Does Macbeth determine what happens to him?

Macbeth is certainly the one who determines the course his life takes. The moment he decides to murder king Duncan is the moment he accepts evil. Once he does that, he cannot go back to the point when he was considered to be a loyal and good warrior, ready to support his king and others.

Macbeth's ambition consumes him, and although he is motivated by the witches' prophecy and pressured by his manipulative wife, he does have free will to decide who he wants to become. He decides that he wants to pursue his ambition even though it entails resorting to the most unlawful means.

Once he gets rid of king Duncan, he cannot stop. He begins to murder many other innocent characters, such as Banquo and Macduff's family, because of his obsessive desire for security. He does not want to allow his power to slip away from him by letting others stop him from being the leader of the country:

I am in blood
Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o'er:

He states that going back to the point when his conscience was clear would be as tedious as going forward. He believes he should continue being ruthless and evil because he cannot erase the crimes that have already accumulated.

Macbeth's desire to get rid of anyone who stands in his way eventually leads him to his imminent downfall. So, he is the one to blame for his death.

Why does Jesse insist that Winnie does not drink the water in Tuck Everlasting?

Jesse does not want Winnie to drink from the spring because she will become immortal. 

Winnie accidentally sees Jesse drink from the special spring in the woods outside her family’s house.  She just thinks it is an ordinary spring.  She has never seen Jesse before and does not understand what she is seeing. 

Jesse and the rest of the Tuck family drank from the spring when they stopped at the farm eighty-seven years before.  After a while they realized that they were all immortal. They could not be injured and they could not die.  

Winnie knows nothing about this, of course.  She is just wandering around because she is bored.  She is excited to see another kid, and thinks it is funny when he tells her that he is one hundred and four years old.  He then clarifies that he is seventeen, but he really is that old.  He just has not aged in over eighty years. 

When Winnie wants to drink from the spring, Jesse tries to stop her. 

Jesse Tuck's face was instantly serious. "Oh, that. No—no, it's not," he said quickly. "You mustn't drink from it. Comes right up out of the ground. Probably pretty dirty." And he began to pile the pebbles over it again. (Ch. 5) 

She asks him why he drank it, and he realizes that she saw him.  He does not want her to make the same mistake that his family did.  Since she is persistent he and his mother end up taking Winnie home so that they can explain in detail. 

Later, Jesse does ask Winnie to drink the water. He wants he to wait until she is his age, and then drink it.  They will then both be immortal and they can live together and possibly get married.  Winnie considers the offer, but eventually does not accept it.

`sinh(x+y) = sinh(x)cosh(y) + cosh(x)sinh(y)` Verify the identity.

`sinh(x+y) = sinh(x)cosh(y) + cosh(x)sinh(y)`

Take note that hyperbolic sine and hyperbolic cosine are defined by

• 
  `sinh(u)=(e^u-e^(-u))/2`

• 
  `cosh(u)=(e^u+e^(-u))/2`

Applying these formulas to the right side of the equation, it becomes

`sinh(x+y) =(e^x-e^(-x))/2*(e^y+e^(-y))/2 +(e^x+e^(-x))/2*(e^y-e^(-y))/2`

Multiplying the fractions, the right side turns into

`sinh(x+y) = (e^(x+y)+e^(x-y) -e^(y-x)-e^(-(x+y)))/4 + (e^(x+y)-e^(x-y)+e^(y-x)-e^(-(x+y)))/4`

Combining the like terms, it simplifies to

`sinh(x+y) = (2e^(x+y) - 2e^(-(x+y)))/4`

`sinh(x+y)=(2(e^(x+y) - e^(-(x+y))))/4`

`sinh(x + y) = (e^(x+y) - e^(-(x+y)))/2`

And, express the right side in terms of hyperbolic function again. Applying the definition of hyperbolic sine, the right side transforms to

`sinh(x+y)=sinh(x+y)`

This verifies that the given equation is an identity.

Therefore, `sinh(x+y) = sinh(x)cosh(y) + cosh(x)sinh(y)` is an identity.

In the first part of the story "Games at Twilight," explore how Desai memorably portrays the actions and feelings of children at play in this...

The question refers to a "first part" of this story. I am not sure exactly where that first part ends, so I am going to limit my answer to the text that I consider to be from the first part of the story. For me, the first part of the story ends once the children decide to play hide-and-seek.

The author memorably portrays the actions and feelings of the children through some great adjectives and metaphors. Throughout the beginning section, Desai's descriptions of the children all indicate that their energy level is near an exploding point. The word "burst" is used twice early on in the story. The kids aren't simply calm and ready to go outside and play. They are nearly exploding with desire to get out there. That explosive energy is captured with a wonderful simile in paragraph four.

. . . she actually let down the bolt of the front door so that they burst out like seeds from a crackling, overripe pod into the veranda . . . 

When a seed pod bursts, it is a release of energy. It can even propel seeds a large distance. The word "release" is focused on by Desai too.

The children, too, felt released. They too began tumbling, shoving, pushing against each other, frantic to start. Start what? Start their business. The business of the children’s day which is — play.

All of the children's pent-up energy is finally given release, and it bursts forth from the house. I believe that image of children is quite memorable.

How did the attack on Pearl Harbor create anti-Japanese feelings?

The novel provides a good answer to this question. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a United States navy base, the narrator Jeanne reports that the American government was suddenly fearful of Japanese people who owned commercial fishing licenses (or even radios). Through its FBI agents, the United States government began taking these men into custody for questioning and detention. Though it seems outlandish now, at the time, Americans were afraid that Japanese people living in the United States would display their loyalty to the Japanese emperor and would sabotage the war effort by communicating with enemy Japanese ships or planes.

Japanese-born men like Jeanne's father were suddenly perceived with suspicion by American citizens, who viewed them as men "with no rights who looked exactly like the enemy." Even Japanese-American children born here, like Jeanne, were treated with icy reserve by American citizens: the young girl's teacher maintained a cold distance from Jeanne, refusing to help her or even speak with her when Jeanne was struggling to keep up with her schoolwork.

In Chapter 2, the narrator explains all this hostility directly: "Tolerance had turned to distrust and irrational fear." She describes how her older siblings heard about attacks on Japanese homes and public violent eruptions toward Japanese citizens.

In short, the Japanese attack on American soil caused American citizens to extend a deep distrust and hostility toward United States residents of Japanese descent.

How does Harper Lee balance the bad in people with good counterpoints in To Kill a Mockingbird? Why does she not just make outright accusations...

In To Kill a Mockingbird, one example of Harper Lee balancing people's bad characteristics with good counterpoints can be seen in Walter Cunningham Sr.

Mr. Cunningham is characterized as the sort of man who takes great pride in his abilities. He is also very honest and loyal. Due to his pride, his family will not accept charity, regardless of their poverty. Due to his honesty and loyalty, when he needs Atticus's legal assistance with his entailment, though he can't pay Atticus for his services with money, bit by bit, Mr. Cunningham pays Atticus by giving him anything he can. Scout narrates that when Mr. Cunningham expressed regret at not being able to pay Atticus, Atticus tells his children, "[B]efore the year's out I'll have been paid, You watch" (Ch. 2). Scout notes Mr. Cunningham's method of paying Atticus in the following:

We watched. One morning Jem and I found a load of stovewood in the back yard. Later, a sack of hickory nuts appeared on the back steps. With Christmas came a crate of smilax and holly. That spring when we found a crokersack full of turnip greens, Atticus said Mr. Cunningham had more than paid him. (Ch. 2)

Mr. Cunningham's devotion to repaying Atticus shows us just how honest and loyal Mr. Cunningham is.

Yet, despite these good qualities, Mr. Cunningham also leads a mob of other Cunninghams to pursue lynching Tom Robinson before his trial. Nevertheless, Scout is able to influence Mr. Cunningham to break up the mob by reminding him of his good qualities, such as his loyalty. Scout does so by respectfully asking him to say hello to his son for her and by asking him, "How's your entailment gettin' along?" (Ch. 15). Later, when Scout asks Atticus about Mr. Cunningham, feeling confused about why "he wanted to hurt" Atticus that night when he is supposed to be a friend of the Finches, Atticus explains, just like everyone, Mr. Cunningham has his good and bad traits:

Mr. Cunningham's basically a good man ... he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us. (Ch. 16)

Just like Atticus, Harper Lee chooses to see both the good and the bad in people because doing so is much more open-minded and honest. Seeing both the good and bad in people relates to Atticus's golden rule that we cannot truly understand a person "until [we] climb into his skin and walk around in it" (Ch. 3). Similarly, we are unable to see both the good and bad in a person unless we try to see things from that person's perspective, to see all of the person's influences and motives. If we fail to truly understand a person, we judge that person based on prejudiced beliefs, which is exactly what Harper Lee is using the novel to oppose.

In what ways do Mark and Bryon seem like typical sixteen-year-old boys throughout the novel That Was Then, This Is Now?

Throughout the novel, Mark and Bryon think and behave like typical sixteen-year-old boys. They are both active individuals who tend to get into trouble and make bad decisions. Both Mark and Bryon get into several fights and engage in criminal behavior. Even though Bryon understands the difference between right and wrong, he cannot help his best friend Mark make the right life decisions. Like many teenage boys, Bryon is infatuated with females. He falls in love with Cathy and begins to have a serious relationship with her. As the novel progresses, Bryon learns he is getting too old to act like an irresponsible child. Mark essentially never grows up and realizes that he is at an age where his negative behavior will have serious consequences. Like most sixteen-year-old boys, Mark and Bryon experience significant changes throughout their lives that drastically affect their future.

What are different ways to prove a chemical reaction took place?

1. Temperature change: a change in temperature is a key way to show a chemical reaction occurred because it is indicative of an energy exchange. All reactions exchange energy, whether that energy is lost by combining compounds or elements or gained by breaking bonds. 

2. Precipitate forms: a precipitate is a solid particle that randomly forms in a liquid solution. 

3. Change in color: each particle reflects and absorbs light differently (which produces colors), so when a reaction occurs the particle is altered and therefore so is the color.

4. Gas bubbles form: gas bubbles occur when a reaction occurs because the original compounds have been rearranged and changed into new compounds of a different phase, such as occurs during the formation of carbon dioxide or oxygen.

5. Light: this occurs mostly in combustion reactions, but when bonds are broken violently energy can be released quickly, resulting in light.

6. Change in odor or taste

7. Change in boiling or melting point: every compound has a unique melting point, so if this changes it is a key sign a reaction occurred.

`g(x) = arcsin(3x)/x` Find the derivative of the function

The given function `g(x)` has a form `u(x)/v(x),` thus its derivative may be determined by the quotient rule:  `(u/v)' = (u' v - u v')/v^2.`

Also we need to know that the derivative of acrsine function is  `1/sqrt(1 - x^2),` and a bit of the chain rule.

The result of applying these rules is

`(arcsin(3x)/x)' = (x*(arcsin(3x))' - arcsin(3x))/x^2 = ((3x)/sqrt(1-9x^2) - arcsin(3x))/x^2,`

or it may be written as  `3/(x sqrt(1-9x^2)) - arcsin(3x)/x^2.`

What did the Mormons hope to find in the West in 1830?

Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church, often called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1830 in Fayette, New York. The Mormons were looking for converts and a place to worship in peace after they formed. The Mormons had some different religious practices, including polygamy, which often created tensions with other people and with other religious groups. Thus, the Mormons looked to move westward in the 1830s.

The Mormons did move westward during this time. The settled in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. However, they weren’t able to find long-term freedom from religious persecution. People continued to be concerned about their religious practices. There was some concern about the voting patterns of the Mormons. They tended to vote in a united bloc. There also was some economic competition between the Mormons and other groups. After Joseph Smith was killed in Illinois in 1844, the Mormons, in 1846, moved even further west, and they eventually settled in Utah under the leadership of Brigham Young.

Who are considered the minor characters in the book, and why are these characters important?

George and Lennie are new, so they don't know the current dynamics between different people on the ranch. George keeps his eyes and ears open as different people come in and out of the bunk house so he can discover how things run. George uses what he learns from other people to help him and Lennie stay under the radar and keep their jobs. Minor characters who play important roles in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men are Candy, Curley's Wife, Curley, Crooks, and Carlson.

George learns the most about the ranch from Candy, the old swamper with an old dog. Candy tells George that Curley is jealous of Slim because Curley's wife is always trying to talk to him. Right away, this information sets off red flags in George's mind to stay away from Curley and his wife. George even tells Lennie to stay away from both of them because associating with them will get them in trouble and they could lose their jobs. From that point on, the goal for both George and Lennie is to do everything they can to stay away from the married couple. Candy also informs them about Curley's fetish with boxing and proving himself a tough guy. This information helps George advise Lennie on making sure he doesn't get into a fight with the boss' son. If it weren't for Candy's information, George and Lennie could have landed in some trouble earlier on.

Curley's wife is an innocent antagonist because she only wants friends. Lennie seems peaceful and kind, so she targets him as someone to talk to. She's as delicate as a mouse or a puppy, which means that she is also going to die if she gets too close to Lennie. Lennie pets cute, fragile, and soft things for comfort; but because he doesn't know how to control his own strength, he also kills the things he pets. When he pets Curley's wife's hair, her fate is sealed. Curley's wife unknowingly sets both herself and Lennie up for untimely deaths, which is very important to the plot of the story. Therefore, Curley's wife is important because it's her desire to find a friend that leads her to trouble for herself and for Lennie.

Curley is insecure, short, and has a chip on his shoulder. He beats up Lennie just to prove he is a tough boxer and the boss' son who should be respected. He's important because he is an antagonist. He's not one to understand Lennie's mental disability. Curley is a lot like society during the Great Depression because he doesn't have the information or sensitivity towards people like Lennie. If he weren't so antagonistic and vengeful, George may have been able to allow Lennie to live; but knowing Curley's violent nature, George mercifully kills him to avoid it. Therefore, Curley is important because he represents an imminent threat to Lennie's life.

Crooks is important to the story because he brings up a deeper topic of discussion--racism. Not only does Crooks suffer from society's prejudice because he is black, but he is also like Lenny because he has a disability with his twisted back. Crooks can identify with Lennie, but he doesn't show Lennie the same respect that he wishes he could enjoy. He messes with Lennie's mind by questioning him about George. He asks what Lennie would do if George never came back. This poses the paradox of the situation. If Lennie were living alone, how would he be able to manage and support himself? Therefore, Crooks is important because his questions help to establish the predicament that both Lennie and George are in. Without George, Lennie would be dangerous and unable to care for himself. 

Carlson is an important character because he mercifully kills Candy's old dog. This is a foreshadowing of what George does to Lennie in the end. Carlson's one shot to the dog's head seems to be what gives George the idea to kill Lennie in a similar fashion. For instance, Carlson promises Candy that he won't let the dog suffer at all when he shoots him. There is a bit of a debate about it, too, because Carlson really wants to put the dog down. George hears this conversation and must remember it when Lennie gets in serious trouble after accidentally killing Curley's wife. Therefore, Carlson is important because he foreshadows what is to come later in the book for Lennie; but also, he may have been the example that George follows when deciding what to do about Lennie later.   

What does "My naked weapon is out. Quarrel! I will back thee" mean?

Throughout their banter in the opening lines of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the Capulet servants Gregory and Sampson make sexual references as they discuss how much they hate the Montagues and would like to engage them in a street fight. Sampson suggests that he would like to rape the Montague women, making a rude reference to part of his anatomy when he says, "’tis known I am a pretty piece of flesh." This same piece of anatomy is likened to a sword as Gregory urges Sampson to "Draw thy tool" as the Montague servants approach. Sampson does indeed pull his sword and again makes an overt reference to his anatomy when he says,

My naked weapon is out. Quarrel! I will back
thee.

A quarrel is a fight and the two servants do their best to goad the Montagues into an altercation. When Tybalt arrives a street brawl does break out among the bitter rivals.

In Philbrick's Freak the Mighty, why is Kevin not afraid of many difficult situations he finds himself in?

In Philbrick's Freak the Mighty, Kevin suffers from a physically debilitating disease. He explains to his friend, Max, that his interior is growing faster than his exterior. Because of this, Kevin hopes that science will catch up to his body's physical needs and find a cure for his illness, or that some type of robotic body might be created for his use. Kevin is smart, though. He knows he doesn't have much time to live, so he doesn't want to waste a day of it hiding in his room or being afraid. For example, he refuses to allow his friend Max to sleep too long on summer mornings, as shown in the following passage:

"Each and every morning the little dude humps himself over and he bangs on the bulkhead, wonka-wonka-wonka, he may be small but he sure is noisy. 'Get outta bed, you lazy beast! There are fair maidens to rescue! Dragons to slay!' which is what he says every single morning" (44).

Because Kevin gets around best while riding on top of Max's shoulders, he wakes up his friend every morning to get out of the house to experience life. Not only that, but Kevin also faces difficult situations with courage because he has Max, who is huge for his age, as his friend. For example, when the town bully, Tony D., threatens Kevin and Max during the Fourth of July festivities, Kevin confidently mouths off as follows:

"Ignore the cretin. . . Cretin. C-R-E-T-I-N. Defined as one who suffers from mental deficiency" (31).

Fortunately, a siren sounds and the bully and his friends run away. Kevin tells Max that he assumes Max could fight those bullies since he is so big. To Kevin's surprise, Max informs him that there's no way he could fight Tony and all of his friends. Kevin asks, "You mean you couldn't take him and I was giving him lip?" (31). This incident proves that Kevin feels more confident out in public when he is with his friend Max. Because Max is physically strong, Kevin feels as though he can be as confident physically as he already is mentally. The next time they meet Tony D., though, Kevin confidently tells Max to run into the pond rather than fight. Max is strong enough to hold them both in the mud and water until the police arrive.

In "Araby" by James Joyce, what does Mangan's sister do to make a trip to the bazaar so important to the narrator?

Really, the only thing Mangan's sister does to make going to the bazaar so important to the narrator is to speak to him about it.  She had never actually spoken to the narrator before, and so, when "At last she spoke to [him]," he becomes confused and flustered.  She tells him that it will be a "splendid bazaar" and that "she would love to go"; however, she cannot because she'll be on a retreat with her convent school.  This is enough.  Mangan's sister has spoken to the narrator, and upon this subject, expressing her desire to go to the Araby bazaar and her regret that she cannot.  He seems to imagine this as some kind of quest: he can go in her place and bring her something that will make her happy, and this will make him happy.  In the days between his vow and the bazaar, the narrator finds that he cannot even concentrate on "the serious work of life" because it now seems like "child's play" in comparison to the thing that he desires. 

What mechanical thing is mentioned in the first paragraph of "To Build a Fire"?

"To Build a Fire" is one of Jack London's more famous short pieces, and has two versions; the first had a somewhat more optimistic ending in which the main character, an anonymous male fortune-seeker and woodsman, survives his ordeal in the wilderness. The second and more famous version involves the man dying at the end of the story, and this is typically the version that is analyzed in literature courses.

The mechanical device mentioned in the first paragraph is a watch. Watches were fairly expensive tools in that time period (circa 1900), possibly the most valuable thing in terms of monetary value that the man carries, but necessary due to the details provided in the following sentences. In the Yukon (northern Canada), some of which is above the Arctic Circle, the sun won't rise for several weeks during winter, and when it does rise it stays fairly low to the horizon, making traditional time-telling nonintuitive. The remainder of the paragraph explains that there is no sun in the sky, and hasn't been for days, but that the man has grown accustomed to it.

Why is Miss Havisham's mansion so important to Great Expectations?

Miss Havisham's decaying mansion, ironically named Satis House, is central to the novel as from it derive character development and thematic concerns.

Characterization

• Miss Havisham

The daughter of an aristocrat who owned a thriving brewery, Miss Havisham and her fawning relatives represent what Dickens felt was a frivolous aristocracy. As the pampered daughter of a wealthy man who owned a brewery, Miss Havisham wanted for little, but her half-brother Arthur, born of a servant, was resentful of her and conspired with a clever man named Compeyson, who pretended to love her. When she was left at the altar by Compeyson, who had absconded with part of her fortune, the devastated and eccentric Miss Havisham stopped all the clocks in Satis House at twenty minutes until nine, and remained exactly as she was in her wedding gown, with one shoe not yet on, for the remainder of her life.

When she recovered some from her rejection at the altar, Miss Havisham adopted a pretty girl whom she named Estella. This child she has raised in the mansion to hate and malign men as a means of avenging herself upon males. Estella does, indeed, mature "without a heart," but her life is not happy and Miss Havisham later regrets what she has done, especially the personal harm brought to Pip. In fact, she dies in her mansion after begging Pip's forgiveness, for her decayed wedding dress catches fire and she is so severely burned that she expires.

After Pip's first visit to Satis House, his view of life is completely altered. For the first time, Pip feels inferior as the spoiled Estella remarks in his presence that he is common and coarse; repulsed by this "laboring boy," she does not wish to play any games with him. After he leaves, Estella brings him some food and drink at the gate as though he were a pauper, or even a dog.

When the "pale young gentleman" boxes with him according to the Marquis of Queensbury rules, Pip fights the only way he knows and knocks the boy down, winning the fight. Estella cheers for Pip, but makes fun of him when he cries another time. After he returns home, Pip feels ashamed that he is "common" and wishes he could become a gentleman.

When Pip receives news that he has "great expectations," he thinks that Miss Havisham is his benefactor, and he is elated to go to London where he can study and learn to be a gentleman. In so doing, Pip becomes a snob and feels embarrassed to be around the good Joe and Biddy. Thus, his exposure to the lives of Miss Havisham and Estella at Satis House have initiated Pip's becoming a snob. In fact, his sense of superiority keeps Pip from visiting Joe when he is near the forge. Instead, he stays at the Blue Boar.

Themes

• The Worship of Wealth

The relatives of Miss Havisham do not like her, but they are flatterers and servile sycophants to her simply because they hope to inherit her property and wealth.

Uncle Pumblechook, who has continually berated little Pip, changes his attitude toward the boy once Pip goes to Satis House. When he learns that Pip has a wealthy benefactor, he extends congratulations to Pip, saying, "I wish you the joy of money." Also, he fawns before Pip, now calling him "friend" rather than "boy":

"to think that I may have been the humble instrument....to think that I....My dear young friend,...if you will allow me to call you so...."

At another time while Pip stays at the Blue Boar, he reads in the local paper that Uncle Pumblechook has taken credit for Pip's good fortune.

• Class Distinction

Pip becomes a snob as a result of his experiences at Satis House. Once he begins his life as a gentleman, Pip is embarrassed to have Joe visit him in London; he rarely visits the forge, and when he does, he belittles Biddy for some faults that are really his. Because Pip aspires to be worthy of Estella, he rejects his boyhood love.

Further, when he learns that Magwitch is his benefactor, rather than Miss Havisham, Pip is repulsed and wants to be rid of the old convict as swiftly as possible.

When Beowulf fights Grendel's mother, how long is he gone and how does this affect the morale of the men on the shore?

When Beowulf descends through the mere to the lair of the monsters, Hrothgar, his Scyldings, and Beowulf’s Geats wait on the shore of the lake for Beowulf to return. After the water of the lake becomes mixed with blood, we are told that old men, likely referring to Hrothgar and his advisors, begin to talk about Beowulf not returning, which indicates they believe that he has been killed. Following the ninth hour of the day (likely 3:00 pm), Hrothgar and his men depart from the shore, leaving only the Geats to wait for Beowulf. Further, we are told that the Geats’ wait is one of sorrow, as they wish but do not necessarily believe that their lord will return victorious.

The specific length of time that Hrothgar, his men and Beowulf’s men wait for Beowulf to return is not provided by the poem. We know that the expedition to track Grendel’s mother and find Aeschere's body likely begins in the early morning, as Beowulf is summoned by Hrothgar at daybreak. We are told that, after reaching the lake, Beowulf takes a large portion of the day to make his descent to the cavern in which Grendel’s mother awaits him, but it is unclear whether we are meant to take that line as literal, given the impossibility of him remaining under water for a large portion of the day, or as a hyperbole. Finally, we know that Hrothgar and the Scyldings leave the lake’s shore at the ninth hour of the day, which likely means 3:00 pm (nine hours after 6:00 am). We do not know how long the Geats remain waiting after the Scyldings leave. However, if we presume that the journey to pursue Grendel’s mother takes some time to assemble, and that reaching the lake while tracking the passage of Grendel’s mother also takes some time, we would probably not be out of line to guess that the search party reaches the lake between 8:00 and 10:00 am. This would mean that the Scyldings likely wait at least five hours for Beowulf to return, with the Geats remaining some undetermined time longer.

Even a conservative estimate of the time for which the Scyldings and the Geats await Beowulf’s return is problematic with respect to what we would expect to be a plausible time frame for the physical accomplishments of Beowulf, first in swimming down to the lair of Grendel’s mother, then in fighting and defeating her. One idea of how to resolve this apparent time discrepancy is to interpret the time references to be symbolic of something taking a long time rather than referring to actual measures of time. Another interpretation is that once Beowulf sinks below the surface of the lake, time for him moves differently than for those waiting for him on the shore.

Regardless of how we calculate the time or interpret what the specific time references might mean, we know that those waiting hold their vigil for a long enough time that the Scyldings give up hope and leave the shore, believing Beowulf to be dead. And we know that the Geats wait longer but in sorrow, for although they wish for his return, they do not appear to truly believe that he will return. But even in sorrow, the Geats do wait for Beowulf, and that wait, however long, and their hope beyond what might have been reasonable to hope, is rewarded.

Find the z score corresponding to P37.

We are asked to find the z-score associated with P37 (or a probability of 37%).

We can use a graphing utility or statistics package to find this value. (My calculator gives z=-.3318533512)

Alternatively we can use a standard normal table -- we look through the table to find a value near .3700. We find .3707 at -0.33 and .3669 at -0.34, so we take the closer value of -0.33.

So z is approximately -0.33

Note that this makes sense as .37 is less than .5 so the z value is negative. 

How does Shakespeare present the character of Juliet throughout the play?

Throughout the play, Juliet is presented as level-headed, but headstrong. At the beginning of the play, the Nurse and Lady Capulet discuss the prospect of marriage with Juliet. Lady Capulet conducts this discussion in order to promote Paris as a suitor, and although she initially put off by this prospect, Juliet nevertheless listens to her mother and the Nurse, promising to consider Paris despite not being particularly fond of him. In this instance, Juliet proves herself to be thoughtful by her willingness to listen to her elders. Later, Juliet secretly marries Romeo. Juliet marries Romeo despite being fully aware of the possible consequences of her actions, and in this way, Juliet is very idealistic. This romantic idealism contrasts with Juliet’s level-headed pragmatism, and in order to reconcile these oppositions, Juliet stubbornly refuses to give up her love, regardless of consequence.

Why was SALT II never ratified?

There were two Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties that were negotiated with the Soviet Union. The first treaty, called SALT I, was signed in Moscow in May 1972. The second treaty was negotiated and signed in Vienna in June 1979. However, the United States Senate never ratified the second treaty, known as SALT II.

The second treaty went to the U.S. Senate, but at President Carter’s request, the Senate never ratified it. The United States was upset with the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. When the Soviet Union refused to leave Afghanistan, one of our responses was not to ratify the treaty. Even though the U.S. Senate didn’t ratify the treaty, both countries agreed to follow the principles outlined in the treaty. The policy continued into the 1980s after President Carter left office and President Reagan took office.

Thus, the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan was the main reason why the United States Senate didn’t ratify the SALT II Treaty.

Determine which is more soluble in water (solute x or solute z) a. 25g of solute x dissolved in 50 ml of water or 24g of solute z dissolved in...

The solubility of a solute can be determined in terms of how much of it can be dissolved in a given volume of a solvent. In other words, we can determine the solubility of a solute in terms of g dissolved in 1 ml of solvent and based on that determine which of the two solutes has a higher solubility.

a) 25 g of solute x in 50 ml of water:

solubility of x = mass of solute/volume of solvent = 25 g / 50 ml = 0.5 g/ml

Similarly, solubility of z = 24 g / 49 ml = 0.49 g/ml.

Since more of x can be dissolved in water, solute x has a higher solubility.

b) 

solubility of x = 75 g / 150 ml = 0.5 g/ml

solubility of z = 85 g / 170 ml = 0.5 g/ml

Thus, both solute x and solute z have the same solubility.

c) solubility of x = 12 g / 48 ml = 0.25 g/ml

solubility of z = 20 g / 79 ml = 0.253 g/ml

Since a greater amount of z can be dissolved in water as compared to x, solute z has a higher solubility.

Hope this helps. 

In a psychoanalytic criticism of Amir from The Kite Runner, which aspects of Amir’s personality would be identified with the id, ego, and...

According to Freud's idea of how the human psyche functions, an individual's psyche is divided into three parts, the id, the ego, and the superego.

A person's id is essentially the primitive instincts that cause an individual to act immediately upon pleasurable experiences. The id is not affected by reality and operates unconsciously. A person's id is impulsive, illogical, and selfish. Amir's id is reflected in his desire to play with Hassan and continually trick him. It is also the part of Amir's psyche that has an affinity for literature and seeks to avoid physical confrontation.

According to Freud, the ego is the part of the psyche that considers society's perspective and has been modified by the outside world. It is considered rational when compared to the id and is the decision-making component of one's personality. The ego is responsible for problem-solving and helps an individual make rational decisions to avoid unpleasant experiences. Amir's ego is reflected in his decision not to help Hassan when Assef rapes him in order to avoid physical confrontation and win Baba's admiration by bringing back the blue kite. It is also the part of Amir's psyche that decides to get rid of Hassan and repress his negative feelings once he arrives in America.

The superego is the part of a person's psyche that considers society's values and morals. The superego incorporates a person's conscience to punish the ego through feelings of guilt. It represents how individuals should treat one another and is relatively unselfish. Amir's superego is reflected in his overwhelming feelings of guilt, which influences Amir to travel back to Afghanistan to save Hassan's son Sohrab. It is also the part of Amir's psyche which influences his decision to adopt Sohrab.

In my opinion, Amir's ego would be considered the strongest part of his psyche because he attempts to make rational decisions which are selfish in nature throughout the majority of the novel. He knows his decisions are immoral, but they offer him a way to avoid physical pain and keep up with society's expectations. For most of Amir's life, he ignores his superego and refuses to make sacrifices to atone for his sins. It is only when he finds out Hassan is his half-brother that he acts upon his superego.

What does Act I, Scene 7, of Macbeth suggest about Lady Macbeth?

In this scene, we learn Lady Macbeth is ruthless, ambitious, and controls Macbeth. 

Macbeth was initially excited about the prospect of being king, and was ready to kill Duncan to take the throne. When Macbeth returns home, however, he begins to change his mind. Macbeth is dithering about it, trying to decide if he should kill the king. Lady Macbeth is not happy about this. She scolds Macbeth for being cowardly and indecisive. 

Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'
Like the poor cat i' the adage (Act I, Scene 7)? 

From this, we learn Lady Macbeth is ambitious. She may even be more ambitious than her husband, as he is willing to let the whole thing go. Lady Macbeth will not. She wants Macbeth to act and will not make it easy for him to back down. 

Lady Macbeth is ruthless. When Macbeth asks what should happen if they fail, Lady Macbeth tells him they cannot fail if he is strong and brave enough. If they fail, it is because Macbeth is a coward. He should do his part, and she will do hers. 

We fail!
But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep—
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey
Soundly invite him—his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbeck only (Act 1, Scene 7).

Lady Macbeth will make sure Duncan’s guards are drugged so they are easy to kill. As long as Macbeth takes kills who he is supposed to kill, everything will go swimmingly. Lady Macbeth even later says she could have stabbed Duncan herself, but he looked like her father and she couldn't make herself do it.

Lady Macbeth clearly has a lot of influence on her husband. He was willing to drop the murder plot and remain Thane of Cawdor, but he made Lady Macbeth have bloodlust by telling her the witches said he would be king. Lady Macbeth wants to make sure her husband becomes king, and he goes along with her plans.

What is the Home, and who stays there?

The Home is an orphanage. Children who have lost their parents through death and children who have been abandoned by their families stay there.

The reader doesn't know exactly how many children are at the orphanage, but I would assume that the numbers are quite high. The book takes place during the Great Depression, and many families were unable to care for their children. Lots of children wound up in orphanages. Also because of the Great Depression, not many families were financially capable of adopting children, so the orphanages got more and more crowded.

In Bud, Not Buddy, the reader meets three specific children who are from the Home. Jerry Clark is introduced in chapter one, and a family has been found for him with three little girls.

Bugs is another character who is from the orphanage. By the time that the reader meets Bugs, though, he is on his own away from the Home.

Bud, the title character, begins the story in the Home. He has been in the Home since age six, and he has been in and out of several foster homes by the time the story begins.

Six is real tough. That's how old I was when I came to live here in the Home. That's how old I was when Momma died.

What do Cherry and Marcia do when the Socs find them with greasers in The Outsiders?

Cherry and Marcia are afraid that the Socs are going to make trouble when they see them with greasers, so they leave with their boyfriends. 

Cherry and Marcia are Soc girls.  They abandoned their boyfriends at the movies because the boys were drunk, and the girls did not approve.  They then befriended Pony and Johnny, especially after Dally hassled the girls and Johnny stood up to him.  

Cherry did not mind being seen with greasers, even though she knew she was not going to hang out with them at school.  She found Pony and Johnny endearing.  Cherry impressed upon Pony that everyone has problems, regardless of how much money they have. 

The issue came when they were leaving the movies.  Bob’s car drove by, and the girls knew that there would be trouble if their Soc boyfriends saw them walking with greasers.  They were scared and worried. 

We all looked and saw a blue Mustang coming down the street. Johnny made a small noise in his throat and when I looked at him he was white.

Marcia was shifting nervously. "What are we going to do?"

Cherry bit a fingernail. "Stand here," she said. "There isn't much else we can do." (Ch. 3) 

Cherry knows that Randy and Bob will hassle her new friends.  She decides to go with them to avoid a fight.  The boys drive off, but that will not be the end of it.  Later, Johnny and Pony are walking around the park late at night after Pony ran away from home since Darry hit him. 

Johnny swore under his breath, and I muttered, "What do they want? This is our territory. What are Socs doing this far east?"

Johnny shook his head. "I don't know. But I bet they're looking for us. We picked up their girls." (Ch. 4) 

Trouble does indeed follow.  The Socs are drunk, and the boys get into a fight in the park, and Johnny kills Bob in self-defense when Bob is trying to drown Pony in the park fountain.  Pony and Johnny go on the run because they do not believe anyone will give a couple of greasers who killed a rich kid the benefit of the doubt.

What are the various conflicts between the characters throughout The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka?

There is conflict between the characters of Lakunle and Baroka over who will marry the village jewel, Sidi. The two characters also represent the larger conflict that exists between impending modernity and traditional culture. Lakunle is an outspoken proponent of adopting Western civilization and culture, while Baroka supports traditional African ways of life. There is also conflict between Sidi and Baroka, as well as friction between Lakunle and Sadiku. Sidi becomes conceited after her images in a foreign magazine make her famous, and she mocks Baroka to his face. Sidi wants to be the most revered person in the village of Ilujinle and makes fun of the Bale for being old. Sadiku also challenges Lakunle's masculinity, and the two characters argue about the future of their village. At the end of the play, Baroka wins Sidi's heart and marries her, which also symbolically represents a victory for traditional Yoruba culture.

What are three good examples of the theme of "prejudice" in Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird?

Harper Lee explores the theme of prejudice in various ways throughout her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee depicts how the citizens of Maycomb, Alabama are prejudiced towards African Americans, lower class individuals, different religious groups, and foreign cultures. One of the most notable scenes that portrays the theme of prejudice takes place in Chapter 11 when Jem and Scout are subjected to Mrs. Dubose's racial slurs. Mrs. Dubose is Maycomb's most notorious racist, and she says, "Your father’s no better than the niggers and trash he works for!" as the Finch children walk past her yard (Lee 65). Her comment not only depicts her prejudice toward African Americans but also her negative feelings about white people who help them out. She hates the fact that Atticus is defending Tom Robinson and criticizes him in front of his children.

In Chapter 23, Aunt Alexandra displays her prejudiced feelings toward lower-class families by refusing to allow Scout to play with Walter Cunningham Jr. When Scout asks why she isn't allowed to play with Walter, Alexandra tells her, "Because—he—is—trash, that’s why you can’t play with him. I’ll not have you around him, picking up his habits and learning Lord-knows-what" (Lee 137). Alexandra views the Cunningham family with contempt because they are lower-class farmers. Alexandra is cognizant of Maycomb's caste system and does not believe that upper-class families should be associating with the lower-class members of society.

Another scene which portrays the theme of prejudice can be found in Chapter 24, when Aunt Alexandra hosts her missionary circle at the Finch residence. Mrs. Grace Merriweather displays her prejudiced feelings toward foreign cultures by commenting on the Mrunas tribe in Africa. She tells Scout, "you are a fortunate girl. You live in a Christian home with Christian folks in a Christian town. Out there in J. Grimes Everett’s land there’s nothing but sin and squalor" (Lee 141). Mrs. Merriweather displays her ignorance and bias toward African cultures who do not practice Christianity.

What are two songs that can relate to Chains?

Two songs that can relate to Chains are songs that depicts the difficult condition of slavery.

Slavery is the backdrop for Chains.  Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" can relate to the experiences Isabel has as a slave.  Marley's song shows the sadness of slavery with lines like, "Old pirates, yes, they rob I;/ Sold I to the merchant ships."  Isabel experiences this reality with Madame Lockton. Isabel and her sister had no say as Madame Lockton took ownership of them. A great deal of Isabel's anger is that she feels Madame Lockton "robbed" her of her freedom.  While Marley's song relates to the anger and sadness of slaves, it also speaks to the resilience needed to counteract slavery.  Marley writes that slaves must "emancipate yourselves from mental slavery/ None but ourselves can free our minds."  This relates to how Isabel comes to terms with Madame Lockton's cruelty:

She cannot chain my soul. Yes, she could hurt me. She'd already done so...I would bleed, or not. Scar, or not. Live, or not. But she could not hurt my soul, not unless I gave it to her. 

While Isabel exists in "chains," she will be mentally free. She will not surrender her soul to Madame Lockton.  In refusing to yield to injustice, Isabel sings "a song of freedom" that invariably leads to her "redemption."

Slaves in Colonial America confronted a complex reality. Fighting for colonial freedom would not change their imprisoned condition.  Many African-Americans had to face a challenging set of conditions as they fought in the American Revolution.  They fought for someone else's freedom.  Isabel understands this when she hears Grandfather's words:

This is not our fight... British or American, that is not the choice. You must choose your own side, find your road through the valley of darkness that will lead you to the river Jordan.

His words carry more weight with Isabel when he says to her, "A scar is a sign of strength... the sign of a survivor." While enslaved African-Americans faced difficulty, words like Grandfather's showed how they fought for change.  A song that could relate to this struggle would be Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come."  Cooke wrote the song about the injustices African-Americans faced during the Civil Rights Movement.  The same connection can be made to slavery.  When Cooke sings that he knows, "A change gon' come, oh yes it will," it is reminiscent of how Grandfather urges his fellow slaves to search for their own "road through the valley of darkness,"  When slaves do this, a change will happen because they will find their "river Jordan."  Grandfather's words to Isabel about how scars represent strength and survival can be heard in Cooke's "There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long/ But now I think I'm able to carry on."  Cooke's song captures the spirit of hope and struggle that Grandfather's words communicate to Isabel and other slaves.

`arctan(xy) = arcsin(x + y) , (0,0)` Use implicit differentiation to find an equation of the tangent line at the given point

`arctan(xy) =arcsin(x + y)`

First, take the derivative of both sides of the equation using implicit differentiation.

`d/(dx)[arctan(xy)] = d/dx[arcsin(x + y)]`

Take note that the derivative formula of arctangent is

• 
  `d/dx[arctan(u)]=1/(1+u^2)*(du)/dx`

And the derivative formula of arcsine is

• 
  `d/dx[arcsin(u)] = 1/sqrt(1-u^2)*(du)/dx`

Applying these two formulas, the equation becomes

`1/(1+(xy)^2)*d/dx(xy) = 1/sqrt(1 - (x+y)^2)*d/dx(x+y)`

To take the derivative of xy, apply the product rule.

• 
  `d/dx (u * v) = u *(dv)/dx + v *(du)/dx`

Applying this formula, the equation becomes

`1/(1+(xy)^2)*(x*d/dx (y) + y*d/dx(x))= 1/sqrt(1 - (x+y)^2)*(d/dx(x)+d/dx(y))`

`1/(1+(xy)^2)*(x*(dy)/dx + y*1)= 1/sqrt(1 - (x+y)^2)*(1+(dy)/dx)`

Then, isolate `(dy)/dx` .

`x/(1+(xy)^2)*(dy)/dx +y/(1+(xy)^2)=1/sqrt(1 - (x+y)^2) +1/sqrt(1 - (x+y)^2)*(dy)/dx`

`x/(1+(xy)^2) *(dy)/dx - 1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2)*(dy)/dx = 1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2) - y/(1+(xy)^2)`

`(x/(x+(xy)^2)-1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2))*(dy)/dx= 1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2) - y/(1+(xy)^2)`

`(dy)/dx =(1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2) - y/(1+(xy)^2))/(x/(1+(xy)^2) - 1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2))`

`(dy)/dx =(1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2) - y/(1+(xy)^2))/(x/(1+(xy)^2) - 1/sqrt(1-(x+y)^2)) * (((1+(xy)^2)sqrt(1-(x+y)^2))/1)/(((1+(xy)^2)sqrt(1-(x+y)^2))/1)`

`(dy)/dx = ((1+(xy)^2)-ysqrt(1-(x+y)^2))/(xsqrt(1-(x+y)^2)-(1+(xy)^2))`

`(dy)/dx = (1+(xy)^2 - ysqrt(1-(x+y)^2))/(xsqrt(1-(x+y)^2 )-1-(xy)^2)`

Then, plug-in the given point to get the slope of the curve at that point. The given point is (0,0).

`(dy)/dx= (1+(0*0)^2 -0*sqrt(1 - (x+y)^2))/(0*sqrt(1-(0+0)^2)-1-(0*0)^2)=(1+0+0)/(0-1-0)=1/(-1)=-1`

Take note that the slope of a curve at point (x,y) is equal to the slope of the line tangent to that point.  So the slope of the tangent line is

`m=(dy)/dx = -1`

Then, apply the point-slope form to get the equation of the line.

`y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)`

Plugging in the values, it becomes

`y - 0=-1(x - 0)`

`y = -1(x)`

`y=-x`

Therefore, the equation of the tangent line is `y = -x` .

What's a summary of Shakespeare's Othello?

William Shakespeare's Othello is another complex tragedy that explores themes of betrayal, prejudice, and appearance versus reality. I'll provide a brief summary, but I'll also include additional links that detail the play to a greater extent.

Othello the Moor is the protagonist of the play and, being a Moor, is the victim of considerable prejudice and evil schemes. Othello's ensign, Iago, begins to plot against him by sending his messenger, Roderigo, to tell the Senator Brabantio that Othello has seduced Brabantio's daughter, Desdemona. Despite Iago's attempts to frame him, Othello manages to convince the Senate that his and Desdemona's love is true. Succeeding in convincing the Senate, he and his new wife are then sent to Cyprus for a military command. 

Unsatisfied with the outcome, Iago persists to torment Othello by planting Desdemona's handkerchief on Cassio (Othello's loyal captain) and telling Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.

Driven by his obsession with Desdemona and trusting that Iago will help him obtain her, Roderigo is convinced by Iago to attempt to kill Cassio. However, Roderigo fails this and only manages to wound Cassio, causing an enraged Iago to secretly murder him.

Othello, unaware of the schemes to destroy him, becomes consumed with jealously over rumors of Desdemona's infidelity, and despite Desdemona's pleas to the contrary, suffocates her to death.

Emilia (Iago's wife) learns of the plot and confesses the truth to Othello, who kills himself after learning his tragic mistake. 

How is the interference of gods shown in The Odyssey?

Athena is constantly stepping in to help Odysseus and Telemachus, often disguising Odysseus or wrapping him in mist so that he cannot be seen or identified.  Further, she appears often to Telemachus to help inspire him to strike out and search for news of his father, and she helps him to make a noble name for himself too.  Poseidon interferes in Odysseus's life in a negative way, however, because Odysseus blinded his son, Polyphemus; Poseidon tries to keep Odysseus from being able to reach his home, and he actually turns the Phaeacians' ship to stone so that it sinks and drowns everyone on board since they helped Odysseus.  Zeus even interferes when Odysseus's crew lands on Thrinacia, sending first a storm and then a terrible lull in the winds they needed to get home so that they cannot leave.  Therefore, the gods interfere in The Odyssey for a number of reasons, both to help and to hurt.

What are the different types of sampling techniques used in research?

Sampling in research is the process of selecting individual units of a group or population for analysis to represent a larger group. By selecting and analyzing a subset through sampling, a researcher is able to generalize results from a smaller (and easier to analyze) population to a larger group. This process saves time, effort, and money. Depending on the type of research, sampling can come in many different forms.

Simple random sampling of a population seeks to develop a subset of a population which fairly and accurately represents the larger group. In random sampling, the goal is that each unit will have an equal chance of being selected. To produce this sample, a researcher will rely on the random selection of units through a random number generator, random number formula, or electronic device. From a population of 1000, a simple random sample will choose units from the entire population as a whole.

Hierarchical random sampling of a population is similar to simple random sampling, but divides the original population into sections instead of sampling from the whole. From a population of 1000, a simple random sample will choose units from subsections of the population. For instance, a researcher may choose to randomly sample from the first 500 units and then randomly sample from the next 500 units. This type of random sampling is also referred to as stratified random sampling.

Systematic random sampling is a type of sampling in which a researcher chooses units based on a specific interval. From a population of 1000, a researcher may choose to sample every 20th unit.

Finally, clustered sampling is used in spatial analyses to sample from a geographic area rather than a population. In clustered sampling, a researcher will divide an area into smaller sections and sample from the individual sections. The methods for creating bounding boxes for the subsections varies depending on the area, but is often dependent on either population concentration or geographic feature.

Compare Marxist and functionalist views on culture and society

Marxism is a sociological perspective that views society through class conflict, analyzing social hierarchies and the means through which conflict creates social change. The functionalist perspective frames society as a collection of institutions which exist to produce social order, and believe that society is maintained through social consensus (also called social cohesion). Marxist and functionalist theories are both sociological frames which focus on the macro level; in other words, they examine societal institutions and broad social phenomena, rather than individual or small group interactions. Otherwise, the perspectives make almost opposite assumptions and examine much different aspects of society. Marxist theory examines the conflict between groups in society, and functionalism centers how social cohesion develops in society. Functionalism focuses on how institutions contribute to the functionality of society, and Marxism examines how institutions create, continue and ideologically justify conflict between classes.

Why does Nag keep Rikki engaged in conversation when they first meet?

When Rikki and Nag first meet near the beginning of "Rikki-Tikki Tavi," the tailorbird named Darzee has just told Rikki about how Nag ate one of his babies the day before. Rikki has just recently been rescued and does not know who Nag is, which prompts Nag to appear. Nag, a cobra, fears mongooses like Rikki, as mongooses are capable of killing cobras. As a result, Nag hopes to keep Rikki engaged in conversation while his wife Nagaina approaches in the bushes. Their goal is for Nagaina to attack Rikki when he is not expecting it. Attacking Rikki by surprise is the cobras' best chance of killing him. Darzee notices Nagaina in the grass, though, and is able to warn Rikki in time for him to take action.

He jumped up in the air as high as he could go, and just under him whizzed by the head of Nagaina, Nag's wicked wife. She had crept up behind him as he was talking, to make an end of him. He heard her savage hiss as the stroke missed.

Darzee's warning allows Rikki to get out of the way of Nagaina's strike in time.

In The Giver by Lois Lowry, how does Larissa describe the process of Roberto's release?

In The Giver, Larissa, who is one of the Old in the community, describes to Jonas Roberto's release as "wonderful" (Lowry 31). She describes it as a kind of celebration of Roberto's accomplishments, as an Instructor, an important committee member, a landscape designer for a plaza, and a parent. This seems to be "the telling of his life" (32). She tells Jonas there is a toast and an anthem chanted.  Roberto made "a lovely good-bye speech" (32), and then various individuals made speeches to him, "wishing him well" (32). After bowing, Roberto walked through a door to the Releasing Room. She characterized the look on his face as he goes as "pure happiness" (32). That is all Larissa is able to share, since only a special committee is present in the Releasing Room. On the face of it, this sounds like a lovely way to celebrate a life.  But as Jonas learns from the Giver, this ceremony is a prelude to euthanasia.  

What were the principles of the Renaissance?

The defining principle of the Renaissance is usually identified as humanism. By humanism, historians mean a return among intellectuals, especially in Italy, to classical knowledge. This was understood at the time as a rejection of the medieval scholasticism associated with such philosophers as Thomas Aquinas. Humanists studied ancient Greek, Roman, and Hellenistic texts in the belief that the classical wisdom they contained had something to offer in their own time. But for many writers and intellectuals like Petrarch, the seminal Italian poet whose works are often seen as foundation to the Italian Renaissance, humanism meant something more. It meant focusing on the secular as well as the divine. In his essay "Oration on the Dignity of Man," Pico Della Mirandola extolled the divine nature of man:

Imagine! The great generosity of God! The happiness of man! To man it is allowed to be whatever he chooses to be!

This new secularism, derived from humanism, was another of the defining principles of the Renaissance. For Machiavelli, it meant divorcing politics from religious or even moral principles, as he did most famously in The Prince. For a whole bevy of artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, and many others, secularism meant portraying the human form in all its natural (albeit usually idealized) beauty. These new artists also embraced another principle important to the Renaissance--individualism. If people were divine, and one's humanity was not something to be ashamed of, then striving for individual greatness was a valid goal. Renaissance-era artists became something like celebrities, competing publicly with each other for patronage and fame. They sought to glorify God with their works, many of which were strongly religious in theme, but they also sought to glorify themselves. 

Who were Mafatu's closest companions in Call It Courage? Why did he make them his friends?

The answer to these questions can be found on p. 13 of Call It Courage. Mafatu’s closest companions were two animals, a dog and an albatross. He made them his friends because they were different, just as he was different.

By the time that you get to p. 13 in the book, you will know that Mafatu is something of a reject on Hikueru. He is the only boy who is afraid of the sea. Because of this, he has a hard time doing any of the things that men are expected to do on that island. The boys scorn him because of this and generally stay away from him. He does not have friends among them.

Since humans will not befriend him, he turns to animals. His dog, Uri, is his “inseparable companion.” The “only other true friend” that Mafatu and Uri have is “Kivi, an albatross.” It is clear why Mafatu chooses Kivi. Kivi’s feet are different sizes and one leg is not fully formed, making him different from all the other birds. They pick on him. His efforts to fight back “touched the boy’s heart” and Mafatu raised Kivi to adulthood. It is less clear why Mafatu picked Uri in particular or even if he did. However, Uri did have a “thin coat which showed his ribs,” which implies that he is not a strong and handsome dog. Mafatu identifies with these animals because of their imperfections. He cannot find human friends, so he sticks with his animal friends who, like him, have problems that set them apart from their own kind.

How does the novel introduce the conflict between the Socs and greasers in The Outsiders?

The conflict between the greasers and Socs is introduced when Johnny and Pony meet the Soc girls at the movie theater. 

Pony gives us some background about the differences between greasers and Socs before going to the movies.  He explains that greasers are in danger from Socs. For this reason, he is nervous about walking without his gang. 

Greasers can't walk alone too much or they'll get jumped, or someone will come by and scream "Greaser!" at them, which doesn't make you feel too hot, if you know what I mean. We get jumped by the Socs… the jet set, the West-side rich kids. (Ch. 1) 

At the movies, Pony and his friend Johnny, another greaser, meet two Soc girls named Cherry and Marcia.  The girls are kind to Johnny and Pony, but do not like Dally.  Dally behaves crudely toward them and Johnny stands up for them.  Cherry asks Pony why he is friends with someone like Dally. 

Cherry was looking at me. "What's a nice, smart kid like you running around with trash like that for?"

I felt myself stiffen. "I'm a grease, same as Dally. He's my buddy." (Ch. 2) 

Although Cherry apologizes, this incident helps the reader understand the Socs perception of greasers.  There are no physical fights here, but there is still a class conflict.  The girls are there without their boyfriends because their boyfriends were drunk.  They know that the boys would not approve of them hanging out with greasers, but they personally do not mind the greaser boys.  Cherry and Pony discuss what they have in common. 

The conflict comes to a head when they are leaving, and the Soc boys return.  The girls know that there will be a problem with them hanging around with greaser boys.  Johnny is also frightened because Bob and his group jumped him before and hurt him badly.  The girls avoid a fight by going with the Soc boys, but that is not the end of it.  Bob and Randy later fight Pony and Johnny in the park.

Though Meg struggles with being different from the other kids at school and often finds herself in trouble for questioning her teachers she is able...

At school, Meg used her intellect to succeed academically, but her social skills were lacking. Intellectually, she was superior to most of her classmates, but this made her an outsider. On Camazotz, Meg tried to use her intellect to block out IT, reciting poems, facts, and so on. She was able to temporarily keep IT out, but it did not help her to rescue her father or Charles Wallace. Mrs. Whats-It told her that her gift was her faults, which were her anger and her impatience. These emotions helped her more than her intellect. Charles Wallace believed that his intellect would protect him if he entered into IT, but he was quickly overcome. Meg knew that her intellect was far inferior to that of Charles Wallace, and so this was not the weapon that would defeat IT. In the end, it was her love for her father and for Charles Wallace that rescued them. Meg realized that this is one thing that IT did not have and could not understand, since it was pure intellect. She had the power to love.

Therefore, this is not an effective topic sentence, since it is not how she rescued her father or Charles Wallace. It was her emotions, rather than her intellect, that helped her.

Why does Mr. Putnam hold a grudge against Francis Nurse?

Mr. Putnam holds a grudge against Francis Nurse because Nurse had taken part in a land war with his neighbors, and one of those neighbors was a Putnam.  The conflict grew to battle-like proportions, lasting for two days in the middle of the woods.  Nurse had originally rented his land, but he worked hard to eventually be able to purchase it, and many people resented his rise in status.  Further, years ago, Mr. Putnam's wife's brother-in-law, a man named Bayley, had been up for a Salem ministry position, and though he had all the qualifications and a two-thirds vote, he was prevented from taking office by a faction that included the now-powerful Nurse family.  Moreover, some other families whose land was adjacent to the Nurse homestead joined with them to create Topsfield, "a new and independent entity whose existence was resented by Old Salemites" like the Putnams.

How do the last two lines in the poem "My Parents" by Stephen Spender help bring out the theme?

The last two lines express the isolation the speaker felt because his parents kept him separate and protected from "children who were rough." The children who surrounded him engaged in typical childhood roughhousing; they "ran in the street and climbed cliffs and stripped by the country streams." The speaker feared them both physically,when they roughed him up, and psychologically, as they mocked his speech impediment when they followed him.  

The last two lines, 

And I looked another way, pretending to smile,
I longed to forgive them, yet they never smiled.

suggest that instead of being kept away from these children, the speaker longed to live among them to experience the give and take of childhood relationships. He understands that he would have sometimes received the same rough treatment, but if they had been intimate, he expects that he would have also received apologies from them instead of remaining estranged and isolated.

If Pahom had no chances to acquire more land, plus knew he had no chances, could he find happiness with what he already had in Leo Tolstoy's story...

In his short story "How Much Land Does a Man Need?" author Leo Tolstoy certainly characterizes Pahom's wife as being content, but Pahom is discontented from the start. That being the case, one can say it is unlikely Pahom would have ever become happy with what he had.

In the opening chapter of the short story, Pahom's wife is characterized as being very content with her life in her conversation with her elder sister. Her older sister brags about the wealth and prosperity she has in the city, mocking her sister's life as a country peasant. In retort, Pahom's wife argues that the peasant's life is far more secure because it does not depend on monetary gain. Pahom's wife further explains that, at any moment, her sister's husband could be tempted by the Devil "with cards, wine, or women," leading her husband to lose everything they have. In contrast, she asserts that Pahom could never lose all he has because his life is filled with too much hard work for him to be tempted like that by the Devil. As a result, Pahom's wife declares that though they will never be wealthy, they will "always have enough to eat."

Though Pahom's wife expresses contentment with her life, Pahom soon expresses discontent. Although he agrees with his wife that the peasant is always working far too hard to be distracted by the Devil, he also sees that there is no reason why the peasant can't also desire financial security and prosperity. For the farmer, financial security and prosperity comes from owning enough land that a profit can be earned. Pahom's desire to earn a profit leads him to say, "Our only trouble is that we haven't land enough." Since Pahom thinks so discontentedly from the start of the story about what he owns and because he desires to own more, we know that, no matter what, Pahom will never learn to be content with what he has.

What is the contrast between the reactions of Benvolio and Tybalt when they come upon the fight between the Capulet servants and the Montague...

When Benevolio sees Sampson and Gregory begin to fight the servants of the Montagues, he shouts for them to put up their swords and keep the peace; however, when Tybalt enters, he immediately engages in the conflict and threatens Benevolio.

In the opening of Act I, the servants of the the Capulets, Sampson and Gregory, walk along, discussing how much they hate the house of Montague. They talk about what they would like to do to the Montagues, and when they see servants of the house of Montague, Sampson bites his thumb at them in a very insulting gesture. Words are then exchanged, and soon the men draw their swords against each other. Benevolio, nephew of Lord Montague and close friend of Romeo, shouts at Sampson and Gregory to separate from the other servants of the Montagues. He beats down their weapons saying, "Put up your swords. You know not what you do" (1.1.55). Unfortunately, the fiery-tempered Tybalt, a Capulet, has witnessed the exchange, and excitedly runs with his sword drawn, shouting,

What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds?
Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.  (1.1.56-57)

Benvolio tells Tybalt that he is merely trying to keep the peace, urging Tybalt to put up his sword. But the fiery Tybalt professes his hatred for the word "peace," as something that he detests as much as Hell and all the Montagues. As he says these things, he aims his sword at Benvolio, saying, "Have at thee, coward!" (1.1.62). They fight, but some other citizens see them and beat them down with clubs, hoping to restore peace.

Clearly, Tybalt is extremely choleric, with a fiery temper that rages quickly. Benvolio, however, is more sanguine and even-tempered, as he wishes to keep the peace and avoid conflicts. They are, indeed, contrasting characters.

What evidence shows Bob and Jimmy Wells are proud of their accomplishments in "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry?

In the story, Bob is dressed expensively. His necktie is decorated with a large jewel and his watch is encrusted with small jewels. When the police officer asks him whether he was successful in the West, Bob applies in the affirmative. He boasts that he had to fight for his success, implying that his accomplishments were hard-won. By his own words, Bob is proud of everything he has achieved.

Jimmy Wells appears to have been the first police officer to speak to Bob. From his letter at the end of the story, Jimmy admits he was on time to meet with Bob. After recognizing him as a wanted man, however, Jimmy couldn't bring himself to arrest his old friend. He sent a plainclothes officer instead. Jimmy Wells is said to have looked 'strong and important' at the beginning of the story. He moves confidently and is a "fine-looking cop." From the description of the way Jimmy carries himself, we get the idea he is proud to be a police officer trusted to guard the peace in New York City.