) + P (x = 2)

where, x is the number of customers served in the 15 minute time period.

Thus, P (x < 3) = `(2.5^0 xx e^(-2.5))/(0!) + (2.5^1 xx e^(-2.5))/(1!) + (2.5^2 xx e^(-2.5))/(2!) `

= 0.544.

 Thus, the probability that less than 3 customers are served in a given 15 minute time period is 0.544.

Hope this helps. 

Given the compound `~Al_2O_3` , a) What is the charge of each Al ion if each O ion has a charge of 2-? How do you know? b) What must happen to...

Ionic Bonding:

The bond formed between Al and O is called an ionic bond. Ionic bonds are formed when when an atom that is a metal (Al) transfers one or more valence electrons to an atom that is a nonmetal (O).

When a metal atom such as Al loses electrons, it becomes a positively charged ion. When a nonmetal atom such as O gains electrons, it becomes a negatively charged ion. When Al forms an ion, it loses three valence electrons, giving it a 3+ charge. When O forms an ion, it gains two valence electrons, giving it a 2- charge.

The ions in an ionic bond are held together by the strong electrostatic attraction between the positively charged metal ions and the negatively charged nonmetal ions.

Charges in Ionic Bonds:

In an ionic compound, the total charge of the metal atom must be equal and opposite to the total charge of the nonmetal atom. The total charge of an atom is equal to the atom's subscript times its charge.

For the compound `~Al_2O_3` , we know that the there are three O atoms (from the subscript), and that each O atom has a charge of 2-. Therefore, the total negative charge in the compound is: 3 x (-2) = -6. 

Since the total negative charge in the compound must be equal and opposite to the total positive charge in the compound, the total positive charge in the compound must be equal to +6. The compound contains 2 Al atoms. In order for there to be a total positive charge of +6, each Al atom must have a charge of 3+: 2 x (+3) = +6.

What hinders Joe from working with Black Beauty and Ginger in Anna Sewell's Black Beauty?

In Anna Sewell's Black Beauty, Little Joe Green is hired as the stable boy to replace James Howard once John Manly, the coachman at Birtwick Park, recommends James as head groom at a different estate. Once Joe is hired, except for the time he accidentally makes Black Beauty seriously ill, Joe is kept on as the stable boy and not hindered at all from workingwith Black Beauty or Ginger, up until the moment...

In Anna Sewell's Black Beauty, Little Joe Green is hired as the stable boy to replace James Howard once John Manly, the coachman at Birtwick Park, recommends James as head groom at a different estate. Once Joe is hired, except for the time he accidentally makes Black Beauty seriously ill, Joe is kept on as the stable boy and not hindered at all from working with Black Beauty or Ginger, up until the moment Squire Gordon must sell off the estate and relocate to care for his ailing wife.

Within the first few days of Joe replacing James, Black Beauty, called Beauty for short, must run very hard to fetch the doctor to save Mistress Gordon's life. Joe, thinking Black Beauty was overly hot, did not cover Beauty up with his warm blanket when he was drenched in sweat. As a result, Beauty was inflicted with hypothermia, which led to a severe lung infection. During Beauty's illness, Ginger and Merrylegs were moved to the neighboring stable to be taken care of by Joe, while John and Joe's father, Tom Green, tended to Beauty along with the veterinarian, who came daily. Joe was brokenhearted and devastated by the consequences of his foolish actions.

Nevertheless, Beauty reports that Joe learned quickly, and Beauty becomes very proud to be under the care of Joe, especially when Joe testifies in a court of law against horse abuse he had witnessed while riding Beauty.

After three years of having lived at Birtwick Park, Beauty explains that Miss Gordon must be moved to warmer climates for her health. As a result, Squire Gordon must break up his estate, finding new posts for his servants and selling all of his horses. It is naturally when Black Beauty and Ginger are sold to the Earl of W-- that Joe can no longer work with them. He is instead hired by the vicar to take care of Merrylegs, who was sold to the vicar.

What GCSEs would I need to become a makeup artist?

For those on the site who aren’t from the UK, GCSEs refer to General Certificates of Secondary Education, which are the main qualifications taken by students leaving secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Makeup artists need to be flexible, able to create the specific look their client wants for any occasion. You could choose to specialize in everyday makeup, fancy dress, or on makeup for the cinema, which would require knowledge of prosthetics,...

For those on the site who aren’t from the UK, GCSEs refer to General Certificates of Secondary Education, which are the main qualifications taken by students leaving secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Makeup artists need to be flexible, able to create the specific look their client wants for any occasion. You could choose to specialize in everyday makeup, fancy dress, or on makeup for the cinema, which would require knowledge of prosthetics, etc. Tasks you might encounter in your daily work could include researching styles for a particular job, keeping current with popular styles, styling hair, applying makeup or special effects, and keeping work areas clean. If you’re operating independently, you might even want financial planning skills to keep your records straight.

Most universities offer degrees in make-up or related subjects. The UK government recommends five GSCEs (A-C), including maths, English and science, plus three additional A levels. Different universities will have different entry requirements, though, so check with the specific places you want to go.

The .gov.uk link below has some more helpful information on becoming a makeup artist and applying to university programs.

What is intrinsic motivation? |

Intrinsic motivation is that within ourselves that motivates us, as opposed to motivation outside ourselves, for example, being motivated by the prospect of recognition or monetary reward. I happen to think that intrinsic motivation is far more powerful than extrinsic motivation, but not everyone will agree with that opinion.

Let me give you some examples of intrinsic motivation. One great satisfaction in life is completing a difficult task. Have you ever worked really hard on...

Intrinsic motivation is that within ourselves that motivates us, as opposed to motivation outside ourselves, for example, being motivated by the prospect of recognition or monetary reward. I happen to think that intrinsic motivation is far more powerful than extrinsic motivation, but not everyone will agree with that opinion.

Let me give you some examples of intrinsic motivation. One great satisfaction in life is completing a difficult task. Have you ever worked really hard on something and noticed how great it feels when you are done? We are motivated to accomplish a difficult task to attain that wonderful feeling. Another kind of intrinsic motivation is the motivation that makes us take on a new challenge and overcome new hurdles. Certainly, we could just learn how to do one thing well and keep on doing that one thing, but most of us take great pleasure in stretching ourselves, mentally or physically, to learn something new, to climb a higher mountain, to take on an extra task at work, all ways of challenging ourselves. There is an intrinsic reward in setting new and challenging goals for oneself, and that inward reward is what motivates so many people to strive to do something more. The satisfaction of curiosity is another form of intrinsic motivation. We often wonder why, and we reward ourselves with the answers. Curiosity is a powerful driving force for humans, and a very intrinsic one.

I am not an evolutionary psychologist, but I really think that humans who were able to act upon intrinsic motivation were the ones who were most likely to survive long enough to pass on their genes. These are the people who were motivated by the idea of completing difficult tasks, stretching their physical and mental muscles, and asking "Why?" for the satisfaction of the answer. They cultivated plants, invented the wheel, designed pyramids, and created democracy. In short, they were responsible for the advances of humankind. I think they took great intrinsic pleasure in their creative and intellectual endeavors, and now, of course, so can we.

What does the judge tell Mayella to stop doing in Chapter 18 of To Kill a Mockingbird?

When Mayella Ewell is called to the witness stand, she is scared and confused. At one point as Mr. Gilmer, the prosecutor, is patiently questioning her about what happened, Mayella begins sobbing, covering her face with her hands. Judge Taylor asks her to stop: ‘Judge Taylor let her cry for a while and then he said, “That’s enough now. Don’t be ‘fraid of anybody here, as long as you tell the truth.” ‘

When Mayella...

When Mayella Ewell is called to the witness stand, she is scared and confused. At one point as Mr. Gilmer, the prosecutor, is patiently questioning her about what happened, Mayella begins sobbing, covering her face with her hands. Judge Taylor asks her to stop: ‘Judge Taylor let her cry for a while and then he said, “That’s enough now. Don’t be ‘fraid of anybody here, as long as you tell the truth.” ‘

When Mayella says she is afraid of Atticus, the judge reassures her that Atticus has no intention of deliberately scaring her, and it is his job as judge to see that Atticus doesn’t scare her.

The judge speaks to Mayella as if she is much younger than nineteen: “Now you’re a big girl, so you just sit up straight and tell the—tell us what happened to you. You can do that, can’t you?”

Scout, watching from the balcony, thinks the scene is odd. She asks Jem if Mayella has ‘good sense,’ wondering if Mayella might have some kind of learning disability. Jem replies, “Can’t tell yet…She’s got enough sense to make the judge feel sorry for her, but she might be just—oh, I don’t know.”

This leads the reader to wonder about the causes of Mayella’s tears. Is it to get sympathy from the judge and other people in the court? Or is she genuinely afraid of Atticus because she saw him prove her father was a liar and he may prove the same thing about her?

Judge Taylor’s leniency with her tears, her accusations, and her later refusal to answer any more questions shows the partiality she was given in court because she was a young white woman.  Poor or not, she was given preferential treatment.

What was the conflict in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

The conflict in the book, The Boy with the Striped Pajamas, is that the boy's father, the Nazi officer, has placed his family in a position that caused his actions to ruin his entire family and actually gets his own son killed, along with the prisoners of war that he was in charge of.

The irony of this is inescapable. The father was punished severely for his actions towards the prisoners of war, in that his own child ended up getting executed.

His child had done nothing to deserve being executed, just as the prisoners and their children in the death camp had done nothing to deserve being executed.

The father, and the entire rest of the family, had to suffer the loss of their precious child because of the father's actions.

What does Thoreau mean by his comment, "It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail"?

This quote is found in paragraph 5 of the “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For” chapter in Walden. It follows Thoreau’s recounting of a time when he considered buying a farm. He did not purchase the property. He ends the story with a vow of advice to himself and perhaps to his readers as well: “As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to...

This quote is found in paragraph 5 of the “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For” chapter in Walden. It follows Thoreau’s recounting of a time when he considered buying a farm. He did not purchase the property. He ends the story with a vow of advice to himself and perhaps to his readers as well: “As long as possible live free and uncommitted. It makes but little difference whether you are committed to a farm or the county jail.”

Thoreau liked to use wordplay and literary devices in his writing. Here he uses two different meanings of the word “committed” to add a twist to his conclusion. To be committed to a farm is to be bound to it by ownership and dedication. To be committed to the county jail is to be put into official custody of law enforcement authorities. The first one is by choice, the second one is by force. In the first one, the person is in charge of everything. In the second one, other people are in charge. But Thoreau sees these ties as being similar. Owning a property is a full-time responsibility that he equates with doing time in prison. You are chained to the place, one way or another.

Other than the house he built and lived in at Walden Pond—and only that building itself, not the land that it sat on (which belonged to Ralph Waldo Emerson)—Henry Thoreau never owned real estate. He lived with his parents or with the Emerson family. He discovered that he could enjoy his lifestyle more by being free of this responsibility. Besides, he did a lot of work as a property surveyor. In this job, he could scrutinize every inch of a property temporarily, and not be tied to it forever.

What is an example of foreshadowing in Chapter 12-13 in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Some examples of foreshadowing include Dill's letter, Calpurnia's church's reaction to Scout and Jem, and Alexandra's arrival.

Foreshadowing is a hint that the author makes about something that is going to happen later in the book.  It keeps a reader guessing and interested in the story.  Lee uses foreshadowing many times throughout the book.

One example of foreshadowing is the description of Jem’s moodiness. Scout is annoyed by it, but she is told that Jem...

Some examples of foreshadowing include Dill's letter, Calpurnia's church's reaction to Scout and Jem, and Alexandra's arrival.

Foreshadowing is a hint that the author makes about something that is going to happen later in the book.  It keeps a reader guessing and interested in the story.  Lee uses foreshadowing many times throughout the book.

One example of foreshadowing is the description of Jem’s moodiness. Scout is annoyed by it, but she is told that Jem is just growing up.  This foreshadows the events of the trial, because it is a major time of maturing for Jem.

Another example of foreshadowing is the comments Dill makes about his father.  

But summer came and Dill was not there. I received a letter and a snapshot from him. The letter said he had a new father whose picture was enclosed, and he would have to stay in Meridian because they planned to build a fishing boat. (Ch. 12)

This incident foreshadows Dill’s arrival in Maycomb later in the book.  Dill writes that he is going to have a good time with his new father.  When his stepfather shows no interest in him, Dill runs away back to Maycomb to be with Scout and Jem.

Another example of foreshadowing is the reception Scout and Jem get when they got to Calpurnia’s church.  Although Lula is rude to them, most people treat them with respect.

When they saw Jem and me with Calpurnia, the men stepped back and took off their hats; the women crossed their arms at their waists, weekday gestures of respectful attention. They parted and made a small pathway to the church door for us. (Ch. 12)

This foreshadows the trial, especially when Reverend Sykes tells the children to stand because their father is passing.  Most of the African Americans in Maycomb respect Atticus and appreciate what he is trying to do in defending Tom Robinson.  The details of the trial are also mentioned during this visit.

When Alexandra appears, the conversation between Atticus and the children foreshadows the trouble with will occur in Maycomb before and during the trial.

“We felt it was time you children needed—well, it’s like this, Scout,” Atticus said. “Your aunt’s doing me a favor as well as you all. I can’t stay here all day with you, and the summer’s going to be a hot one.” (Ch. 13)

When Atticus says the summer will be hot, he is speaking metaphorically.   Maycomb is stirred up by the trial, and Atticus knows that things are only going to get worse.  He wants Alexandra there to look out for his kids, and as an extra system of support.