In the play Stop Kiss by Diana Son, why do you think the playwright decided to stop the play with the kiss?

Diana Son's play Stop Kiss revolves around two women, Sara and Callie, living in NYC, who are assaulted after kissing on the street. The playwright's decisions about the chronology of the show cause it to literally "revolve" around the incident of the assault—we do not see the assault happen in the play itself. Rather, the play alternates between the time before the incident, when the two women meet and get to know each other, and the time after the incident, when Sara is in a coma and Callie (along with Sara's ex Peter) helps nurse her back to health.
The effect of having the play "revolve" around this incident chronologically is to enhance how it revolves around the incident thematically as well. The assault is a result of Sara and Callie's first kiss. Sara's coma is a result of the assault. And ultimately, it is through the aftermath of the assault (Sara's coma, the trauma of it, the physical act of caretaking, and the deepening and rupturing of various relationships) that Sara and Callie are able to choose each other more fully and go forward in their relationship. The "before" and "after" sections being told in an interwoven format allow them to inform each other and to reveal information about the past in ways that complicate or explicate the present.
These are the two final scenes of the play:
First, in the "after" storyline, Callie comes to the hospital and struggles to help Sara get dressed, and when they finally manage to do it together, she asks Sara to "Choose me."
Second (the final scene of the play), in the "before" storyline, Callie and Sara leave a bar at 4 a.m., and while walking down the street and asking each other silly questions, Callie kisses Sara. They fumble to kiss a second time, and the play ends with Callie saying "Try again," and the two of them kissing.
The effect of juxtaposing the storylines at this moment is to show a certain symmetry between this beginning of their romantic relationship and their decision, after going through this trauma together, to choose each other and continue that relationship. The fumbled struggle is mirrored in the two moments, as is Callie's invitation to Sara to choose, to try again.
In allowing the kiss to "linger" in a way at the end of the play, having the play end on that moment in its implication of coming violence but not allowing that violence to be seen, Son places the emphasis on the two women and their relationship. It allows that relationship to have the last word, while also acknowledging (in an unspoken way) the enormity of the violence, the way it looms over the play and over their relationship in a way that can't be ignored. One could say that the kiss was the catalyst for the relationship, or one could say the assault was. To choose to focus on the kiss doesn't erase the violence, but it frames and elevates the connection and resilience of the women, rather than the violence against them.

Describe the regions of the 13 colonies.

The thirteen colonies are generally categorized into three regions. These regions are the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. Each region had its own unique characteristics, making the American struggle for independence such a profound event.
The New England Colonies consisted of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Culturally, the New England region was of the Puritan religion. The region focused on fishing, fur trading, and, eventually, manufacturing to build the economy. Farming was more difficult in this region because of harsh winters and rocky soils.
The Middle Colonies were New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. This region shared a mixture of characteristics with both the New England and Southern regions. Culturally, it was more diverse in terms of religion and nationalities. Puritans, Quakers, and Baptists all lived together here. The region benefited from a mild climate and rich soil, which produced vast amounts of crops; this was the backbone of their economy.
The Southern Colonies had Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. This was the largest region. Similar to the Middle Colonies, the Southern Colonies did not have a specific religion. This region's economy was primarily agriculture. The warm climate and fertile soils were perfect for producing tobacco, cotton, and other crops. This ultimately led to slave labor.
https://m.landofthebrave.info/southern-colonies.htm

https://www.brtprojects.org/cyberschool/history/ch04/regions.html

Does "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" pose a challenge to cultural relativism?

It's an interesting question because at its core, "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" is a thought experiment which poses a moral question. The interesting thing to consider, however, is that ultimately, the quandary represented by Omelas has real-world implications when you consider that problems of suffering and exploitation are very much ingrained in civilization and in the human condition.
In this work, LeGuin is ultimately asking the question of how one comes to terms with this problem and with our own collective complicity within it. In "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," she imagines an ideal, utopian community—and she's quite clear that the particularities of that utopia do not matter, for this is only a thought experiment. At the same time, she notes that the collective happiness of the community is founded upon the suffering of a single innocent child, brutalized and tormented in horrific fashion. The question becomes: how does one respond? Most people stay within the system, but there are a few who cannot accept this contract with suffering and choose to leave the community (leave paradise) rather than be complicit in the cruelty which forms the foundation of that system. What happens to them is unknown.
So now the question becomes this: how do we apply this to a subject like Cultural Relativism? And there your question becomes interesting, because again, ultimately to look at Omelas seriously means to be conscious of the full scale by which abuses and suffering is endemic within the human condition (Omelas can well stand for a symbol of human civilization), and this would stretch across all cultural lines. From one perspective, it does seem to uphold one of the critical tenants of cultural relativism—that we should not judge foreign cultures by the standards of our own or assume our own values are superior to those held by others. The message of Omelas is that we all have skeletons and are all complicit. However, at the same time, LeGuin's story does imply a deeper moral absolutism, by which all societies can be judged according to the suffering they inflict and how they themselves respond to that suffering.
If we are all Omelas, that has very real implications about how we address the problem of suffering and its prominence within the human condition.

Which of the following statements is true? a) Neither chemical nor physical changes involve a change in appearance. b) Both chemical and physical changes can involve a change in appearance. c) Only physical changes involve a change in appearance. d) Only chemical changes involve a change in appearance.

The answer to your question is B. Both chemical and physical changes can involve a change in appearance.
Physical changes do not change the molecules in a substance, only the way the substance looks. A great example showing a physical change is water. Water, at room temperature, is a liquid. If the temperature of the room is lowered to 0℃, the water will freeze and become a solid. The water will now look different but the water molecules are still the same. Now if we take that frozen water and heat it to 100℃, the water will turn into a gas. The water no longer looks frozen, but its molecules are the same.
A chemical change does change the molecules in a substance, basically meaning, you no longer have the same substance you began with. There are five main ways to tell if a chemical change occurred.
1) Color Changes2) Precipitate Forms 3) Temperature Change 4) Gas Production 5) Light Emission
There are many examples of a change of appearance in a chemical change. If you cook an egg, the egg is undergoing a chemical change and the egg looks very different once you have finished cooking. In this example there was a color and temperature change. Another example is the burning of wood. The wood looks different from before and after the burning and the molecules of the wood are different. The chemical change was noted by temperature, color and light emission.

Although it might not seem as obvious as physical changes, a chemical reaction or transformation can also involve a change in appearance. For example, when a blacksmith heats a piece of steel bar at 2500° F, the steel bar will change in appearance in two ways: its color will turn orange-red, and its edges will become more dull. These transformations in appearance are due to a chemical change caused by extreme temperatures.
Another common example of a chemical change is the formation of bubbles, which is caused by different levels of gas molecules in water. Leaving a glass of flat water in a warm room will lead to the formation of tiny bubbles, thus changing its appearance.
Physical changes will definitely change the appearance of matter. The most common example of both physical and chemical changes is the transformation of water into ice, or water into vapor.
https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/W401.pdf

In the novel Mudbound, what are the consequences of Jamie's inability to speak to his family about the horrors he experienced in the war? How does speaking or not speaking confer power or take it away?

The intrinsic relationship between speech and power is clearly conveyed in Hillary Jordan’s novel. Jamie is trying to adjust to life on the farm that he left behind when he joined the military. But he cannot face the fact that he has changed and the farm has changed. The sexual relationship that develops between him and his brother’s wife just makes the situation worse. The need for secrecy compounds Jamie’s problem of inability to speak, forcing him deeper into himself.
Although he morally opposes his father’s racism and Klan participation, Jamie does not speak out against their actions. He becomes an accomplice in their torture as he acquiesces to their order that he pronounce Ronsel’s fate. This vocal action temporarily gives him power over Ronsel, something he claimed not to want. His decision is to make Ronsel mute by having his tongue cut out. The enforced silencing equates the men in Jamie’s subconscious; now neither one can speak.
https://books.google.com/books/about/Mudbound.html?id=t3eQfaECtYEC

In Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, how does the narrator's point of view of her father change by seeing him in a different environment in the chapter "A Pair of Tickets"?

Jing Mei and her father travel to China in "A Pair of Tickets" to meet her half-sisters. The culminating story of Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club depicts Jing Mei's final appreciation of her mother's life and her finding the closure that Suyuan desperately sought but never found.
Jing Mei has been learning about her mother throughout the book, but in traveling to China, she is now learning to appreciate her father as well. She notices as they travel that her father, Canning, is undergoing a transformation. He seems younger somehow to her, and she is glad to see her father so happy. Jing Mei compares his look to that of a young boy, and she attributes the change to his coming home to China. “For the first time I can ever remember, my father has tears in his eyes.” Canning is anticipating a reunion with his aunt, who he has not seen for 62 years.
When they finally arrive, Canning “smiles like a pleased little boy.” He calls out to his aunt, “Auntie Auntie!” and she responds with his childhood nickname, “Little Wild Goose.” Jing Mei notes that her father and his aunt are openly crying and laughing simultaneously. Canning’s age and tragedies have disappeared at that moment, and he is transported temporarily back to a happier time in his life.
The trip brings Jing Mei’s epiphany that Canning has suffered greatly. All his life, he tried to be strong for Suyuan and to support her in the loss of her two babies. More recently, he has had to endure the sudden death of his wife and the revelation that those two babies had grown up and were living in China. When Jing Mei’s aunties found Suyuan’s long-lost children, Canning had to deal with the loss of Suyuan all over again. Jing Mei is not the only one who is suffering. “Suyuan didn’t tell me she was trying all these years to find her daughters,” Canning says. Father and daughter travel such a long way to meet Chwun Yu and Chwun Hwa, both thinking that Suyuan should be there with them.
Additionally, Jing Mei learns to look to her father as a source of knowledge. He can provide the missing pieces to Suyuan’s tragic story of giving up her children to save their lives. Canning tells how Suyuan fled with her babies when the Japanese entered Kweilin, how she lost all her possessions, how she became ill and thought she would die, and finally how she left her children on the side of the road with a note and money, begging someone to care for them. Now, he can tell Suyuan’s real story. Jing Mei also receives a lesson from her father on the importance of names. Jing is “something pure, essential, the best quality…pure essence.” Mei, as in mei mei, means “younger sister.” Thus, it is Canning who brings Jing Mei the message that Suyuan was unable to deliver in life: her three daughters are precious to her.
This trip to China allows Jing Mei to better understand her mother’s life and to find the closure she needs to accept Suyuan’s death. The trip also helps Jing Mei to see her father in a new light and to better appreciate him.

How is anachrony used in Mrs Dalloway?

Anachrony is related to anachronism, which essentially covers anything in a literary work that is "against time." Anachronism is common in medieval works, where chronological time was not a cultural value. In this aesthetic, human events were often viewed as elements that would be better understood from the divine's timeless perspective. This is largely the argument of Boethius, who was tremendously influential in the Middle Ages.
In the Modern era a similar, though secular, view of time begins to emerge, largely through the influence of Einstein's theory of relativity and the space-time continuum. Woolf experimented often with elements of Time, Space, and Consciousness.
In Mrs. Dalloway, Clarissa and Septimus both return repeatedly to a past moment that then enters their present consciousness. Gertrude Stein called this continuous present, for the life of the mind is as palpable as the life of the body, and these thoughts are not merely memories. In the narrative, these moments look like flashbacks but they function to amplify the events of the single day during which the novel is set.
This technique supports Woolf's overarching concern with how humans create and maintain connections, how past selves are kept vibrant, and how memory intrudes as an animating force within one's ongoing journey of life.

Describe Janie in detail

Initially, Janie is a happy, carefree young lady. She leads a good home life, with loving parents there to guide and protect her. In common with many people of her age, Janie has a very vivid imagination and a strong sense of curiosity about the world around her. And it's this particular characteristic of hers which leads her to discover the disturbing truth about her background. Those parents with whom she's lived such a happy, fulfilling life—Mr. and Mrs. Johnson—are not really her parents after all. Janie finds out that she was kidnapped at the age of three by the Johnsons's daughter Hannah, who lured Janie away with the promise of ice cream.
As we might expect, this shocking revelation changes everything. All of a sudden, life's become so incredibly complicated for Janie, and with it her personality. No longer the happy-go-lucky teen, Janie finds herself mired in guilt, blaming herself for allowing Hannah to tempt her with ice cream on that fateful day.
Yet what's interesting about Janie is that, even after she discovers the truth about her past, she still retains many of the personal qualities of old. For one thing, she's as kind and as loving as ever. She still loves the Johnsons as much as she ever did, and doesn't want to return to her birth family despite everything that's happened.
But the revelation of her true parentage causes Janie to undergo quite a profound change in character. She no longer takes life in her stride. Her obsession with the kidnapping takes over her whole life, damaging her personal relationships. Janie no longer takes pride in her appearance and stops eating properly due to all the stress and trauma that this whole business has caused.

Is it common for grandparents to act as parents?

One alternative family structure previously thought of as an extended family situation has changed to one form of primary care for children: grandparents. As of 2012, one in ten children living in the United States resides with a grandparent. In the past, living with a grandparent usually meant that an extended family living situation included one or more grandparents living with the child's parent(s). Since 2000, when the government started tracking data about grandparents acting as parents, the number of families headed by grandparents without a biological parent present has continued to grow. Teen pregnancies, drug abuse, and divorce have all contributed to this trend. In this alternative family structure, grandparents find themselves thrown into the role of primary caregiver at a time when they usually have finished raising their biological children. This often places a strain on the grandparent unit because of medical care and financial issues. This trend crosses all race and culture boundaries. In fact, as of 2011, 51% of all children being raised by grandparents were white, with African American and Hispanic races making up the next largest percentages.
Resource:
Tremblay, K.R. (2014). Colorado State University. Grandparents as parents. Retrieved June 28, 2015 from United States Census Bureau. (2012) Profile America Facts for Features.
Retrieved June 28, 2015 from http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/carroll/ratner1.html

Why is it ironic when Zizag says, "Two rattlesnakes. Two scorpions. Two yellow-spotted lizards"?

In Holes, Zigzag makes this comment when a big storm seems imminent in the desert. He, Stanley, and several other boys are out in the desert when they hear thunder and see lightning. The dark shape of the mountains is also illuminated by the lightning flashes. Squid speculates that the hard rain might fill up the lake so they can swim. X-Ray jokes that they should make an ark (like Noah) to hold them for 40 days and 40 nights.
At this point, Zigzag suggests sarcastically that they load up pairs of the desert animals, two of each. The three types of animal he names are all potentially lethal if they bite or sting a person, but an ark would have to save every type of animal.
https://books.google.com/books?id=U_zINMa9cAAC&source=gbs_navlinks_s

How did Jagan feel about Grace in The Vender of Sweets?

Jagan's first impression of Grace was not entirely positive, but by the end of the novel, he's softened toward her and helps her have an option to leave and go home.
When Jagan's son, Mali, comes home, he introduces his father to his half-Korean, half-American wife. Jagan is shocked. He thinks at first that she might be Chinese, which would make her like the people he thinks of as invaders. Next, he thinks that no, maybe she's Japanese. He doesn't know how to ask without being offensive. At home, he avoids both her and Mali at first.
However, Grace appears to be a good wife who is kind to Jagan, takes care of Mali, and tries to learn about their culture. As he gets to know her, Jagan has more respect for her. They become friendly as Grace tries to take care of him in the same way she takes care of Mali. In a lot of ways, Grace is closer to Jagan than Mali is. She's more open to him and more responsive to his needs.
However, Grace lies to Mali in a way. She is the one who sent the letters, and she allowed Jagan to believe it was Mali. Also, she's not actually married to Mali. They're in a relationship but pretended to be married to appease his traditional beliefs. This keeps Jagan from maintaining a close relationship with her, even though it seems that at times they cared about each other. He does offer her a plane ticket to take herself home after Mali was arrested, in case she wants to leave.

How did national, political, and economic factors influence the outcome of the "Scottsboro Boys" legal case, and how did this incident influence the politics and race relations of the 1930s?

The 1931 "Scottsboro Boys" case—in which nine African American males, including minors as young as 12, were tried and falsely convicted (the 12-year-old was the only defendant acquitted) of raping two white women—occurred squarely in the context of the continued racial animosities and endemic poverty of the American South. Every individual involved, from the accused to the accusers, were desperately poor and mostly uneducated. The racism that dominated Southern culture in the antebellum and post–Civil War eras remained very much a part of the local culture in Alabama, as elsewhere in the region, and institutionalized segregation was the law of the land. As importantly, there was no issue more inflammatory in that place and time than the accusation of the rape of white women.
While the American South had remained an extremely polarized environment with respect to race relations, the US as a whole had been gradually—very gradually—moving in the direction of addressing the problem of systemic racism in society. It would be two to three more decades before landmark Supreme Court decisions and legislative initiatives, especially the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, were finalized, but consciousness of the immorality of racism was growing in many parts of the country. This, then, was the environment in which the "Scottsboro Boys" case transpired. That it would undergo repeated retrials and appeals was a significant measure of the country's progress, slow and flawed as it was.
The "Scottsboro Boys" case remains a defining moment in American jurisprudence for the miscarriage of justice it represents. That most of the defendants were initially sentenced to death, an obviously irreversible and particularly draconian penalty, was especially troubling given the complete absence of evidence indicating that any crime perpetrated by the African Americans had occurred. One of the two white women would eventually concede the obvious, that no rape had occurred, but the accusation was sufficient to put into motion a chain of events that unjustly ruined the lives of those falsely accused. The endemic poverty, lack of adequate education, and virulent racism evident in the case’s history were all contributing factors, but the latter was the most disappointing given the turmoil of the nation’s past and the failure of Reconstruction to adequately transform a regional culture that discriminated harshly against those of African heritage. That much of the country was following the proceedings (at least via newspapers and radio), however, was instrumental in keeping the legal system attentive to such an obvious travesty. Absent that attention, one could logically conclude that those death sentences would have been carried out. Only because of that attention from outside of the American South did the US Supreme Court overturn the conviction in Powell v. State of Alabama and spare the lives of those falsely accused. Subsequent Supreme Court decisions would serve to lessen the likelihood of the initial trial's outcome by mandating that juries (the defendants were tried by all-white juries) must better represent the communities in which the alleged crime occurred.
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog/scottsboro-boys

https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/great-depression/scottsboro-boys-trial-defense-campaign-1931-1937/

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/scottsboro-boys-who-were-the-boys/

How does Mr. Hooper’s conduct on the day that "The Minister's Black Veil" takes place contrast with his normal behavior?

I am not entirely sure that this question isn't a trick question that looks to force the answer to be a rebuttal. When the story starts, there is something different about Father Hooper. He is wearing a black veil that covers his face. That is the only difference in Hooper. Readers are told several times that his behavior was identical to what it normally was. Notice how the third paragraph describes Mr. Hooper's walk toward the church.

. . . and beheld the semblance of Mr. Hooper, pacing slowly his meditative way towards the meeting-house.

Readers are told that Hooper was pacing "his" way. A person's gait is unique like a fingerprint. That's why "gait recognition" is gaining ground as legal identification.
Readers are also told that Mr. Hooper's sermon was delivered in the same way that his other sermons were delivered. He's not a fire and brimstone speaker, nor is he highly energetic from the pulpit.

The sermon which he now delivered was marked by the same characteristics of style and manner as the general series of his pulpit oratory.

The audience may have received his message differently, but it wasn't because Mr. Hooper was behaving any differently. It had everything to do with the fact that Mr. Hooper decided to wear one extra piece of clothing that happened to cover his face.
http://biometricnews.net/project/gait-recognition/

Why was Massachusetts Bay Colony founded?

The Massachusetts Bay colony was started by Puritans leaving their home country of England and immigrating to the American continent to practice their religious beliefs without interference from the Church of England and the British Monarchy. Puritans broke from the church in dissent over the integration of the church with the British government. The King of England headed both government and church. Puritans believed the church was wavering in its doctrine and was incorporating secular practices under the guise of religious ideology.
The result of the hard work of the Puritans in establishing a viable colony encouraged others to come to join with them. The dynamic growth created new commercial opportunities that investors were eager to participate in. The structure of the governance of the Massachusetts Bay Colony provided stability and encouraged a further increase in the colony. As the settlement expanded in population, economic growth, and reputation, so did the commitment to progressive ideas spun from the Puritan religious practice of charity.
One of the ideas was the start of an education system. Many of the Puritans that arrived in the colony were well educated by the standards of the time. They wanted to ensure future generations had the same emphasis and opportunity to attend an educational institution. Some of the premier institutions we have in modern times (for example, Harvard) were Puritan founded and sponsored.
In summary, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded for religious and political freedom, economic investment, and the promotion of education.

How can the commerce clause in the Constitution be used to deal with social problems, such as banning racial discrimination in restaurants and other public facilities?

The name “Commerce Clause” refers to Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, of the United States Constitution, which gives Congress the power “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.” At the time the Constitution was written, this was primarily interpreted to mean that the federal government had the power to regulate trade between states and between the US and other countries, while while each individual state could regulate trade within its borders.
Similarly, the word “commerce” was initially understood to refer to the transport of goods between the states for the purpose of sale. However, in 1894, the Supreme Court ruled in Gibbons v. Ogden that the Commerce Clause gave Congress to regulate, not just goods for sale, but any sort of “commercial intercourse” between states, including navigation routes and means of transport.Later cases expanded the definition of “commerce” to include intrastate activities that affected interstate commerce, since even local economic activities could have effects on markets in other states.
The Commerce Clause once again came into play during the civil rights movements of the 1960s. In 70 years between the decision in Gibbons v. Ogden and the main legislative activities of the era, the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, thus prohibiting the government from “mak[ing] or enforc[ing] any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States” and guaranteeing all US citizens “equal protection of the laws.” In other words, following the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment, the government couldn’t discriminate against any of its citizens, including on the basis of race. However, the Fourteenth Amendment was powerless to regulate how private businesses and individuals behaved toward each other, when the government was not involved.
This all changed with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in which Congress first attempted to ban racial discrimination between two private parties. Title II of the Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, or national origin in places of public accommodation, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, or other private business catering to the public at large. But the Fourteenth Amendment was not expansive enough to justify these prohibitions. When Title II got challenged before the Supreme Court, the government defended itself by claiming power under the Commerce Clause to regulate private behavior in such places. In Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. U.S. (1964), the government argued that it could prohibit racial discrimination in hotels because they often cater o out-of-state travelers and therefore affect interstate commerce. Similarly, in Katzenbach v. McClung (1964), the government argued that it could prohibit racial discrimination in a restaurant because many of the raw ingredients used were sourced from out of state, which in turn implicated interstate commerce. The Supreme Court upheld both of the arguments, thus giving judicial approval to the argument that the Commerce Clause could be used to ban racial discrimination in public facilities, regardless of whether they were privately owned.

Sources:
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Enduring and Revolutionary
Clause 3. Commerce Power
Gibbons v. Ogden (1894)

The commerce clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) in the United States Constitution gives the federal government the ability "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."
Although state governments have criticized the clause on several occasions—particularly due to their view that it gives the federal government too much power over state economies—the clause had the unintended benefit of outlawing racial discrimination in restaurants and other public facilities.
During the Civil Rights era, the commerce clause protected African American patrons from being banned from establishments by racist business owners. The United States Supreme Court helped secure the ability of the federal government to implement the commerce clause in states that had Jim Crow laws.
Without the commerce clause, state governments that practiced institutional racism could allow and protect white business owners in targeting African American customers.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/commerce-clause

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/commerce_clause

How is Azoro reunited with his parents after the riot?

Azaro undergoes several experiences en route to reunion with his parents.
Coming upon a masquerade, he is taken by some women participants. After they arrive on an island, he learns they are witches. Warned by a cat, he manages to escape.
After getting confused and disoriented by his spirit companions, he collapses. Then he ends up at the police station. A policeman offers help and takes the boy to his house, where Azaro realizes the man is a killer, even having killed his own son. Frightened that he is being conflated with the dead boy, he communicates by sending a mental message to his own mother.
His mother comes to the policeman's house and takes him home, to their new house. He finds his father suffering from being beaten during the riot.

Who follows the letter of the law and who follows the spirit of the law in chapter five of To Kill a Mockingbird?

There is no overt legal implication concerning the events in chapter 5. The only thing somewhat related to a legal issue is, perhaps, the right to privacy. When Jem, Dill, and Scout try to get a note to Arthur Radley, they are hardly being a nuisance, but I suppose one could argue that they are invading the Radleys' privacy.
Atticus recognizes the possibility that Arthur and/or Arthur's father might interpret the children's games as harassment or some kind of invasion of privacy. Given that these are kids playing fairly innocuous games with a recluse, I wouldn't think that the "letter of the law" really applies here. However, for argument's sake, if anyone is following the letter of the law and the spirit of the law (in chapter 5), it is Atticus. It seems pretty clear that Atticus is just trying to save Arthur any further ridicule. (At this point, Atticus has no idea that Arthur finds some of the children's antics amusing: Arthur is heard laughing at the end of chapter 4.)
The letter and spirit of the law become very significant in later chapters. Does the jury follow the letter of the law with regard to their verdict? Do they follow the spirit of the law, for that matter? In the novel, who breaks the law and gets away with it, and why? There are plenty of interesting events that concern the law later in the novel.

Atticus follows the letter of the law throughout the book. Only at the very end, when Bob Ewell is killed, Atticus insists that the law must be followed. It is the sheriff Heck Tate who convinces him that in this case the spirit of the law is more important than the letter. Scout understands and tells him essentially that forcing Boo Radley into the open after he saved their lives would be like shooting a mockingbird.

Miss Maudie is a character who rarely follows the letter of the law but follows rather the spirit. This is particularly true of her in regards to the rules of her religion. She is Baptist, and when others complain that she doesn’t go to church enough and spends too much time gardening, she basically responds that she is in God’s outdoors, implying that she is following the spirit of her religion, not following the Bible literally.

What technologies did Genghis Khan use?

Genghis Khan, also known as Temüjin, was the ferocious leader of the Mongolian Empire. The empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea, creating the largest contiguous land empire that the world has ever seen. Many historians have wondered why the Mongols were so successful at conquering land and defeating enemies. Surprisingly, the answer is relatively simple: their technological innovations, particularly the stirrup, made them unstoppable. Other advanced technologies they used included the composite bow, flaming arrows, lightweight and flexible body armor, lightweight sabers, and trebuchets. Apart from this use of advanced technologies, Genghis Khan also used more primitive—yet creative—methods of intimidation and terror that helped him to spread his empire.
Many historians believe that the Mongols invented the stirrup, giving them a huge advantage on the battlefield with enemies. Mongolian stirrups were constructed as one thick metal piece with an open loop for the saddle strap on top and a wide footrest at the bottom. Using stirrups with saddles while riding a horse allowed the Mongols to ride in a way that their competitors could not. Skilled riders could stand upright with their feet affixed tightly in the stirrups as a horse rode, allowing them to ride without using their hands. Being able to twist and turn on the horse was a great advantage when using a saber or bow and arrow. A warrior could shoot their bow while facing backwards, hanging off of one side of their horse, or standing up. Because of this technique, Mongol warrior cavalries could gallop into battle and fight with amazing dexterity and agility.
Composite bows and flaming arrows were also huge advantages in battle. Mongolian recurved composite bows were strung against their natural curve, which gave the weapons a naturally strong pull and accurate shot. These bows were far more precise than European bows of the time period. The arrows Mongols carried in their quivers were also better than their competitors'. They often used flaming arrows, which contained gunpowder. These would explode upon impact and make loud noises, frightening and burning opponents.
Another technological advantage the Mongols had was their lightweight armor. Horses and warriors wore lightweight and flexible chain mail or leather armor that allowed for maximum movability in battle. Warriors wore shirts of tightly woven silk under their armor to protect them from arrow punctures. Because they put their horses in body armor, they could use their animals as shields as well.
Mongolian lightweight saber swords allowed soldiers to slash with ease as they twisted and turned on their horses in skirmishes. Because the sabers were light, they could easily be used with one hand. Some warriors also had lances, allowing them to hook and grab enemies. Additionally, the Mongols adopted advanced trebuchet technology from the Chinese. A trebuchet is a machine similar to a catapult. Trebuchets launched heavy projectiles forward, allowing the Mongols to attack walled cities. This contributed to Kublai Khan's 1273 victory in the Battle of Xiangyang, Korea.
Creative methods of intimidation and terror helped Genghis Khan spread his empire, too. Legend has it that, when the Mongols invaded a territory, they killed the entire population and then murdered the leader by pouring molten silver into his ears and eyes. Genghis Khan was also known to boil generals alive in massive vats of scorching water when they disobeyed him. Lastly, and perhaps most disturbing of all, is that the Mongols were known to use rape as a method of warfare. Genealogists estimate that Genghis Khan has up to sixteen million male descendants, having fathered thousands of children as he raped women throughout Europe and Asia.
http://genghiskhan.fieldmuseum.org/explore/photo-gallery/weapons

https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/05/the-mongols-built-an-empire-with-one-technological-breakthrough/

https://www.diplomacy.edu/resources/books/reviews/genghis-khan-and-making-modern-world

How is the American Dream reflected in the story "Battle Royal" by Ralph Ellison?

In "Battle Royal," the American Dream is presented as an almighty sham, something that only white people can ever attain. Initially, the unnamed narrator is naive; he thinks, that, he too has a shot at the success that the American Dream exemplifies. But over the course of events during the evening's "entertainment," he becomes totally disabused of his preconceptions. He comes to realize that the white man doesn't respect African Americans, even those like himself, who are educated and intelligent.
The ultimate unattainability of the American Dream for African-Americans is symbolized by the degrading "game" in which the narrator is forced to scramble for what he thinks are gold coins but which in actual fact turn out to be nothing more than worthless brass tokens. The none-too-subtle suggestion here is that the white man will never give those he deems to be his racial inferior a serious shot at the American Dream.

What do the shadows represent?

The rock itself represents Quebec, in which the story is set. It is a haven of relative stability and security for French settlers in the still wild and generally unspoiled wilderness of North America. Nevertheless, life for settlers such as Cécile and her father is still incredibly hard in this part of the world, as can be seen from the harsh, cold winters they are forced to endure. The inclement weather is just one of many "shadows," or negative aspects of life in Quebec that make living there such a struggle at times.
But in due course Cécile comes to accept the natural rhythms of life in the New World. Far from being a source of privation and hardship, nature becomes a place of delight and discovery. Cécile attunes herself to her new environment, adapting to each individual season as it arrives, come rain, hale, or shine. Life will still be full of hardships for her, full of "shadows," but she will remain connected to the soil, becoming a feature of the landscape every bit as much as the forests, the rivers, and the rocks.

How do we know when Shakespeare wrote Othello?

In Act 1, Scene 3, lines 263-277 of Othello, the titular character adds on to his wife Desdemona’s plea to go with him to war in Cyprus. This speech clearly marks Othello as a play from William Shakespeare’s later works rather than his early works. The main and most important distinctions are in style. Whether earlier or later in his career, all of Shakespeare’s works are brilliant works written in iambic pentameter. However, there are subtle distinctions in the craft. In the speeches of his older plays, the insistent iambic pentameter often interrupts the enjambed line. The last beat of the iambic pentameter would stop the line, despite the continuance of the sentence onto the next line. In his later career, more variation in the iambic pentameter made the speech more conversational, rather than poetic. For instance, Othello says “And heaven defend your good souls that you think/I will your serious and great business scant/When she is with me” (lines 269-71). The speech wraps nicely from line to line with no forced pauses from the meter. Another line that does this is “Nor to comply with heat—the young affects/In me defunct—and proper satisfaction,/But to be free and bounteous to her mind” (lines 266-8). The syntax of the line does not seem broken by the line breaks. If these lines are read out loud, it would be difficult to discern where the line breaks are. This was definitely more of a feature in Shakespeare’s later period plays. Another way he did this was by adding an extra, unaccented syllable at the end of the line. One example is the line “Vouch with me, heaven, I therefor beg it not” (line 264). It has five iambs, and then one last unaccented word. This is the same with the line “In me defunct—and proper satisfaction” (line 267). The last syllable of “satisfaction” is an extra one for iambic pentameter. The effect of this is that the emotion of the speech sounds more authentically conversational, like Othello is engaged in a real-life discussion. The speech is more disconnected, like genuine dialogue would be. It is obviously not formal rhetoric or rehearsed, written poetics. Thus, all the stylistic clues of this speech suggest that Othello is late rather than early Shakespeare.

Can you accept all of Melville's judgments as reliable? Why or why not?

Because "Bartleby the Scrivener" is told by a first-person narrator with a strong sympathy for Bartleby, we can't accept all the judgments in the story as reliable. The narrator himself, Bartleby's former employer, confesses not to know what made Bartleby such an unusual employee. He admits that his conclusions about Bartleby are guesses about what caused his employee to decide to "prefer not to" do any work.
At the end of the tale, the lawyer narrator says that if his story has aroused the reader's interest

to awaken curiosity as to who Bartleby was, and what manner of life he led prior to the present narrator’s making his acquaintance, I can only reply, that in such curiosity I fully share, but am wholly unable to gratify it.

However, the narrator does go on to relate a tale he had heard of Bartleby formerly working for the Dead Letter office in Washington D.C. He imagines that dealing constantly with letters that never arrived where they were supposed to go depressed Bartleby. The lawyer writes:

Dead letters! does it not sound like dead men? Conceive a man by nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessness, can any business seem more fitted to heighten it than that of continually handling these dead letters, and assorting them for the flames?

While we don't know if this story is true, and while we know the narrator is biased in Bartleby's favor, we tend to sympathize with him because of his kindness to his employee and his generous heart. However, it is possible to imagine a narrator who would write a very different and much more critical story about Bartleby.

What does Sodapop like to do?

Sodapop enjoys his job at the gas station, which is where he's been working since he dropped out of high school. However, his younger brother, Ponyboy, is none too pleased about this decision. For Pony, dropping out of school is a source of shame for the family. He associates dropouts with dumb-looking hoodlums wandering the streets and breaking lights. (This is somewhat ironic when you consider that it's Ponyboy, not Sodapop, who's always getting into trouble.)
What's more, Ponyboy feels kind of guilty that his brother is working hard to keep the family's head above water while he's still at school and unable to help out financially.
But none of that changes the fact that Sodapop does genuinely like his job. Besides, he was getting absolutely nothing out of his education, so he didn't think there was much point staying in school.

What is genocide? How does it connect to the story of Columbus and the Arawak Indians?

Genocide is the deliberate mass killing of members of a particular ethnic group. In 1492 Columbus would begin the process of genocide on the arawak Native Americans. He began by enslaving large numbers of Arawaks and sending them back to Spain. Next, he enslaved them on the sugar plantations in the Caribbean. Conditions were so bad, Arawaks began committing suicide and killing their children rather than submit to the Spanish. However, diseases like small pox would take the greatest toll on the Arawak population. The Native American peoples had no immunity to European diseases. As a result, entire villages and cities where wiped out due to disease. Today, there are only about 10,000 Arawak descendants living throughout the Caribbean.

According to the United Nations, the definition of genocide is as follows:

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

Killing members of the group;


Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;


Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;


Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.


While the word genocide was coined after World War II to define what had been done to the Jews by the Nazi’s, the word has also been applied to other times in history when one group of people has been targeted by another based on their national, racial, ethnic, or religious characteristics.
As such, it is possible to label what happened to the Arawak People after their encounter with Columbus as a type of genocide. The Arawak were a native people in the Caribbean and South America. There are only a small number of South American Arawak left today. The Taino people that Columbus encountered when he landed on Hispaniola were a subgroup of the Arawak. In his logs, Columbus said that he believed the people would make good servants, and that they would be easy to take as slaves.
Columbus and the Spanish did attempt to enslave the Arawak, but they resisted more than he had expected. The Arawak even began to commit suicide in large numbers rather than work in Spanish mines. The ones who did go to the mines died of starvation and deprivation. Many others died of European diseases. Within thirty years, the Arawaks had virtually disappeared as a people.
There is debate as to whether the term genocide truly applies to the fate of the Arawak. While Columbus certainly intended to enslave them, he did not intend for them to die out as a people and would certainly have preferred to see them as slaves. However, the methods the Spanish used to enslave these people certainly brought about their demise.
https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/columbus1.asp

Why did the Portuguese reject Columbus’s proposed route to Cathay?

There were many reasons why the Portuguese rejected Columbus proposed route to Cathay. One was funding and time. Columbus was first planning to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to get to Cathay. However, many countries like the Portuguese believed that the trip would be too long and expensive because Columbus wanted to go further out west. Not only that, the Portuguese believe that with the long trip Columbus had proposed he would run out of food quickly.
Instead of a route to Cathay, the Portuguese wanted a route around the tip of Africa. While Christopher Columbus did end up being sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain for his voyages, the Portuguese continued their search to find the route to the tip of Africa. It wasn't until 1487 that Bartholomeu Dias would explore the southern tip of Africa, created a stable route around Africa, and call the area the Cape of Good Hope.

The primary reason that Columbus was rejected by Portugal was financial. Columbus offered to sail directly west to reach the Indies and Cathay, otherwise known as China. King John II rejected the proposal because he believed Columbus had miscalculated the distance of the trip. Portugal, now with favorable trading routes around Cape Horn, favored sailing below Africa. King John II employed astronomers that concurred with his belief that sailing directly west would be too far. They believed that the crew would run out of food and resources on the trip and that it would be too costly.
Plans such as this trip had been offered to Portugal in the past. They too had been declined. When Dias reached the Cape of Good Hope, Portugal obtained a direct trade relationship. Although Columbus reached a deal with Spain for the voyage, Portugal was technically right about the distance. Moreover, Portugal had already established a successful trading route along Africa and did not need to take the risk.

Who was Rasheed in a Thousand Splendid Suns more like in The Thorn Birds? Luke O'neill or Mary Carson?

Though Mary Carson is much like Rasheed in that she is self-serving and opportunistic, Luke O’Neill and Rasheed share qualities that reveal similar views about male–female partnerships and their roles as husbands and fathers. Both Rasheed are Luke have traditional views of marriage in that they believe that the man is the head of the household and that a woman’s job is to support her husband’s goals and cater to his needs. For both men, those needs include having a son—and both believe it is the woman’s duty to give him one.
The belief that a man should be the head of the household and that a woman should be subservient to him is a belief that many people of past times embraced, but both Rasheed and Luke O’Neill are corrupted by their relentless pursuit of goals that, in their view, require them to use the women in their life to feel whole and successful. These men value their women only for what they can give them, and both see their wives not as whole people but as extensions of themselves. Rasheed may be motivated by hurt and heartbreak, as he is obsessed with the idea of replacing the son he lost. However, because both he and Luke value women only for their ability to support them and give them male heirs, both consider their wives failures when they are unable to do so, and they treat them as if they were worthless. Both men seem to link the ability to produce sons with their manhood, and also with their wives’ womanhood. Therefore, when their wives are unable to provide them with sons, the men lash out at their wives, as if they have not only failed as women but somehow made their husbands lesser men.

What would the world be like if President McKinley was never assassinated?

McKinley's death by assassination opened the door to the presidency for Theodore Roosevelt. To begin to think about the ways this changed the office, the country, and America's role in international affairs, it seems sensible to look at what McKinley's successor brought to the fore.
Roosevelt's progressive movement included the Square Deal, which negotiated competing ideologies between labor and business. He sought to federally regulate trusts that he believed to be exploitative and harmful to the general public. On the international scene, Roosevelt sought to balance power while maintaining America's strong foreign policy stance. Building on McKinley's initiative, he welcomed the press into the White House and used it to build his own popularity, changing the way candidates campaigned and managed their presidencies. Roosevelt's influence is observable in the succeeding progressive movements of FDR, Truman, JFK, and Johnson.

How has Steinbeck used imagery to describe Crooks’ room?

Imagery is description using the five senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
We are visual culture, both in the 1930s when Steinbeck wrote and today, and Steinbeck uses primarily visual imagery to describe Crooks's room. Much of the imagery shows a contrast between Crooks's intelligence (and humanity) and how he is treated as little more than an animal because he is black.
For example, Crooks lives in a shed off the barn and sleeps in a long box of straw on which some blankets have been thrown. This shows that he is seen as little more than a beast of burden. Yet he has books in his room and owns a pair of gold-rimmed glasses to help him read. He also set up his room as a workshop, where he repairs broken animal equipment, also showing his intelligence.
Steinbeck offers a detailed description of Crooks's room. Part of it is as follows:

On one side of the little room there was a square four-paned window, and on the other, a narrow plank door leading into the barn. Crooks’ bunk was a long box filled with straw, on which his blankets were flung. On the wall by the window there were pegs on which hung broken harness in process of being mended; strips of new leather; and under the window itself a little bench for leather-working tools, curved knives and needles and balls of linen thread, and a small hand riveter. On pegs were also pieces of harness, a split collar with the horsehair stuffing sticking out, a broken hame, and a trace chain with its leather covering split. Crooks had his apple box over his bunk, and in it a range of medicine bottles, both for himself and for the horses. There were cans of saddle soap and a drippy can of tar with its paint brush sticking over the edge . . .

Why does Lev agree to go along with Risa and Connor's plans?

This question could refer to a few different places in the novel, so without a more specific location, I will try and cover a couple of the reasons why Lev agrees with plans made by Connor and Risa. The first few times that Lev agrees with the plans is to give himself some hopeful room to maneuver. Lev is a tithe, and he firmly believes that Connor took away Lev's chance to give himself to other people. Lev agrees to go along with Connor's plans at a few points because Lev believes that he can eventually figure out how to escape if Connor isn't watching him so closely. Lev will eventually betray the trust he is earning and alerts law enforcement about Connor and Risa. By the end of the novel, Lev has turned himself into a clapper, and he has changed completely. He is now quite angry at his parents for raising him to be a tithe, and he now agrees to help rescue Connor and fight against the entire unwinding process.

Why did the people hate Twala in King Soloman's Mines?

In the classic adventure novel King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard, Allen Quartermain and his expedition travel deep into Africa in search of the lost treasure of King Solomon. After traversing a desert and a range of mountains, they come into a valley called Kukuanaland.

Twala has become the king of the Kukuanas by murdering his brother, the previous king. He is hated by the people because he is a cruel man. When the travelers meet him, Quartermain reports that he has "the most repulsive countenance we had ever beheld." He has only one eye, and the other eye socket is hollow. "His whole expression was cruel and sensual to a degree." Twala immediately demonstrates his cruelty by having one of his warriors thrust through with a spear merely for accidentally dropping his shield. Later, one of the people says,

The land groans at the cruelties of Twala the king; it is weary of him and his red ways.

As an advisor, Twala keeps a very old woman named Gagool. They conduct regular witch hunts and murder without trial any opponents of King Twala. Eventually there is a rebellion in which the Englishmen assist, and Twala is overthrown and beheaded.

How did A. Philip Randolph successfully contribute to the Civil Rights Movement?

A. Philip Randolph's main contribution to the civil rights movement was his linkage of the struggle for racial equality with social and economic equality for workers. Randolph differed from many civil rights campaigners in that he strongly believed that the black working class, occupying as it did the lowest rungs of society, was the main vehicle for social change in America.
Randolph is most famous for his organization and leadership of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), the first predominantly African American labor union. Pay and conditions for porters were poor, and in his new role as President of the BSCP Randolph campaigned tirelessly for an improvement in his members' wages and working conditions. Eventually, Randolph's ceaseless efforts bore fruit when the Roosevelt Administration amended the Railway Labor Act of 1934 to ensure that porters were finally granted employment rights under federal labor law. Over the course of the following years, BSCP membership soared as railway porters saw their wages and conditions improve considerably.
During World War II, Randolph used his position as a prominent labor leader to campaign against discrimination towards African Americans in the military, defense industries, and labor unions themselves. Once again, Randolph's campaigning and lobbying paid off as FDR issued Executive Order 8802, banning discrimination in defense industries. Randolph was also instrumental in President Truman's abolition of segregation in the United States armed forces in 1948.
During the heyday of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, Randolph was once again at the forefront of events. He was involved in the famous March on Washington in 1963, and he joined with Martin Luther King in organizing peaceful protests against segregation and discrimination in the South. Randolph's lifelong contribution to the cause of civil rights was acknowledged by President Johnson when Randolph was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, the same year that the Civil Rights Act was finally passed.

What is the relationship of a man and land as depicted in the story “How Much Land Does a Man Need?”

"How much Land does a Man Need" is a story about land-greed. From this perspective, it is not the land itself which is the problem, rather it is the rapacious greed to acquire more of it (essentially, the acquisition of wealth for its own sake), that the story condemns.
Indeed, note that the story is explicitly Christian in its set-up. In its first chapter, Pahom declares that his unhappiness is caused by his not owning enough land, and that, if he were to only own enough land, he would fear nothing, not even the Devil. The Devil hears his claim, and decides to test him on this. By granting Pahom's wish, the Devil expects to bring Pahom under his power.
This is a story about corruption, and as Pahom acquires more land, his hunger for still more land increases. He makes enemies of his neighbors, and all the while continues to seek out better prospects, always wanting more, never contenting himself with what he already has. He is given over entirely to his greed (and this, rather than the land itself, is what Tolstoy condemns. It's a warning against unrestrained excess). When we come to the story's ending, when he accepts the terms offered by the Bashkirs, that same greed will lead to his destruction.

Could The Metamorphosis be considered a parable?

A parable is a relatively short fictional story that is used to illustrate a moral point or teach a lesson of some sort. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka could certainly be considered a parable. Parables are short; The Metamorphosis is a relatively short novella that has 3 sections.
Parables are almost always fictional; Kafka's story of the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, waking up one morning to find that he has transformed into an insect is definitely not true and, therefore, fictional.
The main characteristic of a parable, however, is that it teaches a lesson or illustrates a moral. Based on the text of the story, there are many lessons that can be taken from The Metamorphosis. One example of a lesson or theme that can be taken from the whole of The Metamorphosis is the following: be good to others but take care of yourself. Until his transformation into an insect, we are told, Gregor had always worked hard to take care of his family and to please his employer. While his sister and parents did not work, Gregor struggled to work hard so that he could pay all the household bills and repay his parents' debts. He never took the time to do what he enjoyed or to take care of himself. Gregor expresses regret throughout the story for not having taken better care of himself. This fact was boldly illustrated by the fact that he ended up turning into a bug; after this transformation, his family did not take good care of him and he ended up dying.
If Gregor had not allowed his family and employers to figuratively walk all over him, as people do to bugs, and had cared better for himself, he would not have died as a lowly insect. Even if Gregor had not made the transformation into an insect, the importance of people assertively caring for themselves and doing what they enjoy is emphasized throughout the story. Because it meets all the characteristics described, The Metamorphosis can be considered a parable.
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/parable

Why is Egypt known as the Gift of Nile?

Egypt has been known as "The Gift of the Nile" ever since the time of the Ancient Greeks. It is the first known civilization and would have been studied as such by the Ancient Greeks. The phrase "The Gift of the Nile" was coined by the Greek historian Herodotus. What he meant by this is that the Nile River is so important that it basically allowed for the creation of civilization in Egypt. To this day, the river is an important source of water, life, and transportation, and in ancient times, it was even more essential. If not for the resources that the Nile provides, the land would be comprised of little more than the Sahara desert. Without the Nile River Valley, there would not be enough water to support an emerging civilization, and Egypt would not have become the powerful country that it was and remains.

What is the significance of the Baby Buffalo in the short story "How To Tell a True War Story" by Tim O'Brien?

O'Brien, the author, states that a true war story will contain obscenity and evil. The treatment of the baby buffalo represents a combination of both. The baby buffalo is found in the mountains after Curt Lemon died from stepping on landmine while he was playing catch with Rat Kiley. The baby buffalo is then tortured by Kiley, as he shoots away pieces of the animal. Kiley has just experienced the great loss of his best friend and is completely distraught. Unable to deal with his friends sudden death, he reverts to an obscene and evil mistreatment of a living creature. The baby buffalo could represent a form of purity or innocence that is (literally) taken away piece by piece. The young men in the story have their innocence stripped from them.
O'Brien's writing also critiques the meaning of truth. He criticizes overly romanticized war stories. His brutal depiction of the slaughter of the baby buffalo is meant to make the reader sick to their stomach. O'Brien does his best to replicate the atrocity of war. However, he poignantly brings to light the ways in which a reader who has never been to war will never know war. As such, he questions what it means to write a true war story. At the end of the story, O'Brien alludes to the possibility that the baby buffalo never existed. It is possible that the baby buffalo was metaphorical. But it is more likely that the baby buffalo represented the most truthful version of war O'Brien could convey to his readerm regardless of whether or not it actually existed.

What is the background and publication information for "I Think Continually of Those Who Were Truly Great"?

Stephen Spender (1909 – 1995) was an English poet, essayist, translator, and literary critic, who traveled widely, living in the United States and Europe as well as Britain. He was a member of Auden's circle and was acquainted with and wrote about many of the leading figures of his period. “The Truly Great”, which is the actual title of this work, was published in Spender's Collected Poems 1928-1953 in 1955.

How does Scout show mental courage and psychological strength?

One example of Scout's mental strength can be found in Chapter 9, when she demonstrates considerable self-discipline to pull out of a fight with Cecil Jacobs. Cecil is insulting Atticus and calling him a "disgrace," and usually this would be more than enough provocation for Scout to start fighting with him. But Scout remembers a promise she made to Atticus not to fight and accordingly walks away from the fight. When she walks away she hears "Scout's a cow-ward! ringin in (her) ears," but she still manages to maintain her self-discipline, reasoning that "If I fought Cecil I would be letting Atticus down." Given that Scout's temperament is usually quite emotional and spirited and given how much she must hate hearing her father called a "disgrace," the self-discipline she demonstrates here is really very impressive. As she herself says, "It was the first time I ever walked away from a fight."
Another example of Scout's courage, physical and mental, can be found in Chapter 15. Atticus is at the jailhouse, guarding Tom Robinson against the angry lynch mob that has assembled outside. The mob is menacing, and threatening, and one of the men grabs Jem "roughly by the collar" to move him out of his way. Scout, seeing her brother treated like this, kicks the man above the shin, sending him reeling back "in real pain." She declares, defiantly, "Ain't nobody gonna do Jem that way." Scout's loyalty to and love for her brother gives her the courage in this moment to stand up to a rather sinister bully.

What is Rutherford B. Hayes's legacy as a president of the United States?

Rutherford B. Hayes is known as the president who ended Reconstruction (1865–1877) in the United States. Reconstruction was a difficult and contentious era in American history. It involved the re-entry of the Southern states to the Union and the release of slaves following the Civil War.
The dubious presidential election of 1876 led directly to the end of Reconstruction. The Democratic candidate, Samuel Tilden, won the popular vote, but the Electoral College returns from several Southern states were in doubt. Congress had to create a special commission to decide the election. Hayes's aides promised to withdraw Northern troops from the South and end Reconstruction in exchange for the disputed Electoral College votes. The circumstances surrounding Hayes's "victory" in the 1876 presidential election tainted his legacy forever.

What problems of monastic life does the Friar speak of in "Fra Lippo Lippi" by Robert Browning?

The speaker in the poem is not a friar but a monk named Lippo Lippi—the "fra" in his name means "Brother," which is what a monk would be called.
Fra Lippo Lippi is caught outside the monastery walls by some guards. He has been drinking, which lowers his inhibitions, and he tells the guards about his life, including many complaints about the monastery. We learn it was poverty rather than vocation that called him to be a monk. He complains that he has to sneak around and climb out his window at night to have fun and that his superiors try to suppress his enjoyment of life's pleasures. He is a painter too and complains that his superiors don't like his realistic art, such as including the faces of real people they know in paintings to hang in church. They tell him:

Make them [church-goers] forget there's such a thing as flesh.
Your business is to paint the souls of men—

They want idealized images, just as they want Lippo Lippi to lead a pure, idealized life—and to Lippi, that isn't the way life or art are meant to be.

What are 4 examples of foreshadowing in "A Sound of Thunder"?

Foreshadowing occurs in a story when an author hints or suggests what might happen later in the story. Four examples of foreshadowing in Bradbury's "A Sound of Thunder" are as follows:
First, the official behind the desk at the Time Safari tells Eckels that "'We guarantee nothing,'" foreshadowing or hinting that events might go very, very wrong.
Second, when Eckels accuses the official behind the desk of trying to scare him about time travel, the man says:

"We don't want anyone going who'll panic at the first shot."

This foreshadows Eckels' panic on the safari.
Third, when characters in a short story stop to have a conversation about the wrong man luckily not being elected president, this hints or foreshadows that circumstances might change in an ominous way due to the trip to the past. We are set up for a return in which Deutscher is the president.
Finally, Travis's repeated warnings to "'Stay on the Path. Never step off!'" foreshadow exactly what will go wrong when Eckels panics.
In this first part of the story, Bradbury creates suspense and unease by emphasizing how careful one must be while time-traveling so as not to change the course of history, leading us to worry that history will be changed in a terrible way on this safari.

What is the point of this quote in Between Shades of Gray?: "Mrs. Arvydas turned her head to me. Her eye make-up ran down over a bloody welt that blazed across her cheek."

I think what this quotation does is highlight something about Mrs. Arvydas's predicament in the forced labor camp. Mrs. Arvydas is a very attractive woman who's been sleeping with officers of the NKVD—the Stalinist secret police—to save herself and her son, Andrius. Although this keeps her and Andrius alive, it does little for her dignity and self-respect.
The NKVD officers who sexually exploit Mrs. Arvydas clearly have no respect for her, and even though they spare her the ultimate fate, they're not averse to beating her, which would explain the bloody welt across her cheek. It's obvious that these men have no respect for Mrs. Arvydas, treating her as little better than a prostitute. And yet she has no choice but to degrade herself like this each and every day if she and her son are to survive the horrors of a Siberian labor camp.

What is the Monkey King's internal conflict?

The Monkey King's primary struggle is accepting his position as a monkey. While he is described as a deity from the start of American Born Chinese, the gods of heaven refuse to let him enter a dinner party and mock him. This leads him on a quest to gain more power and recognition. With each step, we see him casting aside parts of his monkey nature that caused no problems and, in some cases, were a source of joy when he was simply living with other monkeys. For example, we see him start wearing shoes (and forcing other monkeys to do the same), being concerned with how monkeys smell, and eventually learning to shape-shift so that his form is less monkey-like.
Eventually, the Monkey King meets his creator, Tze-Yo-Tzuh, and is punished for rejecting his nature by being trapped under a pile of rocks for hundreds of years until a humble monk convinces him to return to his original form. Here we see one of the primary themes of the book: the importance of self-acceptance even in the face of marginalization.

Where does the story of "The Cask of Amontillado" take place?

“The Cask of Amontillado” takes place in Italy in the evening during carnival time. As the narrator tells us, it happens “one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season...”. This quote also illustrates why the setting is important: the Italian “Carnival” is a time during which anything goes; people may break from the customs and traditions of society, which, of course, Montresor does.
The second place of importance is, of course, the damp catacombs. The atmosphere of the catacombs foreshadows Montresor’s murder of Fortunato. As they move further into the catacombs, Montresor remarks on the presence of niter in the catacombs, a chemical which marks the presence of decomposing matter: “The nitre!...it increases. It hands like moss upon the vaults...The drops of moisture trickle among the bones.” The presence of niter, in addition to actual human remains they find in the catacombs (“We had passed through walls of piled bones...”), create a very macabre atmosphere. To add to the horror of the atmosphere, when Montresor buries Fortunato, he sits on a pile of bones he has moved about in order to create room for Fortunato in the tomb: “The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with the more satisfaction, I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones.” The setting is not only in and of itself gruesome, but also highlights Montresor’s sinister nature.

What does the speaker need when he is at sea in "Sea Fever"?

"Sea Fever" is a poem by John Masefield. Throughout the poem, the speaker lists the things for which he "asks" when he is at sea. These things are basic at first—a tall ship and a star by which to navigate—but become increasingly descriptive as the poem goes on. As we trace what the speaker asks for, we ourselves fall under Masefield's spell as we, too, experience the wanderlust that makes the speaker feel that he "must go down to the seas again."
Here is the first stanza, in which I have bolded what the speaker "needs":

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

The ocean is personified in this stanza: she has a face. Thus, the speaker reminds us that the sea is not an inanimate thing but can interact with us. Note too the use of alliteration in this stanza: the repeated "s" sounds in the second and third lines and the "w" sounds in the third line create that sweeping sound that we often associate with the ocean and the rolling waves.
Now to the second stanza. Again, I have bolded what the speaker "needs":

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

In this stanza, all five senses are conjured: we hear the seagulls, we see the white clouds, we smell and taste the saltiness of the flung spray, and we feel the wind. No longer are we merely reading the poem; we are on a ship on the high seas, feeling every sensation that this speaker longs to feel.
Here's the last stanza:

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Here we see mention of another person, a "fellow rover," who tells an enjoyable story to the speaker. The speaker does not romanticize the ocean, however. The he describes the wind like a "whetted knife" suggests that there is discomfort and even pain in the sailor's life.
That last line is where Masefield wants us to really think about what the speaker is asking for. The quiet sleep and sweet dream could of course be read literally: a night's sleep with pleasant dreams after a "trick," which in sailing lingo means a watch (a shift of four hours watching, eight hours resting). However, because this is the last line of a poem, we are invited to think more metaphorically. It could be that the "long trick" means a life and the "quiet sleep" refers to death. So, after a life of adventuring and exploring and experiencing, this speaker will be content with a peaceful death.
In essence, the speaker needs to live a vibrant and exciting life at sea and to live it fully in order to be content when his life comes to a close.

Both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson had a specific vision for the future of this country by 1794. Whose vision of America’s future was closer to reality by the end of the Reconstruction era in 1877?

Alexander Hamilton's vision of America was one based on industrialization, a strong central government, and a strong military. On the other hand, Thomas Jefferson believed in agrarianism, or an agricultural economy, and a smaller central government with stronger state governments.
By the end of Reconstruction in 1877, Hamilton's vision was, in some ways, closer to reality than Jefferson's. The federal government had strengthened in size and scope, and it had just led the Union's war effort and overseen the reabsorption of the Confederate states into the Union. To win the Civil War, the federal government had amassed a strong military, passed an income tax, and increased its powers. However, even after Reconstruction, the South clung to Jefferson's agrarian ideals and remained committed to agriculture and sharecropping rather than embracing the process of industrialization. Despite this, the country as a whole had moved towards a Hamiltonian vision of the economy and government.

By the end of Reconstruction in 1877, Hamilton's view of the United States had largely prevailed. The Civil War proved once and for all that federal power was above state power and that states did not have the right to secede or make laws contrary to the federal government. While the size of the army sharply dwindled by 1877, the federal army at the end of the Civil War was quite large. It was also maintained by a healthy tax base, with the United States levying an income tax for the first time.
Farming would continue to be important, but the United States was becoming more industrial in 1877 than it had been in the past. The same techniques used to feed and equip the Union army were used in the civilian sector, thus making the United States a commercial rival to economic powers in Europe. American cities teemed with new immigrants looking for work in these factories. Tariffs protected many American industries, and during Reconstruction and the period immediately after, the tariff would be the major economic issue of the day.
The American dream in 1877 was to own farmland, and many took advantage of the Homestead Act; however, the United States's political philosophy and economic outlook definitely resembled the vision that Hamilton had for the country in 1794.

On the whole, one would have to say that Hamilton’s vision was the one that had prevailed by the end of Reconstruction. Hamilton envisaged an America with a strong, centralized federal government, whose economic prosperity was based upon commerce, trade, and industry. The years after the Civil War were a time of increased federal power as the victorious North strengthened its control over the defeated South, in order to prevent another uprising in the future. On the economic front, industrialization advanced rapidly during this period, with the ruling Republican Party establishing for the first time a reputation as the party of big business.
At the same time, however, one must also acknowledge that the Civil War and Reconstruction did not see off the Jeffersonian vision entirely. Far from it. After Republicans in Washington effectively abandoned Reconstruction—and with it the millions of African Americans who’d benefited from it—Jefferson’s vision, with its emphasis on states’ rights, gradually began to reassert itself. After Reconstruction, southern states effectively reintroduced slavery by the back door, in substance if not in form, by passing the notorious Jim Crow laws. Although federal power was now greater than it had ever been, successive administrations and Supreme Courts alike proved reluctant to interfere in the rights of southern states to pass blatantly discriminatory legislation. In that sense, one could say that it wasn’t until the federal government systematically began to dismantle the legal apparatus of segregation in the 1960s that the Jeffersonian vision of states’ rights finally died out.

Discuss in details the themes depicted in the novel The River Between.

The primary theme of The River Between, as indicated by title, is unity and division. Ngugi wa Thiong'o portrays the vast rifts within Gikuyu society and the people’s struggles to move past them. These are related to the themes of autonomy and self-determination in contrast to colonialism. In Ngugi’s novel, British colonial control is eroding the values and principles that had made the Gikuyu strong. The author presents a society in which many features of traditional culture are retained but others were replaced by Western customs and institutions. Another theme, that of tradition versus modernity, is thus presented and is closely connected to the theme of religion. The underlying political divisions are tightly connected to Christian missionization. The characters of Waiyaki (who is devoted to perpetuating traditional religion) and Joshua (who has converted to Christianity) represent these differences. Most of the themes are carried through the Romeo and Juliet-type love story between Waiyaki and Nyambura, Joseph’s daughter.

Expand the following statement and use three points to support it: The Freedom Summer helped build popular support for federal legislation to protect voting rights for African Americans.

National voting reform was implemented nationwide in 1965, when the Voting Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. The Act was intended to enforce the Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which had been added after the Civil War. However, even after the Fifteenth Amendment was passed, numerous roadblocks to voting were imposed on African Americans. These included literacy tests, very long periods of advance registration, poll taxes, limited hours and inaccessible locations of polling places, and blatant, sometimes violent voter intimidation. Prior to the Voting Rights Act, in 1964 the Twenty-fourth Amendment had been added to the Constitution; it explicitly abolished the poll tax. Although numerous states challenged the Act, it not only stood but was strengthened by further legislation enacted in the 1970s.
What became known as Freedom Summer was primarily a voter registration drive in 1964. This concentrated on the southern states where Black voter suppression was known to be a large problem. Freedom Summer was supported by numerous civil rights organizations, especially the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and the Mississippi Council of Federated Organizations (COFO). At the instigation of Robert Moses, SNCC had been conducting similar initiatives in Mississippi since 1961, but the Freedom Summer initiative was far more widespread. The project’s objectives specifically included generating and sustaining national public attention to the issues through regular media coverage. Furthermore, the activists who went from north to south worked with constituent groups to create grassroots organizations that could continue to grow so that the movement would carry on with local support after the outsiders went home.
One tragic event in Mississippi that summer drew national attention: the kidnapping and murder of three young male activists by racist opponents. Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman were missing for more than a month before their bodies were found. The national outcry following this tragedy further emphasized the need for reform.
Also during Freedom Summer, a separate initiative of the COFO was the formation of a parallel political party, the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP). This party was born because Black people had been excluded from Mississippi Democratic Party representation at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to select the 1964 presidential candidate. The MFDP's efforts to have the DNC recognize their party drew attention to the exclusion of Black delegates, which in turn discouraged black voters. The media broadcast Fanny Lou Hamer’s convention speech, which helped keep public awareness on the issue.
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/mississippi-freedom-democratic-party-mfdp

https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=100

How could the American Revolution be fought in the name of independence while also existing as a collection of slave owning colonies? How did early colonial leaders justify slavery in the midst of fighting a war to support personal liberties?

Freedom can be defined in many ways. The political sovereignty or freedom of the colonies from British control did not, as the question implies, amount to freedom from slavery for African-Americans in the colonies. Many U.S. history texts do a good job of confronting this issue. Eric Foner's Give Me Liberty: An American History deals directly and explicitly with the captivity of slaves in the context of the American Revolution.
The historical evidence suggests that the paradox was not lost on the British or on the American revolutionaries. The British brought the contradiction to light for propaganda purposes and, with the promise of freedom, many slaves chose to fight on the side of the British during the Revolutionary War. Many others fled behind British lines or emigrated to Canada. The colonial governments sought to combat this trend by passing manumission laws, which allowed slaveowners to free their slaves. As a result, some slaves fought on the side of the colonists with the expectation of improved social status or freedom.
After the colonial victory, a combination of political compromise, Southern interests, economic motive, and racism kept the institution of slavery intact.

What were the pros and cons of using Confucianism to run a country?

The great gift of Confucianism is that it brings order to running a country. Every person has a certain predetermined place in society, and everyone understands his or her role and the rules governing it.
One's place is defined by the Five Relationships: Ruler to subject, husband to wife, father to son, elder brother to younger brother, and friend to friend. Except for friend relationships, which are based on mutual respect, the subordinate partner in the relationship is expected to treat the superior with reverence, while the dominant partner's role is to protect and show kindness towards the subordinate.
There are rituals surrounding how people deal with each other, which lessens the potential for tensions and disagreements. This leads to a high degree of social harmony.
On the other hand, the emphasis on ritual, harmony, and strictly regulated relationships could result in an over-emphasis on conformity. This is in turn could lead to social stagnation. Individual talents and initiative could be thwarted by too much emphasis on fulfilling a predetermined role. Harmony is important but some would argue that a degree of creative chaos is also necessary to fuel change and growth.

What caused Roman's death in Brown Girl Dreaming?

Roman doesn't die in Brown Girl Dreaming. He does, however, get extremely ill.
Roman is the youngest child of the family; his birth meant that Jacqueline was no longer the baby. However, when he eats lead paint off the walls and has to be hospitalized, Jacqueline misses him. She suddenly doesn't mind that she's not the baby. She just wants the real baby back in the house. Her issues with Roman caused her to resent him in the past. She even pinched him after he was born.
Lead poisoning is a very serious illness and can cause issues with development. This is why Roman is gone for so long. He wants to travel with his siblings, but he has to stay at the hospital. The other kids promise to bring him toys and treats when they return. Jacqueline says he's small and his siblings don't understand why he has tubes from his arms, why he's so small, and why he sleeps so much.
He comes home from the hospital when he's four.

Why do you think the frauds did not sell Jim earlier?

I believe the Duke and King, the fraudsters who kidnap Jim, don't sell him so they can use him as bartering power. Their deceit has been found out, in part because of their weak attempt at forging an inheritance, and Doctor Robinson has found them out and tried to expose them.
They lock Jim up and presumably are planning to use him to trade for a ransom of some sort to ensure their financial independence and escape. If they sell him, they will get a sum of money which will of course benefit them, but since they are in a precarious position, trying to con everyone, they probably think it would be wise to keep him hostage in case their plan sours so they can use him to secure their freedom in addition to a sum of money.

According to Edwards, what do healthy, strong members of the town foolishly believe, and why do they believe it?

The healthy strong members of the town foolishly believe that they are kept out of hell by

the good State of your bodily Constitution, your Care of your own Life, and the Means you use for your own Preservation.

They believe this because they don't fully grasp the bigger picture that there is more to life than what they see with the evidence of their own senses. A spiritual world sustains them that exists above and beneath and around the physical world. They are fools if they put their faith in their well-being solely in the material.
Edwards reminds them they are alive through the will of God, not their own efforts. If God withdrew his protection, all their good health and care of their lives would mean nothing. It would no more support them than a spider's web would, or the air would, if they were suspended in midair. Edwards states that humans are weighed down with sin and, if it were not for God's grace and providence, would quickly plunge into hell. Therefore, it is more important to attend to spiritual and religious matters, especially one's relationship with Christ, than to physical well being.

Which Bundren's narrative is the most crucial one in the novel?

This is a tough question because each narrator's contribution is essential to the themes and style of the novel as a whole. Let's consider the few most likely options, though.
Darl Bundren is considered by many to be the central voice of the novel. He narrates more chapters than anyone else and seems to have extrasensory powers. For example, he narrates Addie's death scene even though he and Jewel are away from home. Darl has a more traditional narrative voice since he sounds more intellectual and poetic, whereas the other family members sound like poor country folks with little education. Darl is, for some time, a sort of "voice of reason," and even his act of burning the barn to end the travesty of the journey to Jefferson can be understood by the reader. However, the family commits Darl to a mental hospital since they cannot afford to replace the property Darl destroyed. Darl then seems to have a psychotic break. His character ends up severely damaged by the events of the book.
After Darl is committed, Cash Bundren becomes the voice of reason and the mouthpiece of the idea that sanity and insanity are merely concepts determined by society, not absolutes. Cash is a strong, silent type, and the family relies on his work for their livelihood; this is why they must save his tools when they try to cross the river and things go so terribly wrong. Early in the novel, Cash is only focused on building his mother's coffin, so his chapters are very mechanical; later, he becomes more philosophical, though in a humble way.
Finally, Addie Bundred's chapter must be mentioned. It is the centerpiece (literally) of the novel and provides perspective on the other characters and her relationship with them. Her hatred for most of her family adds a layer of irony and also highlights how selfish each character is in this quest for Jefferson. Also, her comments on language and its inadequacies crystallize an important theme about how useless verbal communication really can be.
Of course, Anse, Dewey Dell, and Vardman also contribute to the novel, and the book would be different without their unique perspectives. In terms of heavy narrative lifting, Darl may be the most significant, but Addie may be even more important in terms of developing Faulkner's central themes.

How does Harper Lee in to kill a mockingbird uses "negro" idiolect? (its for a university essay)

In her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee employed multiple styles of dialect. One could argue that each was chosen to reflect the educational level and cultural background of the character in question. Whites and blacks alike seem to be depicted as having speech patterns consistent with their socioeconomic status.
Lee’s young, precocious narrator, Scout, uses language common to the time, place, level of education, and maturity of this character. The Ewells, the epitome of poor "trash" in Maycomb County, are uneducated, and their speech reflects this. Jem, Scout’s older brother, speaks in the dialect characteristic of the home and town in which he is growing up (“Tom’s jury sho‘ made up its mind in a hurry,” Jem muttered). This is also the case with the African American community in Lee’s fictional town. Reverend Sykes, an educated man of the Bible, speaks articulately. In contrast, Lula, the African American woman who takes exception to the Finch children's presence at a black church, exhibits speech characteristics similar to other characters of a comparable educational level and socioeconomic status (“You ain’t got no business bringin' white chillun here —they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?”).
The dialect of other African American characters (most prominently Tom Robinson, but also Zeebo, the kind garbage collector who comes to the Finch children’s aid in the face of Lula’s hostility) appears to be tied to their respective education levels rather than their skin color. (Though it is worth nothing that Zeebo and Tom are both desperately poor and have certainly been denied the educational opportunities offered to white children.) Ultimately, each character’s speech helps us contextualize them within the story—their dialect is reflective of many things, including their socioeconomic status and the region in which they live.

What gift does Mrs. Whatsit give Meg for her journey back to Camazotz in A Wrinkle In Time? What is Mrs. Which’s gift?

Mrs. Whatsit gives Meg her love. Mrs. Which gives her information.
Meg is terrified to go back to Camazotz to try to save Charles Wallace. She knows that IT is a powerful force and doesn't believe that she has the power to fight it. However, she also knows she's the only person who might be able to save her brother.
Mrs. Whatsit says her gift to Meg is her love. She says, "My love always." She tells her never to forget.
Mrs. Which's gift is information. She tells Meg that she has a power that IT does not. The thing she has is her only weapon, and she has to find it for herself.
Ultimately, Meg realizes that the thing she has is love. She uses love to save Charles Wallace from IT. Love is the thing that IT does not have.

Between 1840 and 1860, what were the differences in the economies of the North and South? How did slavery relate to the southern economy? What were the consequences of the peculiar institution on the South? At the outset of the Civil War, how were these economic differences discernible?

In 1800, the economy of the entire United States was agricultural. In 1860, the South's economy was still agricultural, but the North's economy was diversified. The South's economy relied heavily on slave labor, and the issue of slavery caused the Civil War (1861–1865).
In the decades before the Civil War, the North's economy developed rapidly. By 1860, the North had about 90 percent of the manufacturing industries in the country. When war came, the North was able to produce weapons far more easily than the South could. Only about 40 percent of Northerners worked on farms, and these farms were more mechanized than those in the South. The urbanized North had a much larger population than the rural South.
In 1860, the South possessed great wealth. But that wealth was derived almost solely from its slave economy and its product: cotton. The South had less than 30 percent of the nation's railroad tracks and only about 10 percent of the nation's banks.
As the war dragged on, the North's economy gained strength. The South's economy could not withstand the strains of modern war. Moreover, large areas of the South were overrun by Union troops, and that made it even more difficult for the South's wartime economy.

There were significant differences between the northern and southern economies between 1840 and 1860, and slavery played a role in shaping these differences. Because of a good climate, longer growing season, and the availability of very fertile land, the South had developed as a region with agriculture as its main industry. The availability of slaves intensified the development of farming as the main industry in the South. This allowed large southern plantation owners to obtain and maintain a labor force while keeping these costs under control.
In the North, many industries developed. Because of the availability of many natural resources, along with poor soil and a shorter growing season, many northerners turned to industrial pursuits to make a living. While some farming was done, it was far less than what was occurring in the South. As a result, few slaves were needed. Shipbuilding, fishing, and manufacturing were some of the main jobs in the North.
The institution of slavery hurt the South in many ways. A system of racial superiority developed in the South. African Americans weren’t viewed equally by white southerners, whether the African Americans were free or were serving as slaves. The southern economy was not very diversified because so many resources went into farming and owning land. This became an issue when the Civil War started.
As a result, by the time the Civil War began, the North had more miles of train track and a higher production of industrial products. This gave the North a decided advantage over the South. It was easier for the North to manufacture products for the war and to transport war materials by train. The North also had more ships that could help transport products and that could be used by the navy. The North had more raw materials that aided them in making products for the war effort. As more and more states in the North outlawed slavery, the North had more people that could serve in the military. The North had a larger population than the South, and the South’s general unwillingness to use slaves as soldiers made it more difficult for the South to get soldiers that could fight. When the Civil War began, the South had a significant military disadvantage.

Why is Kate the most important character in the play She Stoops to Conquer?

If for no other reason, Kate Hardcastle in Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer is the most important character in the play because she is the titular "She" (who "stoops to conquer").
A young Mr. Marlow has been invited to the Hardcastle home by Mr. Hardcastle, who has chosen Mr. Marlow to be Kate's husband.
When Marlow first meets Kate in act 2, she is fashionably dressed and obviously a woman of class and means. Left on his own with Kate, Marlow is unable to talk with her. His shyness with well-bred women overcomes him, and he stutters and stammers and can barely put a sentence together in conversation with her. He sees a chance to escape her company and simply leaves her standing alone.
She remarks on their meeting:

Was there ever such a sober, sentimental interview? I'm certain he scarce looked in my face the whole time. . . . He has good sense, but then so buried in his fears, that it fatigues one more than ignorance. If I could teach him a little confidence, it would be doing somebody that I know of a piece of service.

In act 3, Kate and Marlow meet again, but this time, Kate is dressed plainly, and Marlow mistakes her for a barmaid he once knew. Kate realizes that Marlow has difficulty talking to real ladies but has no trouble at all talking with women of the lower classes, so she plays along, hoping to get to know him. Marlow become so at ease with her—thinking that she's the barmaid—that he makes a pass at her and tries to kiss her. While Kate struggles to get away from him, her father appears, and Marlow runs away.
In act 4, Marlow is appalled at his behavior, and he resolves to leave the barmaid alone. Kate—who is now pretending to be a poor relation of Mr. Hardcastle—is impressed that Marlow is able to show his true and good character. Eventually, Mr. Hardcastle, too, comes to realize Marlow's true character and agrees to Kate's marriage to Marlow.
Kate's ruse of "stooping" (or pretending to be a member of the lower class) allowed her to "conquer" Marlow and provide the encouragement Marlow needed to win Kate's heart.

What were Bradford's attitudes and values in his book?

In Book I Chapter 9 of History of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford details the Mayflower's journey to Cape Cod. In the chapter, he describes one "proud & very profane yonge man" who curses excessively and complains the entire time about the sick people on the boat, wishing to throw them all overboard. However in a twist of fate the man contracts a disease that quickly kills him. Ironically, he is the first to be thrown overboard as a smite from God because of his brash attitude. Bradford believes that "his curses light on his owne head."
Once they have arrived in Cape Cod, the pilgrims fear the wildlife and the people of the land. Bradford refers to the local people as "savage barbarians" who would rather "fill their sid[e]s full of arrows" than to greet them with shelter and food. Chapter 9 is a great example of Bradford's attitudes toward the native people of America: he is racist and assumes the worst of them. There is also a theme of religion that is highlighted by this chapter. Throughout the voyage, Bradford regularly refers to the "will of God" as the only deciding factor on the voyage's success, and on whether the pilgrims would live or die.
As with the rest of the text, Book I Chapter 9 outlines Bradford's value in Christianity; leaving everything up to the "will of God" and his racist and ignorant attitude toward the people native to Cape Cod.