Do you think Romeo is serious when he says that his life were better ended by their hate than death prolonged wanting of Juliet's love? Why or why not?

Romeo has been using hyperbole, or overstatement, in order to—I think—impress Juliet with the strength of his feelings for her. When she expresses her concern that her family would kill him if they found him in her garden, he assures her that there is "more peril in [her] eye / Than twenty of their swords" (2.2.76–77). By saying this, Romeo implies that Juliet could do much more harm to him than their swords can do; this is an exaggeration between Juliet could make Romeo feel really, really sad if she refuses his declarations of love, but her family can actually kill him. He tells her, "Look thou but sweet, / And I am proof against their enmity" (2.2.77–78). In other words, he says that if she looks upon with him favor, he can withstand all of their hate and violence. Again, this is an exaggeration. He says,

My life were better ended by their hateThan death prorogued, wanting of thy love. (2.2.82-83)

He means that it would be better for him to die quickly, the result of her family's hate, than for him to pine for death because Juliet does not love him. He doesn't want to live without her love. Again, he's probably exaggerating because he wouldn't actually choose death over life without the love of a girl he only just met, but he wants her to feel that he is sincere and passionate, and this is a good way to convince her.

What is a good theme and a thesis statement for "Native Aliens" by Greg Van Eekhout?

Greg Van Eekhout uses the concepts of “native” and “alien” in several contrasting ways to raise issues of identity and belonging in different contexts. He combines themes of colonialism and nationalism with a science fiction setting. The “aliens” of the title are both inhabitants of another planet, Breva, and foreigners in different countries on Earth, especially Dutch colonists of Indonesia. Similarly, “native” means those who are indigenous to a place, such as Indonesia, and those who come to consider it their home.
An effective thesis statement could correspond to any of those themes, depending on which ones the reader considers primary. The idea that national and planetary identity is primarily culturally constructed, rather than corresponding to any inborn characteristics, is one dominant theme that could provide the basis for a well-supported essay. Both the Dutch-Indonesians who consider themselves Dutch generations after no family member has even been to Holland and the Brevan-Terrans who believe themselves terrestrials centuries after evolving non-human characteristics offer examples on which to develop an essay.
https://books.google.com/books?id=bK02DwAAQBAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s

What is the conflict in "Once Upon a Time"?

There is an explicit and an implied conflict in the story "Once Upon a Time." In the story, the family is extremely wary of outsiders, particularly those of a lower class, so they build up a wall around their house. This conflict between the family and the outsiders who move into their neighborhood is the explicit conflict—they try to prevent this perceived threat from endangering their family.
However, the implied conflict is the conflict between perception and reality. Often times, our perception of a threat is more dangerous than a threat itself, which is clearly outlined in the story. The family builds up a wall with razor wire lining the top of it. Their son wants to go outside of the fence, but he gets tangled up in the razor wire and killed—not by the actions of the supposedly dangerous outsiders, but by the machinations of the family. In trying to protect themselves, they became more dangerous, because they interpreted a threat where none existed.

In Nadine Gordimer’s story about South Africa under the apartheid system, the first-person narrator provides one key conflict: that of the individual versus themselves. The constant anxiety that she experiences indicates that her troubles are internal; the sounds and the threat she worries about are more imagined than real.
Another conflict is the individual versus society. This woman and other members of her well-to-do white family believe that they are, as members of a particular class and race, superior to and subject to attacks by black South Africans. Despite their own higher status and the elements of privilege that surround them, they experience their position as threatened and insecure. Society, because it contains people different from them, is a frightening, alien entity.

One conflict you might like to consider in the story is that between the duty towards one's family and to society as a whole. The parents of this small suburban family understandably want to do what's right for themselves and their little boy. But the more they become frightened of the world outside, the more security devices they install, the higher the walls they build, the more they are cutting themselves off from the rest of society.
In due course, this will lead to tragic circumstances for the family. But before then, their actions will also have a damaging impact on innocent people such as the black servants who used to work in the white suburbs but have since been fired after falling under suspicion in the wake of a spate of burglaries in the area. The family in the story, like all their neighbors, have a duty towards these people. But because they are so scared by the neighborhood crime wave, they have effectively abandoned society and retreated into their own private world.

In "Once Upon a Time," a family is so fearful of outsiders from the underclass that they build a high wall around their house and top it with razor wire to try to feel safe. However, their wall doesn't keep them safe: their son tries to climb the wall, gets tangled in the razor wire, and is killed. The wall hurts the family instead of helping them.
The story's conflict is between the need people have for safety and security and the reality that building walls can't keep us safe. The conflict, therefore, is between the desire to embrace a simplistic, "fairy-tale" solution to the complex problem of dealing with people who are different, and the approach that might lead to real security: doing the hard work of making genuine connections that build trust and rapport between different groups of people.

What is a description of the banana plantation in One Hundred Years of Solitude?

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a classic in world literature. The text itself focuses on the Buendia family, which starts with Jose Arcadia Buendia and his cousin Ursala, who marry without their family’s blessing and eventually leave to found the city of Macando—the mystical place that their family will inhabit and run for the next 100 years.
At the beginning of the novel, the town of Macondo is sleepy and more magic than modern. It is visited by gypsies who can do magic and bring mystical objects that don’t conform to what we know about reality—these gypsies are the only insight the town gets to the outside world for many of the early years of its existence. Throughout the book, the town moves more towards reality and modernity as time moves on—the family, growing closer to modernity and depravity, slowly forgets themselves and the lessons they have passed down through the generations.
The banana plantation—an analogy for the United Fruit Company in real life—comes to Macondo after the civil war between the liberals and conservatives. The plantation is brought to Macondo by the American government and stands in for the imperialism that Colombia faced in the early 1900s. The plantation itself is presented at first as being a positive part of the city, and Jose Arcadio Segundo is the foreman of the plant. He, along with many of the other workers, eventually comes to despise the terrible working conditions. They plan to organize and strike against the company when they are invited to a meeting.
At the meeting, 3,000 people are slaughtered for attempting to strike. Jose Arcadio Segundo passes out and is one of the only people to survive. When he wakes up, the novel describes what he sees of the massacre:

There was no free space in the car except for an aisle in the middle. Several hours must have passed since the massacre because the corpses had the same temperature as plaster in autumn and the same consistency of petrified foam that it had (chapter 15).

After the massacre occurs, the bodies of the dead are piled onto a train to be disposed of in the sea like “rejected bananas.”
The massacre is then added to the list of things that people forget. Jose Arcadio Segundo, eventually the sole survivor and witness to the slaughter, returns to a Macondo that believes the official communication put out by the government—that no one died, and that the conditions at the plantation will be better. The agreement is never signed, the plantation eventually leaves, and no one remembers the 3,000 people who died—except Jose Arcadio Segundo. The knowledge and isolation caused by his witness to the events eventually lead to self-imposed exile with the goal of remembering the victims of the massacre.
The story of Jose Arcadio Segundo and the analogy drawn to the United Fruit Company’s massacre of 3,000 actual citizens in Colombia in 1928 make a clear statement about the theme of memory in the novel. Jose Arcadio Segundo is a witness and knows the truth, but the lie put out by the government and plantation owners effectively erases and rewrites history. Everyone, even his own family, believes the story of the government. The erasure of memory, forgetting the actual events that happen, shows the danger of moving too far beyond the witnesses who have lived the experiences. The modern world has no true collective memory because propaganda and misinformation take the place of truth and that which is passed on by eyewitnesses. Ultimately, the isolation and seeming madness of Jose Arcadio Segundo prove the dangers of imperialism and the ability of people in positions of power to rewrite history, taking advantage of those who have no power.

Compare and contrast the American roles in the First and Second World Wars. What problems does the United States have to overcome in the lead-up to both, and what does its role become in their aftermaths?

Woodrow Wilson was president of the United States during the First World War. His position was one of isolationism—that is, he firmly held that the United States would not get involved in what was perceived as a war between crumbling European empires. The problem with this position was that the United States believed that its geographical position—having the benefit of being bordered by two oceans—allowed it to ignore conflicts brewing in other regions. This turned out not to be true.
The contemporary view of the First World War is that it resulted from the stirring of nationalist sentiments throughout Europe. The war ignited after the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand by the Serb Gavrilo Princip. Many of the alliances that were formed during the First World War between the Allied Powers (e.g., Great Britain, France, later the United States, and Italy) and the Central Powers (e.g., Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire) would remain relatively intact during World War II.
The First World War began on July 28, 1914, but the United States did not enter the war until April 6, 1917, after the nation declared war on Germany for the sinking of the Lusitania, a Cunard ocean liner carrying American citizens that was torpedoed by a German U-boat.
By the time the United States entered the war on the side of the Allied Powers, members of the Allied Powers, particularly among the French, had seen massive losses in soldiers. Some argue that the United States' entry into the war helped to precipitate an armistice, ending the war on November 11, 1918. This view is debatable. However, Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, delivered in a speech to Congress on January 8, 1918, helped to set the terms that would end the war.
Among the key points were freedom of sea navigation, equal trade, an "adjustment of colonial claims" with consideration of the sovereignty of nations, the evacuation and freedom of Belgium and France, the autonomous development of Austria-Hungary (this led to the break-up of the former empire into separate nations), the readjustment of the frontiers of Italy, and the freedom of Romania, Montenegro, and Serbia, with the inclusion that Serbia should have access to the sea.
Another condition was that Germany, which was blamed for the First World War in the Treaty of Versailles, would pay war reparations to the Allied Powers. This resulted in severe economic depression, causing the Deutschmark to be rather worthless, as well as a loss of national pride that was restored in some sense by the rise of fascism in 1933.
Once again, the United States underestimated the danger posed by Nazism in the 1930s. Moreover, the Roosevelt administration was busy pulling the nation out of the Great Depression, the bursting of the wheat boom in the High Plains, and repairing the environmental devastation of the plains due to excessive wheat farming, a crisis that resulted in the Dust Bowl.
American entry into the Second World War was also prompted by an attack—this time on December 7, 1941 on the Hawaiian naval base Pearl Harbor. The Japanese forced America's hand, pulling it now into both the Pacific and across the Atlantic to fight, again, against the Germans.
Prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, there were isolationist sentiments within the United States, despite knowledge of the Holocaust.
In May 1939, the MS St. Louis, a German ocean liner, was carrying more than 900 Jewish refugees. The captain, Gustav Schröder, attempted to disembark in both the United States and Canada. Both countries refused the refugees entry. Joseph Kennedy, father of future president John F. Kennedy, was the American ambassador to Great Britain and sought to dissuade President Franklin Delano Roosevelt from entering the war. There were also Americans who were Nazi sympathizers, including the renowned aviator Charles Lindbergh.
After its entry into the war, the United States played a key role in freeing France from the grip of the Germans. More notoriously, it forced the end of the war in the Pacific by introducing the atom bomb, which it dropped in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This introduction of atomic warfare would prompt future panic about another attack of its kind on American soil, particularly from what was then the Soviet Union. Though the Soviet Union and the United States were allies during both the First and Second World Wars, they would become enemies after the end of the Second World War in 1945, prompting the Cold War. After the Iron Curtain dropped on the former Eastern Front, Communist Eastern Europe, dominated by Soviet power, closed itself off from the capitalist West, dominated by the United States.
Meanwhile, the League of Nations was formed by the United States and the former Allied Powers. This would lead to the creation of the United Nations. Former secretary of state and secretary of defense George C. Marshall instituted the Marshall Plan, which was a recovery plan intended to rebuild Europe. The United States's role after the Second World War was similar to that of the First World War—to help Europe form lasting alliances. However, this time, there was also assistance with recovery as well as a recognition that the United States had risen as the leader on the world stage. With both its massive military power and diplomatic acumen, the world would now look to America, for better or worse, "to keep the world safe for democracy."
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/wilson14.asp

Compare and contrast the villages of Ch'ulp'o and Puyo.

The village of Ch'ulp'o is quite different from the city of Puyo, especially from the point of view of the well-meaning but naive Tree-ear. Tree-ear, an orphan, lives under a bridge in Ch'ulp'o. The village is small but is well known for its celadon ware. This small seaside village is home to Min, the potter who takes Tree-ear under his wing. While the labor is intense, life in Ch'ulp'o is relatively peaceful compared to big cities.
One of these big cities in Puyo, a place that Tree-ear must pass through on his way to Songdo. Puyo is sprawling and bustling with traffic, which quickly overwhelms Tree-ear. While Ch'ulp'o is the starting point for Tree-ear's quest, Puyo is the turning point. Here, he is confronted by robbers who smash all of Min's exquisite vases, leaving Tree-ear with only a single shard to present in Songdo.

Why did Vladimir Nabokov give his protagonist such an unusual name?

It may have been because the author was searching for a name for his character which nobody else in the world could have.
Humbert Humbert was guilty of such terrible multiple crimes that any man who happened to share his name would be stigmatized by association. Humbert is not only guilty of statutory rape, but he is guilty of violating the Mann Act for what must be a record number of times. The Mann Act made it a federal crime to transport "any woman or girl [across state lines] for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose."
Humbert blithely takes Lolita into most of the states in the U.S., and the purpose is certainly debauchery. And finally, Humbert Humbert is guilty of murdering Clare Quilty. The original penalty for violation of the Mann Act was not more than five years in prison, so Humbert Humbert was eligible for perhaps 200 years in prison, plus numerous statutory rape convictions in all the states involved in the crazy journey, and the murder charge. Fortunately for Humbert, he dies of heart failure in prison.

Describe the animals' flag?

The animals have staged an uprising and driven Mr. Jones and his wife from the farm. The Animalist revolution has triumphed, and a new farm—Animal Farm—has established to serve the interests of the animals themselves. In the first flush of their revolutionary ardor, the animals decide that the new farm requires its own flag, a symbol of the momentous changes that have just taken place.
They find what they're looking for when Snowball discovers an old green tablecloth in the harness-room. He takes the tablecloth and paints a white hoof and a horn on it. As Snowball explains, the green represents the fields of England, while the horn and the hoof signify the future Republic of the Animal, which will be established when the hated human race is finally overthrown. The flag is run up the flagpole in the farmhouse garden every Sunday morning, a visible symbol of the revolution's success and what it stands for.

On page 17 of The Last Lecture, Randy writes, "we cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." What might this say about Randy and the type of person he is? How might you apply this motto to your own life?

The quotation shows us that, despite everything, Randy's still a very positive person. He's been diagnosed with terminal cancer and doesn't have much longer to live. That's what he means when he says he's been dealt a bad hand in life.
However, instead of feeling sorry for himself, Randy uses what little time he has left on this earth to share his profound insights on life with others so that they may make the most of the time that's left to them, however long that is. Far from seeing his terminal illness as a curse, Randy sees it in some respects as a blessing, giving him opportunities to understand life, the universe, and everything that would not otherwise have been available to him. In other words, he's taken a very bad hand and played it as well as anyone could.

What is the backdrop for the arrival of Don Pedro and his men in Much Ado About Nothing? Why is this significant to the plot of the play?

Don Pedro and his men returning from war is significant to the plot of Much Ado About Nothing for many reasons. A few other answers on here have already dealt with Don Pedro’s war against his bastard brother Don Jon, but the return from the battlefield also acts as a catalyst for the romantic action of the play.
There are key hints throughout the play that Beatrice and Benedick share a long history with one another. In the opening scene, she asks: “I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?” (1.1). Mountanto is an unexplained nickname she has for him. Later on, when Don Pedro mentions Benedick’s heart, Beatrice replies: “Indeed, my lord, he lent it me awhile, and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one. Marry, once before he won it of me with false dice” (2.1). Beatrice seems to be insinuating that Benedick declared his love to her once before, but pulled away when she requited it. The war has been an impediment on their relationship. Now that the war has ended, however, Benedick has grown up a little and is able to accept love into his life.
A more direct reference to how the war has prepared these veterans for love is stated by Claudio, in regards to his feelings for Hero:

When you went onward on this ended action,
I looked upon her with a soldier’s eye…
But now I am returned and that war thoughts
Have left their places vacant, in their rooms
Come thronging soft and delicate desires. (1.1)


Claudio is saying that he was not prepared to live a life of love while the war was ongoing, but now that it has ended, he is mentally prepared for a more comfortable, loving life. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy exploring the thin line between love and war, and Shakespeare uses the return from the battlefield as a backdrop and catalyst for these men embracing the next stages in their lives.

Before the events of the play, Don Pedro and his men had been engaged in a battle with Don Pedro's "bastard prince" brother Don John. Don Pedro is their leader, and the other men following him are his soldiers. They have been successful in their recent escapade and are coming home victorious, so the tone of the beginning of the play is quite joyful.
The backdrop of war is significant because even though Much Ado About Nothing takes place in a time of peace, the characters are not necessarily at peace with one another. Both Benedick and Beatrice are described by Hero's father Leonato as being in a "war" with one another due to their endless sparring. Neither is able to admit they are actually in love with the other, so the war there is a romantic/erotic one.
Also, Don John does not take losing lightly. He plans to avenge himself on the victors by ruining the happiness of Claudio and Hero. So once again, the battle is not yet over, even though this play is a comedy. These conflicts are perfectly set up, both dramatically and thematically, by the backdrop of a recent battle.

The opening lines of the play are "I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Aragon comes this night to Messina." The arrival of Don Pedro and his men is significant because their arrival sets into motion the rest of the events of the play.
The letter also tells Leonato that Don Pedro has honored a young man named Claudio, and the Messenger expands upon how promising Claudio is. This is important because Leonato's daughter Hero and Claudio are in love, and Don Pedro is able to help them secure Leonato's blessing.
Beatrice then asks about Signior Mountanto, which confuses the Messenger. Beatrice means Benedick, as Leonato explains, "there is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. They never meet but there's a skirmish of wit between them." Beatrice's first line is a jape, which gives us an idea of her character. It is important for us to hear that information about Benedick and Beatrice, because Benedick is about to arrive. We can expect jokes between the two of them, but we might not expect them to fall in love.
This backdrop is important because before Don Pedro and his men even arrive, the play sets up potential relationship conflicts. The audience is now eager to meet the young Claudio that is being praised. The audience is curious to see what will happen when Benedick and Beatrice cross paths in person. Finally, there is the conflict between the two brothers, Don Pedro and Don John. Don Pedro defeated Don John, but since John is arriving with Pedro, the play sets up the potential for further conflict between them.

When Much Ado about Nothing begins, Don Pedro of Aragon arrives in Messina, returning from the wars in which he and his brother have been involved. They will be the guests of Leonato. Claudio, Don Pedro's closest aide, is in love and wishes to marry Leonato's daughter Hero.
Don John, the illegitimate brother Pedro has been fighting, is a warped and bitter man. Although they are temporarily at peace, he resents his brother deeply. It is this bad blood that propels the whole plot. He decides to mess with Claudio as a way to unnerve Don Pedro. His duplicity sets the stage for the larger deceits and conflicts that threaten the young couple's happiness. Don John spreads gossip falsely accusing Don Pedro of courting Hero, which turns Claudio against his patron and causes him to doubt Hero's love—a mixup that takes a long time to straighten out.

Compare the pride and prejudice of Darcy and Wickham. (Compare and Contrast Essay)

Fitzwilliam Darcy becomes well known at Longbourn and in Meryton for his terrible pride. He believes himself, at least initially, to be superior to the individuals who live there, and he therefore feels entitled to his pride; he believes that he has a "'real superiority of mind'" and that, therefore, his pride is justified and, as he says, "'under good regulation.'" Further, his pride is on full display when he makes his first proposal of marriage to Elizabeth Bennet. He says that he fears being rejected, but Elizabeth can tell that he really expects to be accepted, despite what he says. Even though he has a great deal of pride, Darcy does not really feel much prejudice. He strongly dislikes Wickham, for example, though this dislike isn't the result of prejudice but, rather, the result of Wickham's dishonest and dishonorable past behavior. Darcy, though he could feel some prejudice against Elizabeth as a result of her family, grows to love her anyway.
Wickham, on the other hand, does not seem to have much pride or feel much prejudice. He is willing to lie to anyone and accrue debt with local tradesmen in order to keep up appearances, but he behaves so dishonorably that what seems like pride is probably more appropriately called vanity. Further, he doesn't seem to develop prejudice against individuals—he is actually quite easy to get along with and charming—and tends to win everyone over for a time (until they realize his deception).

According to Kipling, what should be one's attitude to unexpected loss?

Rudyard Kipling's famous poem "If" is essentially an instruction manual written to his son on how to become a "man." In the second stanza of the poem, the speaker encourages his son to treat "triumph and disaster" the same. The speaker is essentially commenting on the importance of maintaining composure and remaining stoic during victories and defeats. If one were to suddenly lose something or someone, the speaker believes that a "man" should accept the loss with dignity.
In the third stanza, the speaker comments on how a person should react to an unexpected loss by simply accepting the loss and starting their specific endeavor from the beginning without ever speaking about the aforementioned loss. The speaker is a proponent of fortitude, persistence, and hard work. According to the speaker, a "man" will learn from his losses and not dwell on his failures. Instead of quitting, a person should accept their loss and start their project from the beginning with a new, fresh outlook. The speaker also encourages his son to not speak about his loss or failures. Instead, he encourages the boy to maintain a positive attitude and restart from the beginning without commenting on his past failures.

Rudyard Kipling's "If" is a famous advisory poem addressed to a nameless young man. It contains many pearls of wisdom intended to help this young man realize his true potential as a strong and morally upright gentleman. One of the speaker's suggestions concerns loss and how to cope with loss. According to the speaker, if one should happen to lose in life—particularly once having risked a lot—the best attitude to take is simply to begin again from the start, without ever stopping to "breathe a word" to others about what has happened. In other words, the speaker is telling the subject of the poem that he should keep his losses to himself, rather than complaining about them to others. He should be willing to risk great things, but should not then be devastated or disheartened if the risk does not pay off. Instead, he should recognize that one loss is not the end of all things, and should simply go back to the start and build his winnings up again quietly and stoically.

What is the most prominent role of race in the story “Yellow Woman”? What effect does it have on the story’s development? Include two specific examples from the story to support your assertions.

Race—or rather, racial identity—is a common theme throughout Leslie Marmon Silko's "Yellow Woman." In order to answer your question, we must look deeper into the unnamed narrator's struggle with her identity as a Pueblo Native American. Through her affair with a Navajo man named Silva, she contemplates her existence as a mortal and her connection to one of her grandfather's stories. As she travels further away from her home and family, she appears increasingly willing to accept the possibility that she is, in fact, the Yellow Woman.
In a way, the narrator's confusion over her identity actually serves to strengthen her connection with her Pueblo heritage. Though she uses the story of the Yellow Woman to justify her affair with Silva, the narrator frequently reflects upon the similarities between her own life and that of the mythic figure:

I was wondering if Yellow Woman had known who she was—if she knew that she would become part of the stories. Maybe she'd had another name that her husband and relatives called her so that only the ka'tsina from the north and the storytellers would know her as Yellow Woman.

This quote is mirrored in the narrator's understanding that she, too, has a name "that her husband and relatives called her." She is also aware of the fact that she does not live a mythical existence:

I will see someone, eventually I will see someone, and then I will be certain that he is only a man—some man from nearby—and I will be sure that I am not Yellow Woman. Because she is from out of time past and I live now and I've been to school and there are highways and pickup trucks that Yellow Woman never saw.

The main thing to look at here is the fact that the narrator inadvertently calls into question the way mythical stories are created. When taking both quotes into account, you can see that she is not simply assuming the role of a mythic figure. She knows that eventually, she "will be sure that [she is] not Yellow Woman," but at the same time, she speculates on the possibility that the myth comes from a real-life encounter. In doing so, not only does she strengthen her connection to her identity as a Pueblo, she also gives plausibility to the Native American form of storytelling.
In addition to the above, there are a few other routes you can take when looking at how race affects the story. For instance, you can discuss how Leslie Marmon Silko describes the four different "racial identities" (Pueblo, Navajo, Texan, and Mexican). You can also compare and contrast the narrator (Pueblo) and Silva (Navajo)—specifically, how and where they live.

What is an explanation of Phoebe Palmer's belief in entire consecration, assurance, and service?

It sounds to me as though you need to discuss Palmer's famous "three step" approach to sanctification, a key aspect of Methodism. Palmer referred to these steps as entire consecration, faith (assurance), and testimony (service).
Phoebe Palmer was a Methodist evangelist who lived in the 1800s. She is well-known for participating in the "Holiness" movement and her doctrine of Christian perfection, achieved in three steps. She began to develop this theology after losing her children. When she cried out in prayer to God, she felt the harsh yet comforting reply that God called them home because she was focusing too much on her beloved children and not enough on service to God. Thus, when she learned to consecrate her entire self to God, her outlook improved. It was at this time she felt she achieved her sanctification, or "second blessing," and took to the pulpit to share this good news with others. To Palmer, the entire consecration she preached was a simplified version of Methodism founder John Wesley's doctrine of sanctification, or achievement of Christian holiness. Methodism espouses the idea that Christian holiness (also referred to as perfection or sanctification) is not the end goal of a Christian's life (other denominations posited that full sanctification was only achieved in heaven) but rather the start of one's faith journey. Initial sanctification was achieved at the moment of salvation, with a second sanctification (second blessing, Christian perfection, etc.) following. What Palmer did was bring a simplified version of this to the people.
This entire concept of a life free from sin was termed by Wesley as "entire sanctification." For Palmer, Christian perfection could be achieved through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, one could find assurance of sanctification by reading the text of the Bible. For Palmer, that alone was sufficient for assurance, or what some might call faith. A life of entire service acted as one's testimony of sanctification. She believed that when God supposedly took her children, it was her initiation into entire service/testimony.
So, to sum it up, Palmer further developed Wesley's doctrine of Christian perfection, boiling it down to three steps: entire consecration, faith (or assurance), and service. Instant second sanctification could come when one was entirely devoted to God, assured of their salvation and sanctification through reading the Bible and entire service to God.
It is worth noting that many Christians, such as Lutherans, reject this second blessing concept, as they believe it goes against the concept of salvation or perfection by faith alone set out by Martin Luther. Wesley, Palmer, and other Methodists, assert these Christians, put too much emphasis on works as contributing to Christian perfection.
http://are.as.wvu.edu/phebe.htm

https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/holiness-fire-starter/

What are the themes of The Merchant of Venice?

The primary theme of The Merchant of Venice is the relationship between compassion and justice. This theme is best demonstrated by “the quality of mercy” speech that Portia gives while disguised as an attorney. On the other side is Shylock’s behavior as he attempts to exact payment by the latter not the spirit of a contract. Shylock also invokes the need for empathy and compassion as he asks in his monologue, “If you prick us do we not bleed?”Another important theme is the duty of a child to their parent: Portia follows her father’s rules for choosing a husband, although she does not believe they are the best method, and by doing so ends up with the correct partner. The alternate attitude is that of Jessica, who defies her father and not only elopes with Lorenzo but also steals from her father and changes her religion. Shylock is forced to exercise compassion and mercy in dealing with her and her husband. The general question of value is also important. The character of Shylock stands out for his excessive love of money—an often-critiqued stereotypical presentation of the association between Jews and usury. The method of the suitors’ choosing among the caskets also bears out this theme; because people are commonly “deceived with ornament,” the correct choice is lead, not the obvious ones of gold and silver.

What were the effects of mercantilism during colonial times?

Mercantilism was the economic theory, dominant in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, that a nation's power was based upon the amount of wealth it could accumulate. This principle led European nations to seek favorable balances of trade with other nations, which in turn led them to enact tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing and to crowd out foreign imports. It also led Europeans to seek colonies, which would be captive markets and sources of raw material. In terms of the effects on the colonies themselves, mercantilism had two major consequences. The first was that England in particular (and this question seems to be referring to the English colonies) enacted laws that tightly regulated trade with the colonies. Known as the Navigation Acts, they were passed in the seventeenth century, largely to cut off Dutch competition. These laws were seldom well-enforced, but they provided a basis for the relationship between colonies and metropole that continued until the American Revolution. The second consequence was that many of the colonies developed cash crop economies in response to market demands in Europe. The most significant of these were the sugar islands in the Caribbean, Barbados in particular, and the tobacco-rich Chesapeake. Of course, this led to the implementation of slavery in these regions, and the expansion of the Atlantic slave trade in the eighteenth century.

In the poem "My Grandmother's House," how does Kamala Das reveal the intensity of her grief over her past life?

The speaker in the poem (who is not necessarily the poet) is reflecting on the home where she used to live. The speaker refers to herself both in the first person—“where once I received love” and in the third person—“that woman died.” The content, along with the shift of person, emphasizes the distance in time and a change in identity.
The speaker uses a number of images to show that the house is abandoned and to exaggerate that sense of distance, such as “snakes moved among books,” “blind eyes of windows,” and “an armful of darkness.” One notable simile compares that darkness to an animal; it would “lie/ Behind my bedroom door like a brooding/ Dog.” The speaker finally switches again, to second-person direct address, calling the other person “darling.” By adding a question as well—“you cannot believe, Darling, can you . . . ?” she also implies that the idea of that loving home might be more fantasy than memory.
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-grandmother-s-house/

Why does Robert Browning so often choose painters as the speakers for his monologues? Why not choose poets?

In poems such as "Andrea del Sarto," Browning wants to explore the dilemma shared by many artists: should one try to achieve high art or remain content with commercial success? The subject of this particular poem reluctantly opts for the latter, largely to satisfy the demands of his worldly and materialistic wife, Lucrezia.
Browning uses artists, as opposed to poets, to explore this dilemma for the simple reason that the choice between high art and commerce was never really an issue for the Renaissance poet. At that time, poetry as an art form was restricted to a wealthy, educated elite. Only a minority of people could actually read, and so a poet knew that his audience would always be very small, whether he liked it or not. Paintings, on the other hand, could be seen by a much wider audience—not least because many of them were publicly hung up in churches, where they could be observed by rich and poor, male and female, literate and illiterate alike.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43745/andrea-del-sarto

In addition to many great Romantic texts, the mid-nineteenth century saw the rise of literary criticism. What do these writers think makes a good story? How do stories such as "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Black Cat,” and "Bartleby, the Scrivener" hold up under their own criteria, and what makes literary criticism like this significant to the study of literature as an academic discipline?

Edgar Allan Poe himself was probably the most significant US literary critic of the early- to mid-nineteenth century. So your question partly involves whether in his own writings he followed his critical principles. In his review of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Twice-Told Tales, Poe speaks of "unity of effect or impression" as one of the most important features of the ideal short story. For the reader to reach a state of "exaltation of the soul" a prose narrative must be brief and create a single effect. If brevity is too extreme, the work degenerates into mere "epigrammatism," but to Poe, extreme length is an even more "unpardonable" error.
Like Hawthorne's works he is praising, the two tales by Poe to which you allude do follow these principles. If anything, however, one sometimes feels that in focusing on brevity as a virtue, Poe's stories are sometimes too brief or are not developed enough. In "The Black Cat" we learn little about the narrator beyond his own account of himself, which could be, and probably is, distorted by his psychotic mental state. However, one could say that this brevity and single-mindedness simply enhance the atmosphere of horror. Melville's "Bartleby" is quite different. The story is multi-layered and extended, but even so it follows Poe's prescriptions in giving a single effect, building up to a focused climax in the deterioration of the central character.
British literary critics at the height of the Romantic era such as Shelley, Coleridge, Hazlitt, and Charles Lamb stressed, as Poe would decades later, the need for the reader to be placed into a heightened or exalted mental state. This corresponds to the definition of "the sublime" which had been central to European literary criticism since the late eighteenth century. In his review of Hawthorne, Poe analogizes the poem with the short story as genres. Shelley's greatest poems, like Poe's tales, present a single effect that transports the reader into a meta-world beyond ordinary earthly life. This is the essence of the nineteenth-century literary aesthetic.

Sociologically speaking, social change has been defined as significant alteration over time in social patterns and cultural understandings. In that context, how do social movements (like the gay rights and the anti-globalization movements) contribute to or generate social and cultural change in our societies? How are these social movements promoting new forms of social change in the world today?

Social movements, such as the anti-globalization and LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, plus) movements, are rooted in causing cultural shifts that fundamentally shift a society and often affect a group of people's social, political, and economic reality. The anti-globalization movement was rooted in a desire to struggle against the homogenization of cultures that comes with globalization and against the extremely exploitative labor practices of transnational corporations. Globalization continues to exist and affect people across the world, often in negative ways, such as in the exploitation of indigenous peoples, extraction of their resources, deforestation, destruction of cultures, etc. However, the anti-globalization movement has still resulted in a broader discourse within society surrounding fair trade/labor, cultural appropriation, rights of indigenous people, the importance of not homogenizing human cultures, and the state of the ecosystem due to a global, industrialized economy.
Since the 1960s, The LGBTQ+ movement has struggled for social, political, and legal acceptance within a society that has been historically incredibly violent and unwelcoming towards gay, queer, and trans people. Between the 1960s and the present, Congress has been gradually decriminalizing homosexuality and passing anti-discrimination policies through state and national laws. While there is a spectrum of acceptance of LGBTQ people, such as much broader societal acceptance of cis-gender (people who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth) gay people, there is still significant social intolerance to transgender (people who do not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth) people. Still, culturally speaking, gay people are more able to access jobs, housing, and be open in public settings with a much more reduced chance of vigilante violence. This cultural shift can serve to encourage more marginalized LGBTQ+identities, such as transgender people, to be able to push for further acceptance as well.

Was America founded to be secular?

The original colonies were established for both economic and religious reasons, but in all cases, religion provided a strong rationale for colonizing. They were not founded to be secular.
The most striking examples of this were the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Pennsylvania. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded by Puritan religious dissenters from England who sought a religious freedom not available in their home country. They came to America to avoid being persecuted for not attending worship, paying tithes, or adhering to the precepts of the Church of England, the official religion of the English. Their explicit desire was to establish a city on a hill, a light to guide the world, by creating a Puritan Christian theocracy in the New World. They had their own ideas of how Christianity should be practiced and did not tolerate dissent, for example, executing Quaker Mary Dyer when she would not stop preaching Quakerism in the colony.
Pennsylvania was also started for religious reasons: Penn, a prominent Quaker, wanted a place of refuge for persecuted Quakers. However, his ideals in creating his colony were somewhat different from those of the Puritans: he believed in religious freedom and opened his colony to all sorts of persecuted religious groups, such as German anabaptists.
Three other New England colonies: Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, were founded in reaction or rebellion against the religious orthodoxy of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Even colonies not founded on explicitly religious grounds, such as Virginia, still had as an important goal the conversion of Native Americans to Christianity, and the vision of themselves as Christian states, even if they tolerated non-Christian faiths.

To what extent is the protagonist of the story "Paul's Case" responsible for the conflict or predicament he or she faces?

The more superficial answer is that Paul is entirely responsible for the predicament he finds himself in. He makes the audacious decision to steal a large amount of money from his employer and go on an upper-class spending spree, living the high life for a short time in New York City. He is then faced with the choice between arrest and imprisonment and committing suicide. He chooses suicide, a fate he brought on himself.
But looking a little deeper, we might realize that Cather also implicates the values of the society Paul lives in and has internalized. If you live in a society that values wealth and luxurious living, is not the society itself also at fault if you pick up those values and want those things that society tells you are the most important sources of self worth? Paul is willing to price the price of those false values, which is to trade his life for a few luxurious days.
Paul's problem is that he places far too much value on the shallow surface of life, such as what clothes a person wears or where they dine out. However, he didn't spring from the womb holding those values: he learned them from the larger culture. Paul's predicament is his society's predicament of placing too much importance on the external and shallowly material rather than on internal worth.

One could argue that Paul is entirely responsible for his predicament. Throughout his life, he's consistently made the wrong choices. Instead of facing up to his responsibilities, he's locked himself away in a fairy-tale world where he gets to act out his fantasies of being a rich member of elite society. Yet despite his unwavering admiration for the rich, Paul does absolutely nothing to improve his station in life. He's not prepared to knuckle down and do the hard work necessary to take him where he wants to be. Instead, he takes a shortcut by stealing from his employer. But even then, he only uses his ill-gotten gains to live out the fantasy of being a wealthy young man-about-town.
Paul has demonstrated time and time again that he's incapable of living in the real world. So it comes as no surprise when, in the story's tragic ending, he takes his own life. Ironically, this is the first—and last—time that Paul has ever taken responsibility for anything. And it's the first—and again last—time that he's been able to resolve the conflict between the real world and the fantasy world in which he's lived for so long.

What kind of a place is Kritam?

The village of Kritam, where “A Horse and Two Goats” is set, is a very small place—“probably the tiniest”—in India. This “microscopic dot” on the map has only four streets and fewer than 30 houses. The only wealthy person lives in the garishly-painted brick Big House, while the poor masses live in houses or huts made of mud, thatch, or similar materials. There is a weekly market, and on the third street, there is a shop. On the village outskirts are fields where the villagers graze their animals. Water is in short supply, and the villagers are generally dependent on the Big House inhabitants to let them use their well. The highway is a few miles away and is reached by a dirt track. Bullock-drawn carts are the mode of transportation, and the people apparently own no cars. At the village’s edge is a pedestal holding a statue of a warrior on a horse.

What does Brian's teacher always talk about in class?

In chapter 5 of Hatchet, Brian's starting to reminisce about the past. Up until now, Brian's had to deal with the many practical challenges of surviving in this hostile wilderness, and so hasn't really had much time to think straight. But now, in the wake of recovering from his illness, his thoughts turn to Mr. Perpich, his English teacher. Brian greatly respected Mr. Perpich and always enjoyed his lessons, not least because of his infectious enthusiasm.
But more than that, Mr. Perpich inspired Brian with his mantra of positive thinking. He always used to encourage his students to stay positive and motivated, to realize that they themselves were the most important asset in their lives. Mr. Perpich's powerful message is especially relevant to Brian in his current predicament. He needs to stay positive, switched-on, and focussed if he's to survive this terrible ordeal.

What was the geography of the New England colonies?

The New England colonies were notable for their lengthy coastlines and rocky terrain. Today, this geography can be viewed in the states of Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut. Along the coastline, the land was much more level. The further North, however, the rockier and more inclined the coastline became. To get a keen sense on the coastline of northern New England, you should research the state of Maine. Maine's coastline is longer than even California's.
Traveling inland, the geography of New England became more difficult. These states contain very rocky soils caused by glaciers during the Ice Age. The climate is notable for comfortable summers but brutal winters. Even today, millions of people travel to the variety of resorts along the New England coast, such as Nantucket Island, in the summer. The geography and climate obviously becomes tougher as you get closer to bordering Canada. Farming was very difficult in these colonies because of the soil and winters, which lead to the focus on manufacturing as opposed to farming.
https://mrnussbaum.com/13-colonies-regions

https://www.visitmaine.net/page/5/tour-the-coast

What impact does line 9 have on the tone of the poem?

In line 9, John Donne abruptly changes the sentence structure of the poem, marking the switch away from the imperative that predominates the first eight lines. By inserting a sentence that is primarily a list, with mostly one-syllable words, the speaker emphasizes the numerous things to which Death is a “slave”; by using only one three-syllable word, “desperate,” they draw more attention to that word. The short words and list format act to speed up the pace, which changes the tone to one of impatience and enhances the feeling of an argument rather than a conversation. The characterization of the kind of people Death associates with, “desperate men,” also contrasts markedly with the “best men” the speaker mentioned in line 7, and with the “kings” in line 9. The items in the line also set up an overall change to negative associations, with “poison, war, and sickness” following in line 8.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44107/holy-sonnets-death-be-not-proud

"Death, be not proud" is a sonnet, divided between the first eight lines (octet) and the remaining six (sestet). In traditional sonnet form, the octet presents a problem that is resolved in the sestet. The transition from the last line of the octet to the first line of the sestet is called the volta, or turn. This is a shift in the argument or the subject matter of the poem. The ninth line of a traditionally-structured sonnet is therefore pivotal; a problem has been presented and now it's time for a resolution.
In "Death, be not proud" the ninth line is as follows:

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

In this line we can see the speaker's contempt for death increase. There's a greater sense of urgency from now on, a much more vigorous, attacking tone. In the first eight lines, death has been presented in negative terms (not proud, not mighty, not dreadful, etc). But now the speaker tells death not what it isn't, but what it is, and that is a "slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men."
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44107/holy-sonnets-death-be-not-proud

What is a character analysis of Charlie Hartz in "The Man Who Jumped into the Water"?

In Laurie Colwin's "The Man Who Jumped into the Water," the reader is presented with the mystery of a suicide.
Through the narrator, Martha, we learn that other people responded to some quality in Charlie that made them want to be around him.

Charlie got the best out of what you were at the time you were it.

Because the narrator was a teenager at that time, however, and she sometimes mentions that her father saw things differently, we suspect that quality often remained hidden from adults.
Charlie also, she tells us, was fully engaged in life: he "put himself entirely into what he was doing." One of those things was diving, and the "water" of the title is the swimming pool that he had installed in his backyard, where Martha and her boyfriend, Jeremy, were hanging out the summer Charlie died. While Martha helped Charlie's daughter swim, Charlie was busy diving, often with Martha's college-age sister. He kept at the diving in a determined way. Another hobby was tinkering with a little car.
Charlie's help in easing Martha and Jeremy's romance is notable not only for her appreciation of his actions but for what it shows about his attitude toward society. The kind of advice he gave, with an apparently off-handed honesty, was the kind "that generally goes over well with adolescents." He arranged for the two of them to have the run of his home while he and his family were away.
As a surrogate parent figure, he advises Martha's sister about her love life and helps Jeremy decide to stay in college. He also encourages Martha to improve her drawing and her backstroke and encourages Jeremy in his photography.
The news of Charlie's death has no buildup. We know everything about him through Martha's filter. Her sister and mother tell her that Charlie shot himself in his car.
The explanations, or lack of them, Martha mostly overhears, such as that he left no note. She and Jeremy are left to imagine—as is the reader—all the missing pieces that would account for his action. The analysis of Charlie that we create is always viewed through Martha's lens, as the first person she ever knew who died.

Research Teiresias. (Google is okay to use for this post.) What did you learn about this popular character in Greek mythology?

There is a large variable in this question that will cause individual people to answer differently from each other. Because the question asks about what "you" learned from cursory Google searching, each person's answer is going to be different. Each person is likely to be going into the search with varying amounts of knowledge regarding this character. What you will need to list is anything that you didn't previously know about Teiresias. Additionally, I would advise you to take some caution with the Google searching. Anybody can create a website, and anybody can write what they want to write about Teiresias on a particular website; therefore, I would caution against writing down anything and everything that appears on whatever website pops up in the Google search. I recommend being picky about sources. If you can find sources that are .net, .org, .edu, and/or .gov, those are going to be higher quality sources than a random .com. Students are also often tempted to glean information from Wikipedia. Often, the information is good; however, the nature of a Wiki means that just about anybody can make contributions and changes to the page. This works well in a lot of cases, but it also doesn't guarantee accuracy in the way that a .edu source does. If you have to use a .com, then I recommend something like Britannica.com. That is at least tied to a published encyclopedia. As for what to list in your answer, I would include the fact that Teiresias is blind and some of his basic genealogy. His gender changes are also particularly interesting.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tiresias

What has the camera captured in "A Photograph"?

The camera has evidently captured the speaker's "suited and booted grandpa": his grandfather, dressed in his best. The sight of his grandfather makes him think of a heavy wooden door. He would be as difficult to push against as such a heavy door would be, figuratively at least. Apparently the speaker's grandfather was a tough nut to crack, so to speak; it was difficult to get to know him, to get him to open up (pun intended! You know: to open up emotionally or like a door opens up). Anyway, once the man does begin to share his life with another person, it is like being pulled "into an open room where history / reclines vacantly on an armchair." The speaker's grandfather has evidently been through a lot in his life, and when he eventually feels comfortable enough to share his experiences, one can learn so much about history and the world.

Why does Candide decide to leave El Dorado?

El Dorado is a place of bliss and beauty, the one rational place in the world of the story. Candide stumbles upon this magnificent city, where he essentially needn't worry about anything and has wealth, luxury, and provisions as long as he could need them. However, he is heartbroken without his love, Cunegonde, from whom he was separated at the beginning of the story.
He begs the king of El Dorado to allow him to depart so that he can go searching for the woman he loves, but the king counsels him against it. Still, Candide persists, and he is eventually permitted to leave, supplied with vast sums of money and many provisions, which are all very promptly stolen or lost, leaving him once again destitute and having a difficult time finding Cunegonde.

John Proctor is a flawed man, how does Miller increase our admiration of him as the play progresses?

John Proctor suffers from the guilt and shame regarding his affair with Abigail Williams. John Proctor struggles with his guilty conscience and his wife's refusal to forgive him for committing adultery. Despite John Proctor's obvious character flaws, Arthur Miller increases the audience's admiration for him by illustrating his regret and determination to atone for his sins. John Proctor not only rejects Abigail's advances but also challenges the corrupt court after his wife is arrested. In the third act of the play, John Proctor refuses to dismiss his deposition against the court even after Danforth promises to save Elizabeth because she is pregnant. After publicly supporting Giles Corey, John Proctor sacrifices his reputation and outstanding name in an attempt to undermine Abigail's authority by confessing that he committed adultery with her. In the final act of the play, John Proctor demonstrates his integrity and courage by tearing his confession and willingly dying a martyr in hopes that the citizens will rebel against the corrupt court. Overall, Miller illustrates John Proctor's positive, admirable character traits as the play progresses, which influences the audience to sympathize with his character.

Why must the prevailing mental condition be that of "controlled insanity" in order for the High to keep their places permanently atop the social ladder?

In George Orwell's 1984, the protagonist, Winston Smith, reads in Goldstein's book that in order for the "the High" to "keep their places permanently," the "prevailing mental condition must be controlled insanity." This is from a passage of the book explaining "DOUBLETHINK," which is the intellectual process by which followers of Big Brother can reconcile two contradictory beliefs.
Those who work for the Ministry of Truth, for example, believe completely in the history which they invent and rewrite, and at the same time disbelieve the history which they have erased. In psychology, this is known as a form of cognitive dissonance. It is a form of mental gymnastics designed to protect one's dominant world view. In simple terms, the mind suppresses its capacity for rational deduction in order to maintain the coherence and security of the aforementioned world view.
If insanity can be defined broadly as some kind of profound irrationality, then doublethink certainly qualifies as insane. But in 1984 it is an insanity which is necessary for the survival of Big Brother. Without this insanity, Big Brother would collapse under the weight of its own contradictions and lies. The insanity is "controlled" in the sense that it is re-enforced by relentless propaganda, the constant threat of violence, and ubiquitous surveillance and monitoring.

Who makes up the LGBT community? --What is the difference between discrimination, tolerance, and inclusion? --How do you make a change from the middle of an organization?

The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community is a highly diverse community that consists of an endless number of identities. Generally, the acronym "LGBT" is used as an umbrella term to define those who identify as not heterosexual and/or identify outside of the gender binary. "Queer" is another umbrella term that is commonly used to identify this community. The terminology used to define the LGBT community has evolved rapidly over the years. In the 1950s, the term “homophile” was used to describe those with same-sex attraction. In the 1960s, the term “sexual minority” was better known. In the 1970s, “gay” came to be commonly used. In the 1960s and 1970s, lesbians paved their way into the movement and its focus shifted to “gay and lesbian.” In an attempt to be as inclusive as possible, the acronym LGBTTQQIAAP2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, ally, pansexual, two-spirit) is sometimes used. As with any minority community, there are disputes within the LGBT community about who is LGBT. Furthermore, there is criticism of the use of acronyms. Some believe that the acronyms are confusing and alienate potential allies from understanding the community. Others believe that acronyms limit and confine identities. Furthermore, the community is so vast that each member tackles very different social stigma. For example, a masculine-presenting lesbian may experience housing discrimination. Meanwhile, a transgender woman may experience medical discrimination. This is even further complicated when compounding identities are considered. For example, a black gay man may experience different discrimination than a white gay man. Generally speaking, the LGBT community shares the experiences of housing discrimination, medical discrimination, street harassment, violence, and employment discrimination. LGBT people are incarcerated at a rate three times greater than the general population. Despite being a highly diverse community with so many different interests, the LGBT community shares these concerns.
Discrimination is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as

intentional or unintentional behavior for which there is no reasonable justification. Such behavior adversely affects specific individuals or groups on the basis of characteristics.

The LGBT community faces discrimination in many forms, including in housing, employment, and medical treatment. In 2016, one in four LGBT Americans reported experiencing some form of discrimination. 27% of transgender employees report having been fired or denied employment due to their identity. Discrimination has the harmful effect of impacting one’s mental health. LGBT youth are five times as likely as heterosexual youth to consider suicide. This is greatly linked to the discrimination the community faces.
Tolerance is a contentious topic among the LGBT community and their supporters. Generally, tolerance is the acceptance of one’s identity. However, many argue that the idea of tolerance suggests that there is still something inherently wrong with the identity in the first place. Activists argue that sexual identity is nothing to "tolerate." Rather, it is something to accept and understand.
Inclusion is the flip side of discrimination. While discrimination excludes the LGBT community, inclusion is its antithesis. There are many ways the LGBT community can be included in society. One monumental example is the recent passage of marriage equality on a federal level. Here, LGBT Americans have been included in the institution of marriage.
There are many strategies for changing the culture of an organization. It is important to have dialogue with peers about the desired change. The Society for Human Resource Management (linked below) suggests ten steps for driving a culture change. A simple way to be inclusive of LGBT people in your organization is to practice introducing yourself with your preferred pronouns.
https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/1016/pages/how-to-change-your-organizational-culture.aspx

Why is the geologic time scale helpful for describing Earth’s history?

The geologic time scale (GTS) divides the history of the earth into eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages. It is convenient for designating the relative size of a given window of history under discussion (i.e. eons are known in much more general terms than ages), or, alternatively, express the level of certainty to which an object or phenomenon can be dated.
This widely recognized dating system relies on an accepted way of interpreting geologic strata (i.e., the lower stratigraphic layers must be older). Layers of rocks were first given names, and those layers were only compared across geographic locations in 1819 by English geologist William Smith. By identifying, comparing, and sequencing fossil types, Smith established a relative sequence of strata that could be compared across geographic locations. This gave rise to the useful and universal GTS acknowledged and used today.

How did Theo win the chess game?

Like just about everyone else in the story, Theo's a pawn in a game of chess being played by Sam Westing. And although Theo doesn't win this particular game, he does manage to get the better of Sam at chess. This is not altogether surprising, as Theo's a pretty good chess player. Theo doesn't get to see his opponent in this unusual battle of wills, but it's definitely Sam who's moving the white pieces on the board. One such move turns out to be pretty careless, as Theo discovers to his delight. After licking the cake crumbs from his fingers and wiping his hand on a Westing Paper tea napkin, he makes his move, swooping down on the board to take his unseen opponent's queen.

How is Salva described in A Long Walk to Water?

A Long Walk to Water is a short novel which is based on the true story of one of the Sudanese “Lost Boys” who were airlifted to the United States in the mid-1990s. The novel was written by Linda Sue Park and published in 2010.
The character of Salva Dut is based on a real person who grew up in a small Sudanese village. He is eleven years old when the novel opens, and he and his family are part of the Dinka tribe. He is described as being a happy and intelligent young boy who is enjoying school. One day, while he is in the schoolroom, he hears gunshots outside, as fighting has erupted between the government forces and the rebels. Salva is forced to join a group of people who leave the village, taking him away from his home and his family.
Salva spends many years with this group as they travel across the country in search of a safe haven. The group is led by Salva’s uncle Jewiir, who teaches him about strength, faith, and hope. Following the murder of his uncle, Salva is still buoyed by his words and remains courageous, brave, and determined. He is not only determined for his own survival, but for others too, and he leads more than one thousand Lost Boys to a refugee camp.
Salva stays in many refugee camps across the country before he is adopted and taken to live in Rochester, New York. After reuniting with his father, Salva founds Water for Sudan, a non-profit organization that gives clean drinking water to Sudanese villages. Salva is a survivor, a leader, selfless and compassionate.

How did people make a living in colonial North Carolina?

The main way colonists in North Carolina made a living was through farming. There were large plantations growing the cash crops of tobacco, wheat, and corn. The crops were then either sold abroad for money or traded for other necessities. Although large plantations were common, there were also smaller farms, but these farms were more about growing the food they needed for survival or trading small amounts rather than bringing in money. The smaller farms also did not require the use of African slaves.
Along with farming, there were other trades that colonists could make a living from. Those who lived near the coast made a living from fishing, and others cut down pine trees for producing tar and turpentine. Those who lived in towns could make clothes and ropes or build wagons and barrels. In the colony, there were also government workers, as well as doctors and lawyers.

How does British maritime law relate to Billy Budd (namely, the practice of press-ganging and the laws concerning mutinies)?

British maritime law is critical to the story of Billy Budd and how it resolves—not just in terms of how Billy Budd ultimately dies under the jurisdiction of naval law, but also in terms of the pragmatic considerations which underlie that resolution.
This is evident in chapter 22, when Billy is placed on trial after killing Claggart. The members of the drumhead court-martial sympathize with Billy's position, and it is even noted that under a regular court of law extenuating circumstances might have exonerated his actions. However, Captain Vere argues that, under this military tribunal, maritime law is clear: the punishment is death.
This verdict then raises a question: how does impressment enter into the picture? The answer is multifaceted. For one thing, it is ultimately through the practice of press-ganging that Billy Budd joins the British Navy: it wasn't by choice. The practice of impressment actually arose from practical implications; in order to attain large numbers of sailors, men were forcibly impressed into the British Navy against their will. This practice ultimately helped to shape the brutal severity that characterized British maritime law.
Finally, one should consider the context provided by the story's setting. Billy Budd is set in 1797, when Great Britain was at war with Revolutionary France and was reeling from the aftermath of large-scale mutinies in 1797. Thus, given the context, the subjects of mutiny and maritime law were of paramount importance in the British Navy at the time.

Why is District 6 like an island?

I am assuming that you are referring not to District 6’s geographical features nor culture but rather to its citizens's isolationist tendencies.
More than any of the other districts, District 6 seems the most culturally disconnected from Panem. Its tributes either die quickly (like in the 74th games) or are dependent on morphling (later in the series), thus limiting their character development.
Despite transportation being District 6’s largest industry, Katniss suggests that its citizens do not travel much outside the boundaries of their territory. In this way, one could argue that District 6 conducts itself much like an island would because of its tendency to self-isolate.
The insular quality of the citizens from District 6 is also attributed to the widespread addiction to the synthetic painkiller known as morphling. A dependence on drugs feeds this tendency to isolate, thereby making District 6 like a metaphorical island, separate from the rest of Panem.

Explain the intertextuality between Vietnam Plays by David Rabe and Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi wa Thiong’o. Are there any specific examples to explain intertextuality between these texts?

Though Vietnam Plays and Wizard of the Crow are two remarkably disparate texts, they share the themes of political strife, corrosive rage, and the challenges facing peoples of the Global South in their burgeoning post-colonial existence. David Rabe's Vietnam Plays introduces us to two stories, The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel and Sticks and Bones. The publication of these two plays in tandem affords readers the opportunity to experience the grim horror and dark humor of war through The Basic Training's protagonist, Pavlo, and the painful disconnect and personal trauma of surviving war through Sticks and Bones's protagonist, David, a blind Vietnam War veteran. Rabe writes with a heightened realism, penning both plays before the Vietnam War ended and drawing upon his own experiences as a veteran. Stylistically, the whimsical, almost absurdist prose that Ngugi wa Thiong'o utilizes in Wizard of the Crow to bring to life the world of the fictional African nation the Free Republic of Aburiria contrasts starkly with Rabe's style. However, the interplay of Thiong'o's absurdist allegory and Rabe's fusion of realism and parody provides interesting intertextual connections, elucidating the idea that reality often feels absurd in the aftermath of colonialism, as countries and kinfolk struggle to claim their own identities and independence.
In the first chapter of Wizard of the Crow, readers are introduced to a Aburirian proverb: "Ire is more corrosive than fire." The phrase transfers both meaning and merit into the opening scene of The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, in which a rage-filled conversation abruptly ends when a grenade is lobbed into the bar the characters occupy. The ire, rage, and strife of war—whether the war is in full swing or allegedly over—continues to seep into the bones, the blood, the relationships, and the rule of peoples for generations after. In this, we find the point of intertextual relationship between these two texts.

Explain the current, conventional “interpretation” of Soviet films that “Sabina always rebelled against.” Why did she take a position contrary to popular belief? Why is this significant?

Kundera's fiction is a critique of the cultural attitudes communism imposes upon its people. In his novels we are presented with characters who either resist the herd-mentality of the Eastern Bloc countries or who are simply unable to understand it and make naive "mistakes" in reaction to it, as the character Ludvik does in Kundera's earlier novel The Joke, where a light-hearted remark lands him in prison.
In The Unbearable Lightness of Being Sabina is an artist herself. But she is a rebel, uninterested in responding in the accepted way to the kind of substandard art that is promoted in the Soviet Union and its satellite countries. Soviet filmmakers and others in Eastern Bloc countries were usually not permitted to express artistic themes independently of the Communist ideology that pervaded every aspect of life. It is not merely the films themselves, but the way they are to be interpreted, that the Party seeks to control and which Sabina's unorthodox mindset rejects.
Even a Soviet film which is artistically on the highest level, such as Sergei Bondarchuk's 1968 War and Peace, for example, though there is literally nothing in it having to do with Communism, would have to be interpreted by a dutiful citizen as if it did have a Communist theme. This is because the Party demands that all legitimate art have such a message. This conformist mentality, of course, is the very thing that Sabina resists.

What is Every Day by David Levithan about?

Every Day is a young adult novel by David Levithan that was published in 2012. Straddling the genres of romance and fantasy, Every Day follows a rather unconventional protagonist who runs into some unique relationship obstacles.
The main character is known only as A, and A wakes up each day in a different body. A has no set gender or race, and their consciousness or soul inhabits the body of random people by no choice of A's own; they exist in one host body only for a 24-hour period. This proves at once fascinating and challenging for A, who is able to experience life from a stunning variety of perspectives while having no one stable, corporeal identity of their own. They have to accept their strange existence, and they make a set of rules for themselves: Don't get too attached to any one body or the people in that person's life. Respect that person's life by not upsetting the person's routines or behaving abnormally. Unfortunately, this means that A is rarely able to truly be themselves.
One day, things change: A wakes up in the body of a 16-year-old boy named Justin and falls in love with Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon. Rhiannon has hit a rough patch in her relationship with the real Justin, and she and A bond over a day at the beach. While A is able to convince Rhiannon that A is a unique entity, no matter what form they inhabit, this makes developing a romantic relationship challenging. Throughout the course of the novel, A approaches Rhiannon in a number of different bodies, seeking to maintain their connection even as this means breaking their own rules, using these bodies for their own self expression for the first time.
Along the way, A comes to know themselves better, but not without conflict. While in the body of another teenager, Nathan Daldry, A behaves out of character for Nathan. Nathan—a shy, reserved bookworm—would never go to a party, but A does just that while in his body in order to see Rhiannon. When the 24-hour period is up, Nathan wakes up in his own body, convinced that he has been possessed by the devil. Angry, he decides to track down A, and when he spreads his story, he's no longer the only one looking for A.
While Every Day subverts the typical young adult romance in a fantastical way, at its core the novel is still very much a coming-of-age story. A and the people whose lives they touch learn a lot about living for the moment, discovering oneself, and finding love and friendship in unexpected places. Due to its popularity, Every Day was adapted into a film by the same name in 2018.

In The Chrysanthemums, what are Elisa’s dominant qualities?

In The Chrysanthemums, Elisa is portrayed as isolated but initially unconcerned with the solitary situation of the farm where she and her husband live. A sensible person, she seems satisfied with her marriage and overall situation; both are secure though dull. They have no children. The narrator’s physical description emphasizes her strength and clarity. Elisa’s passion is for gardening; this is her one creative outlet, and her husband appreciates her gift. The arrival of the tinker, however, made her realize that she was not actually happy. The novelty of the wares he peddles is one of the attractions, but she is still shown as practical. She does not indulge in buying useless items. She also enjoys talking with him about the flowers she grows. In contrast, the tinker is figuratively rootless life, sleeping in his wagon and traveling around. When she tells him, “I wish women could do such things,” it offers a clue to her dissatisfaction.

What are some of the best Calvin Coolidge quotes?

Calvin Coolidge was notorious for being a man of few words. Nevertheless, some of his rare public utterances have gone down in history for their wit or general pithiness. Arguably the most famous would be "The business of America is business," which summed-up Coolidge's laissez-faire ideology. He believed that the government should involve itself in the economy as little as possible, getting out of the way and letting businesses invest and create jobs. For Coolidge, the business of America was business, not government.
Another wonderful quotation, which may or may not be apocryphal, comes from a dinner party at the White House, during which a lady, presented with the challenge of getting the notoriously taciturn Coolidge to speak, supposedly turned to the President and said:

I made a bet today that I could get more than two words out of you.

To which Coolidge is alleged to have replied:

You lose.

How do Sampson and Gregory get into a fight with Abraham? Who is Abram?

Gregory and Sampson are servants from the house of Capulet. In the opening scene of Romeo and Juliet, the two are walking down a public street in Verona. While walking, they are joking about how they would challenge men from the house of Montague and would, essentially, rape Montague women. As reported in the play's prologue, there is an "ancient grudge" between the two wealthy families. Gregory suggests that the fight is not only between their masters, but also "us their men."
When Abram, a Montague servant, and another "servingman" pass by, Sampson says he will bite his thumb at them," which is a disgrace to them if they bear it. When Abram questions whether Sampson is biting his thumb with aggression, Sampson retorts, "No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir, but I bite my thumb, sir." Eventually, in the heat of the moment, swords are drawn and fighting begins. When Benvolio, a Montague and cousin of Romeo, attempts to stop the brawl, Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, intercedes, threatening to kill Benvolio.
Thus, from a simple insult directed at Abram, associates of the two warring families stage a violent showdown in the street which results in a visit from the city's prince and a swift rebuke toward Lord Capulet and Lord Montague. The prince declares that further fighting between the families will result in the death penalty being levied on the guilty party or parties. This threat, of course, will have grave consequences later in the play.
The scene is excellently portrayed in Franco Zeffirelli's sumptuous filming of the play from 1968. It is made even more dramatic by utilizing colors to distinguish the two sets of servants, with the Montagues wearing dark colors and the Capulets dressed in bright reds and oranges. In contrast, Baz Luhrmann's version from 1996 places the scene in modern times with cars and guns. It ends with an explosion at a gas station. Interestingly, the colors from Zeffirelli's version are reversed, with the Montagues now dressed in bright colors and the Capulets wearing dark. Both movies do a good job of depicting the enmity between the Montagues and the Capulets.

Discuss A Midsummer Night's Dream as a romantic comedy.

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream fits the description of "romantic comedy" for at least two reasons: it focuses on the romantic relationships of characters, and it ends in marriages. The latter trope is typical of classical comedies. While tragedies end in deaths and/or downfalls of protagonists, comedies end in marriages. Along the way, there are obstacles that create humor and comedy, but these plays end happily, with the lovers paired and united.
Shakespeare's play follows the antics of two young men and women: Hermia loves Lysander, but her father insists she marry Demetrius. Helena, meanwhile, is in love with Demetrius, but he ignores her. Hermia and Lysander decide to run away. Helena reveals the plan to Demetrius, who follows them, and Helena follows him. All four young people end up in the forest and become playthings of the fairies, especially Puck. Fairy dust is applied mistakenly, and Lysander falls in love with Helena. The mistakes cause lots of comic scenes and confusion, but eventually, by the end of the night, order is restored, and the play ends with the marriages of Hermia and Lysander, and Helena and Demetrius.

London is on fast-forward, a city-state in which there is little relief from omnipresent technologies and surveillance. Traditionally, people in need of respite from the everyday pressures of life in the city resort to some experience in nature. Comment on the significance of nature in Orwell’s novel by referring to Winston and Julia’s time beyond the city as well as to other elements that may be associated with nature.

Winston and Julia’s trust frequently leads them to the countryside where things are simpler, and it seems to be a safe assumption that there is less surveillance. While they are wrong, this is a representation of the common desire for escapism and retreat into nature that many people experience. Think about camping. When we have all the modern luxuries and comforts we could want, it seems counterintuitive that people would choose to give that up and go rough it in nature.
What Winston and Julia show, in their escape into the country, is the tranquility and relief of leaving modernity behind. Being in nature provides rest and a chance to leave the fast pace and stress of modern life behind, and in the novel, it shows them leaving surveillance behind and feeling free for a brief period. That is what people are typically seeking by going out and “connecting” with nature.

What does your conscience (your sense of right and wrong) tell you about Nietzsche's ideas concerning exuberance and power and the vacation conduct of the couple in "The Hitchhiking Game"?

The morality of the tale is an issue in and of itself, but my conscience agrees somewhat with Nietzsche on the inherent cruelty of humanity. While some may find it difficult to call humans evil at their core, it is certainly true that everyone is inherently selfish. Because of that, there is a strong and irresistible desire to control others and our situations. In that way, we attempt to harness the world to fulfill our own desires and urges.
While it is unfortunate, all too often the will to power comes out and we attempt to manipulate or overpower other individuals. Nietzsche claims this can be used for good, but all too often it is an evil act. Very rarely, if ever, is the will to power exercised in a way that is intentionally for someone else's benefit.
The tale of the couple on their date is a true display of this will to power. Each character is attempting to manipulate and bend the other to their will in some way. The girl is trying to be seductive to attract the man while he attempts to physically subdue and dominate her. Both of these are from their selfish desires and their attempts to take control of things as they see fit.

Nietzsche's main philosophies about exuberance and the "will to power" are clearly apparent in "The Hitchhiking Game."
According to Nietzsche, "the will to power" is the main driving force in humanity. Essentially, the "will to power" encompasses the practice of deriving one's greatest pleasure from dominating others. Nietzsche contends that this inherent need is driven by the human propensity for cruelty. Cruelty, if you will, is defined as the practice of forcing others to act against their inclinations. Nietzsche describes the conquest of another's will as a personal triumph, an accomplishment that produces the most intense of pleasures.
Essentially, Nietzsche believed that human beings are naturally "cruel" and that they derive their greatest pleasure from subduing another's will. Yet, Nietzsche argued that "the will to power" need not necessarily result in harm or suffering for others. He maintained that it would be enough to humiliate one's nemesis into giving up his will.
We can see Nietzsche's philosophy of "the will to power" (which he calls a kind of "exuberance") and the human propensity for cruelty in the story. There is a major problem with Nietzsche's philosophy of "the exuberant passion for power," however, and it is this: how does one define the acceptable degrees of cruelty? In other words, which "cruel" actions can be classified as acceptable or even moral?
With that being said, our interpretation of Kundera's story will depend upon our personal beliefs regarding right and wrong. As we read, we should ask ourselves some important questions:
1) Is the young man justified in overcoming the girl's resistance in such a cruel manner? The text clearly describes how he abuses her trust in him. In turn, the girl submits to him but suffers greatly in the process. How does cruel treatment facilitate continued trust and open communication?
2) In the story, both characters harbor suspicions about each other. The young man is fixated on his date's moral purity. Meanwhile, the girl worries that she is not attractive enough to hold the man's interest.
In the young man's case, he is focused on dominating the girl's will. In his mind, the girl does not seem to be aware that her very innocence is attractive to him. He wants her to stop "putting on airs" and to stop playing a role to which she is ill-suited. For her part, the girl believes that she must behave as the seductive heroines of romance novels do. However, in doing so, she unintentionally alienates the young man.
For his part, the young man thinks that he can teach his date a lesson.

He was furious with the girl for not listening to him and refusing to be herself when that was what he wanted. And since the girl insisted on continuing in her role, he transferred his anger to the unknown hitchhiker whom she was portraying. And all at once he discovered the character of his own part: he stopped making the gallant remarks with which he had wanted to flatter his girl in a roundabout way, and began to play the tough guy who treats women to the coarser aspects of his masculinity: willfulness, sarcasm, self-assurance.

The young man uses cruelty to return the relationship to what he considers a state of equilibrium. However, his cruel actions completely demoralize his date. The story ends with the young man pitifully contemplating how he can call "compassion to his aid." We must ask the following: can cruelty be taken too far? More importantly, can we rely on cruelty to achieve a positive outcome? Even if the girl learns her "lesson," is cruelty an effective means of bringing about change? From the story, it would appear that cruelty is a double-edged sword.

Is Dees's fixation with Katie akin to a father's love? Why is he powerless to stop it though he knows that his adoration for Katie is somehow wrong and abnormal?

Lee Martin's The Bright Forever tells the story of Katie, a nine-year-old girl who goes missing on a bike ride, sending her small town into a panic. Henry Dees is Katie's teacher, who spends the day tutoring her before she disappears. That evening, the police come by to talk to him because he saw Katie earlier that day.
Dees admits to having fatherly feelings toward Katie. He doesn't have any children of his own and is fond of her. While it's not made clear whether or not these feelings are sexual in nature, they are inappropriate, and he acted on them once, giving Katie a kiss on the cheek during a tutoring session.
Dees doesn't want to reveal his feelings for Katie in case someone might think it's wrong and stop him from communicating with her. Without the kids he teaches, Dees feels his life is empty, but it's especially empty without Katie. He cannot bear to lose her and would risk everything else to keep her in his life.

What is the difference between Juvenalian and Horatian satire? Give examples from texts for both satires.

Both forms of satire are subcategories of verbal irony, which focuses on the gap between what is said and what is meant. And both use this irony in comical ways with the intent to provoke laughter. By laughing at something incongruous, ridiculous, or foolish, the audience for satire performs a socially corrective function. The principle difference between Juvenalian and Horatian satire lies in the approach to corrections.
Juvenalian satire tends to be more caustic, biting, and even cruel. It is meant to purge society of elements that are dangerous to the collective well being, and sometimes this means banishing the inappropriate action, mocking him or her out of the community, or at least defeating this character or impulse. Often, anger and moral indignation lie behind the impulse to write Juvenalian satire. The Augustan era in England found several writers adept at this. Swift, often Pope, and Johnson used biting satire to comment on the folly or injustice of their day. In France, Voltaire's Candide has the same tone. Late night "news" comedy shows also use Juvenalian satire in a similar way. We might even think of Malvolio's treatment in Twelfth Night as Juvenalian in that Malvolio is mocked to the point of cruelty and eventually driven from Illyria's society, an apparently defeated man.
Horatian satire is more gentle. Here, the impulse is to show the audience their own folly and to purge it from the individual, rather than seeming to solidify around an external element. By seeing our own folly and laughing at it, we find in Horatian satire a correction to social ills as well, but the tone is corrective more than purgative. When Puck says "Lord, what fools these mortals be" (A Midsummer Night's Dream), we find an example of Horatian satire. Shakespeare typically will use irony to elicit laughter at human folly but with an impulse toward strengthening community through the realignment of individuals to social well being. This, again, is why Malvolio's treatment seems so shocking, as in Shakespearean and Horatian satire, we generally expect to find a place for everyone. Jane Austen also is generally more Horatian in her satire, suggesting characters are more misguided than actually dangerous.

Did the United States become superior to other nations after the Spanish American War from the changes in foreign policy?

The United States's crushing victory in the Spanish-American War greatly enhanced its status as a world power. At this time, the United States was already the world's richest and most industrially-advanced nation. But victory over Spain added military prowess to America's growing list of strengths.
Traditionally, American governments had fought shy of engaging too directly in foreign affairs. Ever since George Washington's famous "Farewell Address," with its warning of "foreign entanglements," successive administrations had shown a marked reluctance for the United States to take on a significant role on the international stage. But the easy victory of the Spanish-American War changed all that. From now on, the United States would unequivocally be an international power, ready and willing to use military force anywhere in the world to protect its strategic interests.

In the prologue, Robin encounters the King’s foresters, men charged to protect his lands and to prevent poaching. What details does Pyle use to make the foresters look bad?

When Robin Hood comes across the foresters in the prologue, they are feasting in the forest rather than protecting the king's lands. They are feasting like pigs as well, for they all share a huge pasty or meat pie and eat it by "thrusting" their hands inside it. One of the foresters shows additional lack of table manners by talking to Robin Hood with his mouth full. Worse, he insults Robin Hood. Although Robin is a grown man, the forester makes fun of him and calls him a "little lad."
In short, the foresters make a "fine show," lolling around under a tree eating, drinking, and insulting Robin Hood when they should be doing their jobs.
They go on to agree to a bet with Robin Hood that he can't hit a hart, but when he kills it, winning the bet, they refuse to pay. Instead, they threaten to beat him and to turn him in for poaching. In such ways, they show themselves to be dishonorable people.

What industries prospered during the Civil War?

Before the Civil War, the American economy had been primarily an agricultural economy. Also, the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution had been purely north of the Mason-Dixon line. The first stages of the Industrial Revolution were starting by 1800, and with the war, the Northern states were at an advantage over the mostly agrarian Confederacy. Therefore, during the war, the South had little manufacturing capacity, few railroad tracks, and fewer banks as compared to northern states. By 1860, the north had 90% of the states' manufacturing capabilities.The South had slave labor, but fewer railroads and methods to mobilize their resources. There were also naval blockades preventing Southerners from exporting their crops. During the Civil War, the Union relied and capitalized on the northern states' booming industrialization efforts which put the South to shame. Every sector of the North's economy experienced a boost during the war, from farming, textiles, iron production, transportation to weapons manufacturing, because all of these economic sectors and manufacturing were mechanized. On the other hand, the South did not have as much of an industrial economy, and much of the war was fought in the South, which was a disadvantage to them.Since much of the South's economy had been slave labor, the emancipation of slaves, which had been their primary source of income, threatened the very core of the South's labor economy.

Provide a summary and critical appreciation of "Fritz."

The short story "Fritz," by Satyajit Ray, a Bengali filmmaker, writer, and composer, delves into the childhood memories of Jayanto. In this chilling tale, Jayanto, who works for a newspaper, is reunited with his childhood friend, Shankar, the narrator. They have planned to journey to Bundi, a rural town in India, that holds many childhood memories for Jayanto. As the two friends sightsee, Jayanto's memories of his father and the circuit house make him nostalgic. When they visit the fort, Jayanto is carried back in time to a different era, where craftsmanship was valued.
As the story progresses, Jayanto becomes quiet, sad, and absent-minded. However, he remembers a Deodar tree that was important to him and becomes excited when he is able to locate the tree and show it to Shankar. Later, upon reflecting about his childhood, he confides to his friend that he once had a Swiss doll named Fritz who was very lifelike. Fritz stood one foot tall and was attired in Swiss clothes. The doll was attacked by dogs and ripped apart. Jayanto, heartbroken about Fritz's untimely demise, buried the doll under the Deodar tree.
One night, Jayanko awakes with a start. He thinks there may be rats in their room. Neither Shankar or Jayanto can find the animal that disturbed Jayanto's sleep. Jayanto becomes more and more agitated, believing it was Fritz who visited him. Shankar, thinking his friend is needlessly upset, suggests going back to the tree to dig up the doll. The frightening twist occurs at the end of the story. Instead of digging up a doll, the pair has dug up a tiny, human skeleton. The reader is left to question just who or what Fritz was. What was Jayanko's role in Fritz's death?
Ray explores the motif of childhood memories and their effect on adulthood. Additionally, the friendship of Jayanko and Shankar is revealed. While the reader can only guess at Fritz's real identity, it is clear that Fritz's impact on Jayanko is everlasting.

The short story Fritz by Satyajit Ray explores the themes of childhood memories, friendship, fear, superstition, and conflict. Jayanto, the protagonist, works for a newspaper. Shankar, the narrator, is a school teacher. The two friends visit a sleepy village called Bundi, in Rajasthan, where Jayanto spent his childhood. The remote place, its eerie environment, and the colonial era circuit house with skylights and high ceilings add mystery to the story.
Jayanto rekindles a past memory and shares the story of Fritz, his favorite Swiss doll and childhood companion. He recalls the incident when two stray dogs mutilated the doll. He had decided to bury the doll's remains under a deodar tree. Haunted by the doll's memory, Jayanto decides to dig the ground and look for its remains. To their horror, the friends discover a human skeleton from the doll's grave.
The bizarre end leaves the reader with more questions than answers. It may be Ray's intention to shock the reader, something that the master story-teller successfully manages to achieve.

Why was the reconstruction of the South a failure?

Reconstruction was a failure largely because of division among Republicans about the purpose of reconstruction and a fervent backlash against reconstruction by former Confederates. Lincoln envisioned reconstruction as a means of weakening the power of former Confederates in the southern states while more radical Republicans viewed reconstruction as a means of ensuring more racial equality. This became more complicated after Lincoln was assassinated, as Andrew Johnson opposed more robust reconstruction measures and took a much more lenient attitude toward former Confederates. Johnson's actions allowed for the development of black codes and the suppression of black voices in the public square in southern states, undermining the purposes of reconstruction envisioned both by Lincoln and by more radical Republicans. Johnson's stubbornness ultimately led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act over his veto (and also led to his later impeachment by the House of Representatives).
In response to Johnson's handling of reconstruction, the more radical branch of the Republican party pressed for a more forceful reconstruction effort. This led to violent backlashes in the southern states, including the creation of the Ku Klux Klan. The rash of terrorism perpetrated by the KKK and other groups like it, combined with complaints about governance in southern states (often falsely blamed solely on African American politicians) caused support for reconstruction to ebb until the election of Rutherford Hayes. Disputes over the returns of a few southern states ultimately led to a compromise position in which the representatives of the disputed states agreed to allow congressional certification of Hayes's victory in exchange for the removal of federal troops supporting reconstruction and the acknowledgement of new Democratic governments in those states.
More details can be obtained from the link below, which was written by Eric Foner, one of the foremost experts on the Reconstruction period.

What is the second kind of fish Santiago ate in The Old Man and the Sea?

The second kind of fish that Santiago eats is a dolphin-fish. These are not to be confused with dolphins, those cute sea mammals that do all kinds of neat tricks at SeaWorld. Having said that, Santiago does actually say that dolphin is an excellent fish to eat cooked, which somewhat confuses the issue. But dolphins aren't fish and so Santiago can't really be referring to them. In any case, Santiago regrets not bringing salt or limes with him to flavor the raw slices of dolphin-fish he cuts from his catch.
What clinches the issue is Santiago's reference to the dolphin-fish as a dorado, which is the Spanish word for golden. A dorado is also an alternative name for the dolphin-fish. The realization that we are dealing with a dolphin-fish and not a dolphin makes it much less shocking when Santiago hooks what many readers take to be a cute sea mammal, lifts it onto his skiff, and clubs it to death before eating bits of it.