Is The Merchant of Venice a romantic comedy? If so, why?

The play is classified as a comedy, specifically a "Christian comedy," but it is not necessarily a romantic comedy. Normally the definition of a romantic comedy hinges on the story's use of comedy to somehow advance the romantic plot line. This play could possibly be performed in a way that emphasizes the humor in various situations. The scenes where suitors come to woo Portia and choose the wrong casket could be played for comedy. It is also possible for some of Antonio's friends, who are minor characters, to be portrayed in a comic manner. Gratiano is also a somewhat comedic character.

When we describe one of Shakespeare's works as being a romantic comedy, the comedy generally takes place within a familiar context, by way of a theatrical conceit common in the majority of his comedic works. These conceits include mistaken identity or disguise as a way to create confusion or deception in a way that somehow advances the romance. Portia dressing as a doctor of law could be interpreted in this way. In Bassanio's presence, she also refers to her husband and hints she'd be dismayed if he placed his friend's well-being over hers, as Bassanio claims he would do for Antonio. These parts of the courtroom scene can be done humorously, but the menace of Shylock's desire to kill Antonio in a violent manner seems to hint this play was not solely intended as a work of romantic comedy.

What were the careers of Leslie's parents?

Leslie's parents have the same career.  Both of her parents are professional writers.  

Despite both being writers, the subject that each of them writes about is quite different.  Mrs. Burke is a novel writer, and Mr. Burke writes about politics.  Both of them must be fairly prolific writers, because Jess is amazed that an entire book shelf is filled with their books.  Additionally, Leslie tells Jess that money is not a problem for her family, so the Burke books must be selling quite well.  

I would like to include a few extra details about Mrs. Burke.  She writes under a pseudonym.  The text says that Jess was confused when he saw "Judith Hancock" as the listed author, but he understood once he saw Mrs. Burke's picture on the back of the book.  

It was really something to see the shelf that had their books on it. Mrs. Burke was "Judith Hancock" on the cover, which threw you at first, but then if you looked on the back, there was her picture looking very young and serious.  

Lastly, Mrs. Burke is the more famous of the two writers.  

Who is the antagonist of this story?

An antagonist is a character (or group of characters) that opposes the protagonist either directly or indirectly. Edgar Allan Poe penned the story "The Cask of Amontillado" in 1846. The protagonist in this story is Montresor. The story is told from his point of view, as he describes his experience with his enemy, Fortunato. The story is a description of Montresor's plot of revenge, and his execution of this plot. Fortunato is the antagonist of this story. 

Montresor never gives details about what Fortunato did to antagonize him, but he does divulge that Fortunato has insulted him. In the opening lines of the story, Montresor explains: 

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled--but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity."

Montresor's family motto is "No one insults with impunity," meaning that no one will be able to insult them and get away unpunished. Although we don't know the specific nature of the insult, we know that Montresor has been offended and is not going to put up with it. He has bided his time, weaving an intricate plot of revenge in order to punish Fortunato for the wrongs he has committed against him. 

Identify three exciting events that took place before the climax of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Nighttime Raid: In Chapter 6, Jem, Dill, and Scout attempt to peek into the Radley home to get a look at Boo. However, Nathan Radley hears them and thinks that someone is trying to break into his home. The children have to run out of the yard and narrowly escape as Nathan Radley begins shooting in their direction.

Maudie's House Fire: In Chapter 8, Atticus wakes his children up in the middle of the night and tells them to stand in the Radley's front yard because Miss Maudie's house is on fire. Scout and Jem watch from a safe distance as the neighbors rally together in an attempt to save Maudie's possessions. The men narrowly escape from Maudie's home before the house eventually collapses.

The Mob Scene: In Chapter 15, Atticus travels to the Maycomb jailhouse to sit outside of Tom Robinson's cell as a precaution. The Old Sarum bunch then arrives to lynch Tom Robinson. Atticus refuses to leave, and Scout, who was hiding with Jem and Dill, runs into the middle of the group of men. Atticus then tells Jem to leave the scene and take Scout and Dill with him, but Jem refuses to leave his father in the dangerous situation. Fortunately, Walter Cunningham is able to see the situation from Atticus' perspective and tells the mob to disperse.

What are the rough ages of of the shepherdesses in The Faithful Shepherdess by Fletcher and Ford? Who is the oldest, youngest and in between?

This is an interesting and challenging question that can't be answered authoritatively, but the context of the play provides us with fairly reliable clues. Cloe, the lustful shepherdess, would appear to be be the oldest. She worries in Act I, scene iii that she is "too old." I would put Clorin in the middle, as she has spent time mourning her dead lover and living in a sacred grove by his grave. She has developed skills as a healer, indicating some maturity. This would leave Amoret as the youngest. The fact she is so innocent bespeaks youth, just as Cloe's lustfulness indicates age, and though Amoret says in Act IV, scene iv that she has been "wooed by many," she still comes across as younger and less authoritative than Clorin, who has spent time mourning the dead lover and developing her healing arts.

How do Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and Sherlock Holmes in A Study in Scarlet show morality?

Both Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird and Sherlock Holmes in A Study in Scarlet demonstrate morality when humbly accepting not being given due credit for their deeds.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, though Atticus does not win his case, he challenges society's racist beliefs and the legal system's inadequacies. Many in the town are grateful for his efforts, including African Americans, Judge Taylor, and Sheriff Heck Tate; however, the majority of Maycomb's people remain stuck in their prejudiced ways and critical of his actions. We especially see their critical attitude when Scout reports how she is treated at school after the trial. She notes that the children are nice but distant and their attitude seems to be one handed down to them by their parents. Scout concludes that their parents' attitudes "must have been that neither [she nor Jem] could help having Atticus for a parent, so their children must be nice to [them] in spite of him" (Ch. 26). The townspeople's critical attitude towards Atticus's actions shows the townspeople refuse to find value in Atticus's accomplishment and, therefore, refuse to give him credit for having achieved anything other than make the town's African American citizens grumble. Though Atticus continues to be criticized for his good accomplishments, he does not allow the criticisms to affect him, as we see when he continues on with his daily life, even resuming his duties in the state legislature, showing readers he is humbly able to accept a lack of respect.

Similarly, though Holmes is the one who solves the case in A Study in Scarlet, Scotland Yard takes all the credit, as we see when Holmes hands Watson a newspaper article that only mentions Holmes's name in saying the murderer was captured in Holmes's rented rooms. Knowing Scotland Yard would take all the credit, Holmes very humbly and philosophically accepts credit being stolen from him when he says to Watson, "What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence. . . the question is, what can you make people believe that you have done" (Chapter 7).

Both Atticus and Holmes behave morally when they humbly accept other people's attitudes towards them.

What are the 24 things in the bunkhouse in Of Mice and Men?

Steinbeck describes the bunkhouse in the first paragraph of chapter two in his novella Of Mice and Men. It is typical of housing for farm laborers with eight bunks, a "black cast-iron stove," a table "littered with playing cards," boxes for the players and several other things such as personal hygiene items, combs, neckties, medicines and "those Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and secretly believe." The bunkhouse table was in the center of the room and would have been where the men played cards. Other than solitaire, which George is repeatedly playing in chapters two and three, the men played euchre, a game which sometimes utilizes twenty-four cards from a standard deck (six cards from each suit). The perpetual playing of cards in these chapters tends to support Steinbeck's theme of luck and fate. Just as cards can sometimes be unlucky, so too his life. Unfortunately for George and Lennie, the ranch proves to be an unlucky place and events which take place there mark the end of the dream of owning their own farm.