To what extent is Victor Frankenstein a victim?

One way in which we could consider Victor a victim occurs after he destroys the female mate which would be a companion for his original creature.  When he makes his first creature, his physical neglect of that creature is pretty apparent, as is his failure to properly consider and care for the creature's emotional well-being.  However, Victor tries to avoid making similar mistakes in creating a mate.  He cannot predict the personality, wants, or capabilities of this second creature any more than he could predict those aspects of the first.  He realizes that the female "might refuse to comply" with the agreement made between Victor and her mate, that the monsters "might even hate each other," or that they could procreate and make "a race of devils" who would destroy the earth.  His conscience feels burdened, and so he tries to make the right and most responsible decision.  After this, the creature kills Victor's best friend, Henry Clerval, and later his new bride, Elizabeth.  These tragedies then lead to the death of Victor's father.  The monster wounds Victor again and again, attempting to make Victor as miserable as the monster feels himself to be, all because Victor has tried to make the right decision.  Even if he did not make the best choice the first time, he's trying to do so now, and he is victimized for it.

Do seismic waves travel fastest through rock? Why?

Seismic waves, which travel in the same way as sound waves, travel fastest through denser objects than objects with lower density. 

The Newton-Laplace equation can be used to find the speed of sound through a gas:

`c=sqrt(K/rho)`

It can also be used on any other material. This includes steel, rock, magma, and even the upper atmosphere around space. In this formula, c is referring to the speed of sound in the medium, K is the bulk modulus of the material, and `rho` is the density of the medium. The bulk modulus of a material describes how the material responds to compression, and is the ratio of how much a material compresses under uniform pressure.

Rock has a much higher bulk modulus than air. Think about how much air can be compressed into a cylinder versus rock. You would struggle to compress rock at all, whereas air yields easily to pressure.

The sound itself is a wave in the particles themselves, traveling through with motion. Particles in rock are closer together than those in the air, and can easily be pushed by those around them. This is why seismic waves travel better in rock.

Obtain the line integral

Given `f=x^2z ds`

`x=cost, y=2t, z=sint `   for `0<=t<=\pi`

We have to find the line integral i.e.

`\int_{c} f(x,y,z)ds=\int_{c} x^2z ds`

                 = `\int_{c} f(x(t),y(t),z(t)). ||r'(t)|| dt`

where ,

`||r'(t)||=\sqrt{(\frac{dx}{dt})^2+(\frac{dy}{dt})^2+(\frac{dz}{dt})^2}`

          = `\sqrt{sin^2t+2^2+cos^2t}`

          = `\sqrt{1+4}`

          = `sqrt{5}`

Therefore we have,

`\int_{c}f(x,y,z)ds=\int_{0}^{\pi}cos^2tsint . \sqrt{5} dt`

                 = `\sqrt{5}\int_{0}^{\pi}cos^2tsint dt`

Take , `cost=u`, so `cos^2t=u^2`

Therefore,  `-sint dt=du`

When t=0, then u=1 and when 

         t= `\pi`, then u=-1

Hence we have,

`\int_{c}f(x,y,z)ds=\sqrt{5}\int_{1}^{-1}-u^2 du`

                 `= \sqrt{5}\int_{-1}^{1}u^2du`

                  = `\sqrt{5}[\frac{u^3}{3}]_{-1}^{1}`

                  = `\frac{2\sqrt{5}}{3}`

(b)  Now we have the curve  `16y=x^4` `f(x,y)=16y-x^4` parameterized by  the curves 

  `x=2t, y=t^4 `  for `0<=t<=1`

We have to find the line integral :

`\int_{c} f(x,y) ds=\int_{c} xy ds`

               `=\int_{c} f(x(t),y(t))||r'(t)|| dt`

 where,

`||r'(t)||=\sqrt{(\frac{dx}{dt})^2+(\frac{dy}{dt})^2}`

          `=\sqrt{2^2+(4t^3)^2}`

           = `\sqrt{4+16t^6}`

           = `2\sqrt{1+4t^6}`

Therefore we have,

`\int_{c} f(x,y) ds=\int_{0}^{1}2t^5. 2\sqrt{1+4t^6} dt`

               `=4\int_{0}^{1}t^5\sqrt{1+4t^6} dt`

Now take,

`\sqrt{1+4t^6}=u`

Therefore,

`\frac{1}{2\sqrt{1+4t^6}}.24t^5 dt=du`

i.e. `12t^5 dt=udu`

i.e. `t^5dt=\frac{u}{12} du`

When t=0, then u=1 and when

         t=1, then u= `\sqrt{5}`

Therefore we have,

`\int_{c} f(x,y)ds=4\int_{1}^{\sqrt{5}}\frac{u^2}{12} du`

               `=\int_{1}^{\sqrt{5}}\frac{u^2}{3} du`

                `=[\frac{u^3}{9}]_{1}^{\sqrt{5}}`

                 = `\frac{5\sqrt{5}-1}{9}` 

                 = 1.131             

What are the main incidents of Gulliver's Travels?

In Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, the narrative's main incidents can be found in the book's four voyages. In the first voyage, Gulliver is stranded on Lilliput, an island of small people wracked by petty disputes, such as a disagreement regarding the proper way to crack open an egg. Then, on the second voyage, Gulliver finds himself in Brobdingnag, a region of gigantic individuals, where he is put on display like some kind of freak or pet. In the third voyage, Gulliver travels to multiple locations, including Laputa and Balnibarbi, whose inhabitants are obsessed with absurd, abstract ideas. Finally, in his last voyage, Gulliver meets the Houyhnhms, a race of intelligent horses who enslave the barbaric, human-like Yahoos. Throughout his voyages, Gulliver is exposed to a variety of differing perspectives, and one of the main points of the novel's many incidents is to reveal how, by changing one's perspective, it's possible to observe life's often ridiculous nature.  

What is the moral of the story "An Astrologer's Day" by R.K. Narayan?

The astrologer is portrayed as a man who has always had to live by his own wits and on his luck. He pretends to be a learned astrologer, but

He was as much a stranger to the stars as were his innocent customers.

The moral of "An Astrologer's Day" seems to relate to the fact that the protagonist does not rely on the hocus-pocus of the pseudo-science of astrology with its useless paraphernalia, but on his own perception, intuition, and practical experience. If he knew more about astrology, he would be handicapped. When he runs into Guru Nayak, he talks a lot about the messages he supposedly reads in the stars, but he is only using the stars to befuddle his nemesis. The reader can see quite clearly that the astrologer is talking about the stars but really using his own practical knowledge to get himself out of a tight spot with a man who would kill him if he recognized him as the man he was searching for.

The best expression of the moral of the story may be the principle expressed by Laurence Sterne, author of the classic novel Tristram Shandy. 

An ounce of a man's own wit is worth a ton of other people's.

In the story "An Astrologer's Day," the protagonist's nemesis Guru Nayak is not relying on his "own wit." He is going from one astrologer to another, believing one of them will be able to answer his question, "Where can he find the man who tried to kill him in his village years ago?" Guru Nayak's quest is futile. How could anyone read the answer to that question in the stars? One after another, the astrologers send him on wild goose chases until, just by accident, Guru Nayak runs into the very man he has been looking for, although he doesn't recognize him.

The astrologer is versatile and adaptable. He has had to learn by experience. That is perhaps the main advantage of relying on your own perception, intuition, experience, and "street smarts."

Why does the ghost feel humbled?

In this comic reversal on the classic ghost story, this ghost feels humbled because he is unable to frighten the Otis family. Although he tries everything in his arsenal of "ghost haunting an ancestral English home" tricks, he scares nobody. The practical, down-to-earth American Otises refuse to see him as anything but a nuisance who puts bloodstains on their library floor and clanks around in old armor. The Otis twins, young boys, rather than fearing him, enjoy playing practical jokes on him and tormenting him. The parents use a modern stain remover to rub out his blood. The ghost, who takes his job seriously, is in despair. Finally, he is humbled in a more profound way by the willingness of the compassionate young Otis daughter to pray for him and help him to go to his final rest. 

Critically consider historical and modern management theories and propose your own model of management.

Since historical and modern theories of management are based on scientific research, findings and theorizing, I would propose a management model built around the scientific findings on the female brain and the male brain. The model would capitalize, for example, on women's exceptionally developed brain centers for communication and hearing. The model would also capitalize, for example, on men's exceptionally developed brain centers for analytical approaches to problem solving and tolerance for conflict.

Neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine, M.D., author of The Female Brain and The Male Brain, identifies and explains the hardwired areas of exceptionally well developed brain competencies in females and males. My perception is that the lack of influence of women's brain competencies in management and management theory is detrimental to the ethical, humanistic and profitable function of business (and government). My model of management would incorporate the strengths and competencies of each of these two brain types and map out contingency approaches that utilize and capitalize on each of these types in business situations and crises.

For instance, since a male brain tolerates conflict because of its well developed recognition of aggression, business environments that are dynamic (rapidly and frequently changing) mesh with aggression/conflict competencies. Since a female brain is well developed in communication and hearing, business situations that depend upon resolution management or vision sharing mesh with hearing the expression of problems and with communicating higher ideals and overarching objectives.

Management and leadership teams in my proposed management model would have an equal or near equal number of female brains and male brains in each; would have authority allocated horizontally without rank or hierarchy; would have a fluid structure so that sub-groups could emerge and realign as situational needs arose. This management and leadership team structure would have the advantage of key components of the underpinnings of management theory built into its functionality: motivation, intrinsic reward, career development, efficiency and effectiveness and human relations. Management and leadership teams would work through brain competency strengths to ethically and humanistically secure the outcomes and outputs needed to maximize profit.

[Dr. Yasin Olum, "Modern Management Theories and Practices." Makerere University, Uganda (2004).]

What is the most memorable event in Dreams from My Father?

The most memorable event of Barack Obama’s early life must have been the month he was able to spend with his birth father, Dr. Barack Obama of Kenya. He provides some of the details of this time – as much as he can recall -- in the last nine pages of Chapter Three. He refers to this month often again throughout the book. The weeks turned out to be the only in-person contact he would ever have with Dr. Obama. He didn’t know the man and he wasn’t sure how to interact with him. But he watched his every move: his charismatic way of speaking; the way he talked about Kenyan life to young Barack’s elementary school classmates; even the way he applauded at a jazz concert. Later the future President would piece together descriptions and stories added from his siblings and other relatives in order to create a more complete image of his father. He grew to understand what his father’s dreams and aspirations had been, once upon a time.  

In Chapter 4 of The Swiss Family Robinson, what was Ernest's bad habit?

In Chapter 4 of The Swiss Family Robinson, Ernest’s “bad habit” is the habit of being lazy.  We see this about midway through the chapter. 

The Swiss Family Robinson is very much a book that is meant to inculcate Christian belief and a set of values that the author believes in.  The father of the family is constantly trying to teach his children lessons so that they will revere God and will have good habits.  We see this in his interactions with Ernest in Chapter 4.

About midway through Chapter 4, the father wants to go back to Tentholm to see what they can bring back from the things they have stored there.  He arises early and wakes Ernest up.  He does this as a means of teaching Ernest a lesson.  As the father narrates,

I awoke early and roused Ernest as my assistant, wishing to encourage him to overcome his natural fault of indolence.

Indolence is essentially the same thing as laziness.  This shows us that Ernest’s bad habit is the habit of being lazy.  Ernest acknowledges that he is lazy and resolves to fix his fault, saying

Oh, father, do not laugh at my laziness! Indeed I mean to cure myself of it.

As the chapter goes on, it is not clear how much Ernest is actually working on correcting his fault.  He figures out a way of preventing the animals from wandering off so he does not have to work so hard taking care of them.  He also catches a large salmon when his father thinks he is goofing off.  However, we will have to see how/if Ernest truly cures himself of his bad habit of laziness in the rest of the book.

In Rudyard Kipling's poem "If," what are the qualities one should possess to become a perfect man?

Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem “If” to give his son direction on how to become a respectable man.

He advises his son to stay calm in the face of adversity, to be truthful, self-righteous, and proud. When others are attempting to spread untruths and hate, he suggests remaining true to one’s ideals, while not sinking to the lowly actions of others.

In addition, Kipling suggests the need for hard work while maintaining a “dream.” The dream should not impede progress and if all is lost, it is important to continue to move forward. If all is lost, he suggests that the respectable man will find a way to recover and prosper once again without burdening others with his problems.

Finally, he feels it is important be able to interact with all of humanity while demonstrating self-dignity. One should not put on airs when dealing with those of a higher class, nor should a man look down upon others. A true man will fit in with all of humanity, but not be solely identified with one group.

If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son! 

The qualities needed to be a “perfect” man include: self- worth, compassion for mankind, a strong work ethic, the ability to interact with those from all walks of life while not stooping to the pettiness of others, and to care about others while maintaining self-dignity.

What song describes Gatsby's death in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald?

The Don McLean song "American Pie" might be a fitting song to describe Gatsby's death. For example, at the beginning of the song, the lyrics are as follows: "And I knew if I had my chance / That I could make those people dance / And maybe they'd be happy for a while." Gatsby tries to make party-goers at his house happy for a little while, so this line fits him. 

In addition, another part of the song is as follows: "Well, I know that you're in love with him." This could be a reference to Gatsby's awareness that Daisy will always still love Tom and stay with him, which is apparent to Gatsby by the time of his death. Finally, though there is still some debate about the meaning of McLean's lyrics "bye, bye, Miss American Pie," they could be interpreted as saying goodbye to the American Dream that Gatsby tried to pursue. Gatsby tried to live the dream of rising from humble origins to achieve wealth and status. When Gatsby died, his dream died with him. 

What plays of Shakespeare's were seen as controversial?

It is difficult to know which of Shakespeare’s plays were controversial when they first came out. Troilus and Cressida was likely very contentious during its time because it parodies classical heroes such as Achilles and Ulysses. Ancient Greece greatly inspired Renaissance England, and this play makes a complete mockery of the world, indicating that these heroes were actually buffoons and that their reputations were largely unearned. There are virtually no records of its performance from Shakespeare’s time until the nineteenth century.

Sir Thomas More is an incomplete play written by Shakespeare and a number of playwrights. The fact that it was never finished suggests that there might have been controversy over its publication. Thomas More himself was not in favor of the Protestant Reformation, but the text portrays him in a generally positive light. This was an unusual sentiment to express at a time when England had made the tumultuous transition to Protestantism.

Other Shakespeare plays have been contentious in more recent years. Titus Andronicus disturbed critics in the past several centuries due to its extreme violence, and some suggested Shakespeare could not have written such a grisly play. All’s Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure are considered problem plays because they are dark and emotionally unsatisfying comedies.

Shakespeare’s most questionable plays nowadays are Taming of the Shrew and The Merchant of Venice. Shrew is about a man who “tames” an unruly and violent woman in order to marry her for her money. At the story’s conclusion, Katherine, the former “shrew,” says that women’s weakness is “past compare” and that they should “place your hands below your husband's foot.” Nonetheless, it is a wildly popular play, especially when interpreted ironically.

Merchant features the villainous Shylock, a Jewish moneylender who fulfills numerous antisemitic stereotypes. The ostensible comedy ends well for the Christian characters, including Shylock’s converted daughter Jessica. Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity and to lose half of his wealth. In a post-Holocaust world, the play is a disturbing reminder of virulent antisemitism. However, it is still performed, largely due to the more sympathetic aspects of Shylock’s character.

As you can see, a number of Shakespeare’s plays have generated considerable controversy, but many are complex and intriguing enough to have their fair share of defenders, even today.

Can someone put the Mayflower's voyage in sequential order briefly?

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What was the first abstract term Helen Keller learned to understand? What abstract term took a long time to understand?

Helen describes learning about abstract terms in Chapter 6. The two specific concepts she writes about here are “love” and “think.”

It took her a while to understand what “love” is. After all, such an emotion is a difficult concept to explain, under any conditions. One day when they were outside, Anne Sullivan put her arm around her and spelled into Helen’s hand, “I love Helen.” This began Helen’s questions back to her teacher, trying to figure out exactly what “love” was.” Was it the aroma of flowers? No. Was it the warmth of the sun? No. “Her words puzzled me very much because I did not then understand anything unless I touched it,” Helen writes. Up to this point, she had learned only concrete words referring to physical objects.

In the midst of several days of pondering over the term “love,” Helen was engaged in the hands-on activity of stringing beads together by shape and size. Unfortunately, she had made mistakes in the pattern she was supposed to follow. Anne touched Helen’s forehead and spelled out the word “think.” “In a flash I knew that the word was the name of the process that was going on in my head,” Helen writes. “This was my first conscious perception of an abstract idea.” So, “think” is the answer to your first question.

This success prompted her to again tackle the idea of “love.” Eventually, after more questions to Anne, Helen understood the word and the concept. So, “love” is the answer to your second question. But Helen actually dealt with both of the terms at the same time.

What ideas about how the advice of a parent or loved one can be a positive or negative force on an individual does Amy Tan develop in the story...

In the story "Two Kinds," Jing-Mei, the protagonist, constantly hears advice from her mother, who wants her daughter to become a prodigy of some sort. Finally, when Jing-mei thinks that she cannot live up to her mother's wishes, she has an outburst and accuses her mother of not loving her for who she is. Her mother responds:

 "Who ask you to be genius?...Only ask you be your best. For you sake. You think I want you to be genius? Hnnh! What for! Who ask you!"

Her mother is telling her that she only wants her daughter to work hard--which is positive advice--but her daughter does not hear her mother's message. Instead, she thinks she has to be perfect to please her mother and gives up playing the piano until her mother dies. Then, she tries playing again, and thinks, "I played a few bars, surprised at how easily the notes came back to me." She realizes that she is actually adept at playing. She also realizes that the two songs she is playing--"Pleading Child" and "Perfectly Contented" are "two halves of the same song." In other words, she comes to know that she could've been more contented all along. She realizes in the end that her mother's advice was meant to be positive, but that she always interpreted it as negative. 

How does Oscar Wilde satirize his audience in The Importance of Being Earnest, and what may he be trying to evoke from the audience?

In his satirical play The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde ridicules the superficiality of his Victorian society audience and their values and behavior. As his title suggests, Wilde satirizes the facade of earnestness, a virtue purportedly highly esteemed by Victorians, whose hypocritical behavior belies this sublime virtue.

By assigning the quality of being earnest to the name of a man, Wilde creates a subtle allusion to the words of Shakespeare's Juliet, who realizes a name does not determine character: 

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet (Act II, Scene 2, verses 1-2).

For certain characters in Wilde's play, having the specific name of Ernest, a homophone for the virtue earnestness, becomes essential. Jack must be named Ernest to win the love of Gwendolen. This condition points to the superficiality of the upper class, as a young woman prioritizes marrying a man by the name of Ernest over any other qualities he may possess. The name Ernest holds some sort of ideal for her. 

In Act I, Jack displays the duality that exists in Victorian society when he explains to his friend Algernon that he created the character of Ernest as his younger brother because he must behave in a certain way as the guardian of Cecily Cardew. With this false identity, he can give vent to his private interests, which are anything but true and worthy values. The irony of this is that Jack actually turns out to be named Ernest, as he was named after his natural father. Gwendolen is delighted that Ernest is his name. Employing his inimitable satire, Wilde has his character Jack ask, 

Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?

Wilde may have written these lines to induce members of his audience to search their own characters and discover that when they have acted in pretense, they may verily have been more true to their real character than when they have conducted themselves in polite society. 

Describe Aram's first horse ride in "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse."

In "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse," Aram's first horse ride begins when he is woken early one morning by his cousin, Mourad, and a "beautiful white horse." Realising that Mourad did not buy the horse (because the family is too poor), Aram is initially hesitant about riding a stolen horse. But he is so keen to ride that he gets dressed, jumps down from his window and climbs up on to the horse where he sits behind his cousin.

The pair ride out to the country behind Aram's horse and Mourad sings loudly as they let the horse run for "as long it felt like running." Then Mourad decides to ride the horse alone and, in doing so, demonstrates his experience and prowess. Keen to show off, Aram then takes a turn at riding alone but his is a disaster: the horse runs down to a vineyard and begins leaping over the vines which throws Aram to the ground. The horse is then free to run off and it takes Mourad half an hour to find it.

Finally, the boys take the horse to the barn of a deserted vineyard for safekeeping while Aram is determined to learn to ride as well as his cousin. 

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which characters learned to see their faults and act accordingly?

Both Scout and Jem came to recognize their own faults.  They realized that they had held wrong opinions.  They both experienced regret and a deeper level of understanding.  They both changed after their realizations.

Jem realized that he had had a wrong opinion about their neighbor, the elderly Mrs. Dubose.  Jem had treated Mrs. Dubose with contempt.  He hated the horrible things she said about his father.  He resented that he had to read to her as punishment for chopping the tops off of her camellia bushes.  After her death, she sent him a single camellia flower in a box.  He became angry and he thought that she had given him the flower to haunt him.  Atticus explained the woman's struggles to his son.  Jem gained more insight into the woman and he began to understand her.  Later, Scout noticed Jem gently touching the flower petals.  This showed that Jem's heart had finally softened toward Mrs. Dubose and he forgave her.  After that day, Jem seemed to grow up more.

Scout realized that she had feared Boo Radley for no reason.  Scout had believed negative rumors about Boo Radley for years. She thought of him as a sort of monster.  She considered him to be violent and deranged.  Slowly, Scout began to see a new side of Boo.  He left gifts for her and Jem in the knothole of an old tree.  On the night of Miss Maudie's fire, Boo covered Scout's cold body with a blanket.  When Mr. Ewell attacked Jem and Scout, Boo came to their rescue.  Scout realized that she had been wrong about Boo.  He was not a monster.  Instead, he became her friend.  She finally understood what a special person he was.  Scout reached her hand out to Boo in friendship.

What did John C. Calhoun mean when he said slavery was a "positive good"?

Calhoun literally meant that slavery was a "good" rather than an evil. A senator and leading defender of slavery, he described the institution of slavery in this way many times, growing more and more strident in its defense as the abolitionist critique in the North gained popularity. Calhoun said that "never before has the black race of Central Africa. . . attained a condition so civilized and so improved, not only physically, but morally and intellectually" as it had under slavery. He argued slavery was not a "necessary evil" that would one day be eradicated, as some previous generations of slaveholders argued. He said slavery was the best labor system and the best way to structure society. In a common trope among slavery's supporters, he compared slavery favorably to the conditions faced by factory workers in the North, which he said created a dangerous working class which led to "disorders and dangers" in any industrialized society. Calhoun went on to argue that if the institution of slavery was threatened, the people of the South would defend it by leaving the Union, a right they were increasingly beginning to claim for themselves. Slavery and abolitionism, Calhoun asserted, could not coexist. Calhoun's views increasingly became dogma among the planter class in the South as midcentury approached, a development that contributed to secession and civil war.

What is the total energy needed to heat 1.0 L of water from 15°C to 98°C?

Hello!

This situation is relatively simple, because there is no phase change (no melting of ice, no vaporizing of water). Therefore the quantity of heat energy needed to raise water temperature is directly proportional to a temperature change.

The general formula is `Q = c*m*Delta T,` where `Q` is the quantity of heat added (or removed), `m` is the mass of a substance, `Delta T` is the temperature change (positive or negative) and `c` is the so-called specific heat. It depends on a substance.

For water, `c approx 4.2 J/(g*C),` and one liter of water is about `1000 g.` Thus the energy needed is `4.2*1000*(98-15) approx 349 (J).` This is the answer.

That said, water has very high specific heat, almost ten times greater than that of iron, for example.

Why does Chinese history begin (a long time before) before there is a either a China or a Chinese people? In what sense is Chinese history...

Where to start the history books is in some sense arbitrary: No matter where you draw the line, there were probably important events before that, unless you start all the way back at the Big Bang, but that makes your history book an awful lot longer! (Though it is what Stephen Hawking famously tried to do with A Brief History of Time.) 

But in general we usually try to start the history of a civilization at a point where that civilization begins to take on some of its distinctiveness. China didn't really become a unified nation until about the 3rd century BC in the Qin Dynasty, and has gone through many fundamental changes since then. But there were important precursors of Chinese civilization long before that, as far back as 2100 BC, and much of modern Chinese culture and language is owed to cultures from that period. People probably didn't even really think of themselves as "Chinese" (rather than local ethnicities such as Han and Zhuang) until even later, perhaps around the unification of China under the Song Dynasty in the 10th century AD. (Even today, people in Tibet and Taiwan often don't think of themselves as "Chinese".) But only by understanding these more ancient cultures can we shed light on the causes that make China what it is today.

On the other hand, so much has changed over time that it might even make sense to say that China didn't become what it is now until 1912 with the formation of the People's Republic of China, just over a century ago. Huge shifts in government and economic policy led to large changes in culture and religion. In this sense, Chinese history is quite "new" indeed.

How is Popo profiled in Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul? Is Popo a realistic character?

Popo is another interesting character profiled in Naipaul’s coming-of-age story set in Trinidad and Tobago.  As the author explores Popo’s character, the reader learns that respect is earned on Miguel Street in different ways than respect is earned in other places around the world.  Popo’s story is an endless cycle from disrespect to respect.  In short, Popo is only respected when he separates from his wife, Emelda, who is a very hard worker.  When Popo becomes less traditional and more angry and discouraged (often turning to alcohol for escape), the community on Miguel Street finally accepts him. 

The community’s opinion of Popo again lowers when he comes back to his wife and fixes up their home.  Popo again regains the negative label of “man-woman.”  Popo is only respected again when he is arrested for stealing the materials and furniture in order to fix up the home.  The cycle continues when Popo is released from prison and again becomes industrious through his carpentry trade.  Popo’s profile shows that, on Miguel Street in Trinidad and Tobago, women should be the bread-winners. 

In regards to Popo being a “realistic character,” one can say that he is realistic through the eyes of Miguel Street in Trinidad and Tobago, but not necessarily through the reader’s eyes.  Success on Miguel Street does not involve monetary success, but perseverance, pride, and dignity.  If you compare Popo to this standard, he goes back and forth between achieving success and losing that success again and again.

What are three character traits of Tessie Hutchinson in the "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson? What can you infer about this character?

From her first appearance in the story, Tessie is shown to be a charismatic character. She shows up late to the lottery, but her absence doesn't go unnoticed. When she finally arrives, the crowd is said to have "separated good-humoredly to let her through", and some of the other villagers begin to let the others know of her arrival. When Tessie reaches her husband in the crowd, the following exchange takes place: 

...

Mr. Summers, who had been waiting, said cheerfully, "Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie."

Mrs. Hutchinson said, grinning, "Wouldn't have me leave m'dishes in the sink, now, would you, Joe?" and soft laughter ran through the crowd as the people stirred back into position after Mrs. Hutchinson's arrival. 

Her reply to Mr. Summers' comment and the laughter that follows, along with the crowd's warm welcome, all indicate that Tessie is a charismatic character. It can be inferred that she has a strong presence in the village, perhaps because she is the ideal "housewife" type in this time period, as her first line was in reference to being late due to the dishes needing washing. 

Tessie Hutchinson is also an outspoken character. When things start to unravel for her, she does not stay silent, but rather tries to start a debate on the subject. In response to her family's name getting picked for the lottery, she seems to have trouble keeping calm.

"I think we ought to start over," Mrs. Hutchinson said, as quietly as she could. "I tell you it wasn't fair. You didn't give him time enough to choose. Everybody saw that."

The mention that Tessie said these words "as quietly as she could" shows that she was having trouble keeping her voice calm and even, balancing her panic with her need for the village's cooperation. 

"Tessie," Mr. Summers said. She hesitated for a minute, looking around defiantly, and then set her lips and went up to the box. She snatched a paper out and held it behind her.

Tessie also handled further action with resistance in the above passage, indicated by her hesitation, her defiant look, and the word "snatched" to describe the way she pulled the paper from the box.

On the other hand, this also makes Tessie seem like a selfish character, because while she arrived at the lottery in good spirits and willing to carry on with the ritual, she does not take the same attitude when it is her and her family that are put in danger. 

While this may seem like a perfectly reasonable reaction for someone in Tessie's position, it speaks to her character in that she had no doubts about going forward with the lottery when she was out of harm's way. We can infer from her initial arrival to the lottery, when she was laughing and grinning with the others, that she would have stoned anyone else if they were chosen. 

This, paired with her outspokenness, means that she refused to speak up about the sadistic nature of the lottery not because she was afraid, but because she thought nothing of it until it was her own life on the line. Her only motivation to speak up was the possibility of harm coming to herself or her family. 

Therefore, using substantial evidence from the text and making logical inferences and connections, we can confidently say that Tessie Hutchinson can be considered a charismatic, outspoken, and selfish character.

Why did American writers gradually move away from Romanticism towards Realism in literature?

This question has fairly broad philosophical implications, but to answer in brief, it is useful to remember that any kind of art is not created in a vacuum; art reflects the time and place in which it is created. Artistic movements (visual, literary, musical) inevitably arise as a rejection of what preceded it.  Just as the Romantics rejected the cool rationalism of the Enlightenment to embrace a more mystical, emotional, spiritual, and imaginative perspective that idealized Nature, Realists moved away from these concerns toward a renewed interest in rationalism, along with verisimilitude in depicting the everyday lives of ordinary people. Industrialization, a growing and diversifying population, and the expansion of urban living led writers to create work that explored the enormous social changes as the country began moving away from a heavily agrarian system to a more open and democratic society.

In "A Rose for Emily" by Faulkner, why is the story told by “we” rather than by “I”? Why not by Miss Emily herself?

By all indications, the story is told from the viewpoint of a third-person narrator; much of the story also highlights the perspectives of the townsfolk regarding Miss Emily.

The reason the story is not told by Miss Emily herself is because, at the time of the narration, Miss Emily has passed away. The story is told as a reconstruction of Miss Emily's life. From the viewpoint of the narrator, Miss Emily had lived a mysterious and tortured life; in fact, the discovery of Homer Barron's body in a sealed, upstairs room in Miss Emily's house had further validated this theory.

The story is told in five parts. In the first part, the narrator recalls how the townsfolk had attended Miss Emily's funeral. So, even from the beginning of the story, we can see that Emily is no longer alive. This first section of the story also describes how Miss Emily cements her powerful position in the town. Citing the deceased Colonel Sartoris as the authority for her actions, she dismisses the town leaders' demands that she pay her taxes.

In the second part of the story, the narrator describes a time when a strange smell had permeated the vicinity of Miss Emily's house. No one ever discovered where the smell had come from (at least, not until after Miss Emily's death). Later, it was said that Miss Emily, like her great aunt (old lady Wyatt) "had gone completely crazy at last." In fact, Miss Emily supposedly refused to bury her deceased father for three days. It was only at the behest of the ministers and the doctors that she relented.

The third part of the story recalls the time when Miss Emily was courted by Homer Barron, a day laborer from the North. The narrator also remembers the time Miss Emily had purchased arsenic to (supposedly) kill some rats.

In the fourth part of the story, the narrator details the disappearance of Homer Barron and Miss Emily's eventual death. The last section of the story describes Miss Emily's funeral and the shock experienced by the townspeople when they discovered Homer Barron's body in a sealed upstairs room in Miss Emily's house.

So, the story is told from the viewpoint of a third person narrator who, after Miss Emily's death, tries to provide an unbiased account of her story.

What is superstition?

Superstition is the belief that certain events, objects, or patterns of behavior will bring about a particular result, regardless of an objective causal relationship. Superstitious belief may be cultural, religious, or based on personal, subjective experiences. Perhaps you know of some superstitions in your culture-- where I grew up, some people believe that black cats are a sign of bad luck!

An example of a cultural superstition would be something like belief in black cats causing bad luck, or that if you spill salt and fail to throw it over your shoulder, something bad will happen. Not all superstitions are so much about avoiding or remedying negative events; many are about inviting positive events into your life. Some people believe that if they carry a rabbit's foot key chain, they will have good luck.

An example of a religious superstition would be something like a "Bible-dip." Some Christian people believe that when they need advice on a particular matter, they can open a Bible to a random page and take advice from the first passage they read.

A rather famous example of personal superstition is Dennis Grossini. One day before a game, he went to a nearby restaurant, had two glasses of iced tea, and ate a tuna-fish sandwich. That day, he played especially well in his baseball game. He came to understand his luck in the game as having been caused by his actions of the morning, and for the next three months he did the same thing before every game! 

Superstitions aren't necessarily based on any verifiable cause-effect relationships, but rely on perceived experience of positive and negative consequences. 

Why does Mercutio choose to fight Tybalt when Romeo backs down?

I'd like to start this answer by reminding readers that Mercutio is just about as hot tempered as Tybalt.  Tybalt always gets the blame for having a quick temper, but Mercutio is just as bad.  Benvolio even states the fact in Act 3, Scene 1. 

"An I were so apt to quarrel as thou art, any man
should buy the fee-simple of my life for an hour and a quarter."

That is the same scene where Mercutio and Tybalt fight each other too.

I believe that Mercutio chooses to fight Tybalt for a few reasons.  First, the day is hot.  Benvolio states the fact at the very beginning of the scene, and he says that the hot weather always puts people in hot tempered moods.  Mercutio likes fighting in the first place, and the weather is making him crankier.  

Second, Mercutio is still upset that Tybalt sent a formal challenge to Romeo.  Mercutio knows that Tybalt is dangerous, and as Romeo's friend, Mercutio feels the need to protect his friend.  

Third, when Romeo finally shows up, Romeo essentially just stands there and takes insult after insult from Tybalt.  Mercutio is angered by the insults and angered that Romeo isn't willing to do anything about it.  Mercutio eventually gets to the point where he can't idly stand by and watch anymore.  He feels compelled to jump into the fray and fight Tybalt.  Unfortunately Mercutio's actions get himself killed.  

How does Pico conceive of human will and what implications does the conception have?

Pico conceives of human will as a gift from God. He implies that, since God has given man free will, he must use it wisely to decide his destiny in life.

In his treatise, Oration on the Dignity of Man, Pico argues that dignity comes from accepting this gift of free choice and using it to ascend to great heights of nobility:

That we may understand — since we have been born into this condition of being what we choose to be — that we ought to be sure above all else that it may never be said against us that, born to a high position, we failed to appreciate it, but fell instead to the estate of brutes and uncomprehending beasts of burden...

Pico maintains that, with this free will, we must contemplate the greatness of God and imitate the Seraphim and Cherubim, who are filled with "charity," "intelligence," and "justice." He asserts that anyone who lives a life of contemplation and meditation will attain the necessary wisdom to fulfill the dictates of a practical life.

This contemplative philosophy will essentially allow man to wash away "the filth of ignorance and vice." Along with this, the "darkness of reason" can be dispelled through "dialectic" (debate and discussion), and the impulses of human passion can be constrained through "moral science." According to Pico, the purification of the soul should be the main focus of those who have the free will to decide what they will be:

Then may we suffuse our purified souls with the light of natural philosophy, bringing it to final perfection by the knowledge of divine things.

Thus, man should use his free will to rise ever higher in the quest for perfection, "so that the passions may never run rampant, nor reason, lacking restraint, range beyond its natural limits"; Pico believes that this quest will clothe man with dignity and nobility.

Who were some of the reformers of the Progressive Movement in the first two decades of the twentieth century?

The reformers of the Progressive Movement were educated, urban, middle-class Americans. They included writers, teachers, and politicians. They hoped to expose the problems that existed in our society.

Upton Sinclair wrote a book called The Jungle. This book exposed the dirty conditions in the meat industry. It helped lead to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act in 1907.

John Spargo wrote The Bitter Cry of the Children. This book dealt with the exploitation of children who worked in factories. It led to the passage of child labor laws.

Lincoln Steffens wrote The Shame of the Cities. It was about the political corruption that existed in our cities. It helped bring about various political reforms including the referendum, initiative, and recall.

These reformers worked to correct the abuses that they believed existed in our country. Through their efforts, many changes were made in our country between 1900-1920.

What qualities does a creature born in the North have? Why?

You must be referring to the Prince of Morocco's speech in Act 2, Scene 1, in which he says,

Bring me the fairest creature northward born,

Where Phoebus' fire scarce thaws the icicles,

And let us make incision for your love

To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.

In this scene, the Prince of Morocco has come to woo Portia.  He comes knowing that he is at a disadvantage among her suitors, because he is dark-skinned.  This reflects the value, sadly held at the time, that dark skin is less attractive than light skin.  

Thus the first words out of the Prince's mouth are to ask Portia not to pre-judge him because of his "complexion,/The shadowed livery of the burnished sun."  Then he speaks the lines above, pointing out that his blood is as red as any fair-skinned suitor's.  He later goes on to say that he is considered attractive in his home country. 

So, the quality of a "creature northward born" which the Prince is addressing, is that of being fair-skinned.  

Not coincidentally, "fair" in Shakespearean English could also mean beautiful, as in "fair weather."  

So the Prince is invoking the idea of a rival suitor who is extremely "fair" (i.e. handsome), but also very fair-skinned, coming from a place where the sun's fire can scarcely melt the icicles.  This conjures up a mental image of someone who is very, very pale, as if after a long winter.  

Compare the characteristics of the spider woman with those of the old man.

Gabriel García Márquez provides a comparison between the spider woman and the old man with wings in his story “The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.” When comparing the two characters it is important to remember the genre is magical realism.

The old man, who has a pair of feather wings growing out of his back, appears after a storm at sea. He is unable to communicate because he speaks in an unfamiliar seafarer’s dialect. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to his existence. The members of the small community think he is an angel, but even the village priest is unable to verify this.  People pay to visit and gawk at the old man as he becomes a curiosity.  This makes Pelayo and Elisenda rich, prosperous people. At times he is kept as an animal and put on display, yet he seems to have some power over the well-being of Pelayo and Elisenda’s child. When the child is sick, the old man suffers until both he and the child recover.

The spider woman is also a curiosity who travels with a freak show. She can explain how her actions caused her to morph into an entity who is part woman, part spider. Her ability to tell the story of how she disobeyed her parents, and was turned into a being with the body of a large spider attached to a human head makes her captivating to those who listen to her story. This takes attention away from the old man with wings. People were drawn to her, and were willing to pay to hear her story, which is in contrast to the old man's inability to communicate his background.

In both cases, the characters contribute to the genre of magical realism.

In The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, who are the Socs? Who are the Greasers? What does Cherry explain to Ponyboy as the difference between the Socs...

The Socs and the Greasers are two different gangs in S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders.  

Early in the novel, Ponyboy thinks that the Greasers and Socs are nothing alike.  On the surface of things, a reader would tend to agree with Ponyboy, too.  A difference between the Greasers and the Socs is their socioeconomic status.  The Greasers are all poor teenagers, and they are coming from poor families.  In addition to being poor, most of the Greasers are from broken or abusive families.  Johnny's father beats him.  Ponyboy and his brothers do not even have parents around anymore.  On the other hand, the Socs are from the rich side of town.  Their parents are wealthy; therefore, the Socs have all of the fancy clothes.  Some of the Socs even have cars. Ponyboy absolutely believes that the main difference between the Greasers and the Socs is financial.

I really couldn't see what Socs would have to sweat about--- good grades, good cars, good girls, madras and Mustangs and Corvairs--- Man, I thought, if I had worries like that I'd consider myself lucky.  

During Chapters Two and Three, Cherry explains to Ponyboy that he is wrong.  Cherry correctly identifies that the main difference between Greasers and Socs is how each group feels.  Specifically, the Socs don't feel anything and the Greasers feel too much.  Cherry elaborates by explaining that in order to maintain a constant state of cool aloofness, the Socs are forced to be emotionless voids.  This emotionlessness can be contrasted with the Greasers, who are typically hot tempered and react to every little emotion that they feel.  

I thought maybe it was money that separated us.

"No," Cherry said slowly when I said this. "It's not just money. Part of it is, but not all. You greasers have a different set of values. You're more emotional. We're sophisticated--cool to the point of not feeling anything. Nothing is real with us. . ."

"That's why we're separated," I said. "It's not money, it's feeling--you don't feel anything and we feel too violently."

What is the irony in "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse"?

In "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse," the irony lies in the fact that Mourad, a member of the Garoghlanian family, steals a white horse. This is ironic because the family is locally renowned for its honesty. In fact, as Aram tells the reader, honesty is their second best-known family trait and it has been around for centuries, long before the family ever became poor:

"We had been famous for our honesty for something like eleven centuries, even when we had been the wealthiest family."

For Aram, it is unbelievable, then, that a member of his family would demonstrate such outright dishonesty by stealing a horse. But knowing the poverty of his cousin, there can be no other explanation.

Moreover, that Mourad describes his understanding of the horse as "honest" is also ironic because his relationship with the horse is based on theft, which is an act of gross dishonesty. 

What are some ideas for a speech on conflict about war?

Because this topic is so broad, there are infinite directions that you can take it!

1. One interesting topic would be justifications of war. This could be a discussion of what constitutes a just war; you could juxtapose that with what makes a war unjust. You could include examples by finding a war that you think was justified (example: World War II) and then explain why it was justified (example: because it ended a genocide). Then compare it to a war that you think is unjustified and discuss what the characteristics are that make a war justifiable or not.


2. Another interesting topic would be comparing two wars that happened around the same time such as the American Revolution and the French Revolution. You could investigate the ways that the revolutionaries in France developed their ideologies considering the ideologies of the American revolutionaries. The same would work for many different couplings of wars.


3. Similarly, it might be interesting to discuss the stages of a revolution (normal, criticism of the current regime, widespread dissatisfaction, transfer of power, civil war, reign of terror, and recovery). You could analyze these stages using any revolutionary war. 


4. One more interesting topic would be the concept of foreign involvement in wars: how third party nations become involved in wars and their role. You could discuss this based on a certain war such as the Korean War or in terms of one nation that becomes involved in conflicts such as Great Britain.

Any one of these would be a very compelling speech.

What is the meaning of the line "For only Gossamer, my Gown" in "Because I Could Not Stop for Death—"?

This morbid poem by Emily Dickinson describes her journey with Death—i.e. her passage from this life to the next one.

Before this particular line mentioning gossamer, we read:

“We passed the setting Sun –

Or rather – He passed us –

The Dews grew quivering and chill –

For only Gossamer, my Gown –

My Tippet, only Tulle”

(Poets.org).

When Dickinson mentions the sun passing her and Death, she describes how it grows chilly ("The Dews grew quivering and chill"). She then emphasizes how thin her clothing is, saying that her gown is made of gossamer. Gossamer is used to describe something extremely thin, filmy, and airy, like spider web. The meaning can be further seen as she goes on to say that her tippet (a scarf-like accessory) is only tulle. Tulle is the fabric many ballet skirts are made of. It is a very fine netting with many tiny holes. 

Gossamer and tulle are both extremely thin fabrics, and by themselves would make you feel almost as if you were wearing nothing at all. Here Dickinson is emphasizing the chilly, cold nature of death, and saying that her clothing feels insufficient for its dark temperature.

In Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, what does Master Lockton have hidden in his wife's linen chest?

Master Lockton has money hidden in Madam Lockton's linen chest.  

The money that Master Lockton has hidden in his wife's linen chest is money that he and the other conspirators plan to use in order to bribe Patriot soldiers.  Lockton plans to offer members of the Patriot army money and the promise of land if those soldiers agree to fight for the British army.  

Isabel learns about the money and the plan in chapter nine.  She is about to enter the room where Lockton and his friends are meeting, and she overhears a comment about money.  Isabel then peers through a crack in the door, and she sees Lockton pull out fistfuls of money from the linen chest.  She then hears Lockton explain the specifics of the bribe and how the money will be distributed by two men working out of different taverns.   

"Every man willing to switch sides is to be paid five guineas and two hundred acres of land. If he have a wife, an additional hundred acres. Each child of his blood garners another fifty."

What is a characterization of Mother Shipton from "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Harte?

Clearly a dynamic character, Mother Shipton transforms from a hardened, self-centered female in a profession of "impropriety" to an altruistic, tender, and motherly woman.

Ironically named Mother Shipton as the apparent madam of a house of ill repute, this hardened woman has a colorful repertoire of "bad language" that she fluently expels as the town rids itself of the "improper people." Later, after the escort of the group of which the disreputable Mother Shipton is a member disappears from her view while returning to Poker Flat, her pent-up feelings find expression in some rather "bad language" as she eyes the reprobate Uncle Billy with "malevolence."

When they have only gone a short ways, another woman of ill-repute named Duchess dismounts from her horse and declares she will go no farther. The group stops their journey to the next town, Sandy Bar, although they have not yet covered half the trail. A snowfall comes in the night, and the group is snowed in the next day and cannot travel. Fortunately, a young couple has stopped on their way to Poker Flat, and they graciously share their provisions. The young man, who is acquainted with the gambler in the expelled group, entertains the company, and Mother Shipton relaxes "into amicability" as she listens.

The next morning, Mr. Oakhurst, the gambler, discovers Uncle Billy absconded with all the mules in the night. Fortuitously, however, they stored the provisions in the abandoned hut, so they have enough to last them for ten days. The young couple entertain that night, but the snow continues to fall. One clear day, Mother Shipton sees smoke coming from Poker Flat and utters "a final malediction." After this, Mother Shipton, "the strongest of the party," seems to weaken and become ill.

In the middle of the night on the tenth day, she summons Mr. Oakhurst and tells him,

I'm going. . . but don't say anything about it. Don't waken the kids. Take the bundle from under my head and open it.

After Oakhurst takes the bundle, Mother Shipton tells him, "Give 'em to the child." The bundle is full of Mother Sipton's rations, which she did not eat to increase Piney's chances of surviving. Turning her head away, she dies. In this act of unselfishness, Mother Shipton demonstrates what love is. She lay down her life so the innocent Piney can live. There is no more unselfish and loving act, and given the opportunity, Mother Shipton proves herself to be heroic.

With the debate surrounding global warming, much emphasis has been placed on how humans have negatively impacted the natural state of nature. The...

Unlike the Urrasti landscape, the Anarresti landscape is the antithesis of all that is fertile. Its barren topography admits for very little of the lushness that characterizes the Urrasti countryside. Furthermore, Anarres is naturally arid, chilly, and windy. The air is thin; the "sun burned, the wind froze, the dust choked." Very few natural vegetation grows on Anarres. Perhaps the most fertile area is Abbenay (what used to be called Anarres Town), where Old World grains can flourish.

While the natural state of Anarres does not allow for widespread agriculture, it has rich reserves of natural minerals that allowed for commerce between the two worlds for a period of time. Although the natural state of an environment is not always conducive to life, the inherent nature of humans and animals allows civilizations to thrive despite difficulties.

As the book shows, any natural environment can be useful, despite the challenges inherent in its topography. In the Urrasti year IX-738, a settlement was founded at Anarres Town (Abbenay) for the purposes of mining the mercury in the area. The Urrasti discovered that it was more profitable to "mine the Moon than to extract needed metals from low-grade ores or seawater" on Urras. To aid the project, groups of Urrasti technicians and miners signed on for two to three-year assignments on Anarres. Yet, despite the formidable terrain, a small group of gold-miners and their families secretly settled on the Moon without the knowledge and express permission of the Council of World Governments. In the end, it was settled that the Moon should be given as an independent world of sorts to the International Society of Odonians.

That was how Anarres came to be populated by those who eschewed Urrasti materialism. So, although the natural state of an environment isn't always desirable, the human predilection for freedom and self-determinism often ensures the viability of a civilization within that environment. From the example of Anarres and Urras, it is possible for humanity to transcend the natural state (despite the harshness of the environment or the habits of human and animal life) to thrive above its circumstances. As is evident on Anarres, more laws will not so much reverse the negative contributions of humans and animals as impede personal agency and initiative. It is a fine line to walk, and the author contends that centralization will always be "a lasting threat, to be countered by lasting vigilance."

Compare and contrast the characters of Lord Henry and Basil, and their relationship to Dorian Gray.

Basil Hallward is a talented and kind painter who sees Dorian as a sort of muse, a subject for his paintings who makes him reconsider the way he makes art. Basil maintains an intense emotional investment in Dorian throughout the book, and feels very protective of him- especially against the influence of Lord Henry. Lord Henry is a hedonistic and incredibly charming member of London's upper class who strongly influences Dorian towards a life of seeking pleasure and disregard for morality. He provides Dorian with a book that drastically changes his worldview and a philosophy of seeking new pleasures and experiences.

The two characters are quite different; where Basil is conventional, focused, and extremely protective of Dorian, Lord Henry is pleasure-seeking, radical, and interested in pushing Dorian towards a life of decadence and disregard for conventional morality. Basil is dedicated to protecting his favorite subject, while Lord Henry is determined to introduce him to new experiences, regardless of whether or not they are moral. The major thing they have in common is an intense interest in Dorian, and an investment in his personal decisions.

How might a historian use the source Gilgamesh to understand the nature of ancient Mesopotamian society? What specific themes, plot devices,...

The Epic of Gilgamesh was written c. 2150-1400 BCE in Babylonia/Sumer in ancient Mesopotamia. The work is regarded as one of the first or the first example of literature in the western world. In this epic, Gilgamesh, the King of Uruk, starts as an oppressive leader until he meets and befriends Enkidu, a wild man. Together, they defeat the Bull of Heaven, which the goddess Ishtar sends as punishment for Gilgamesh's refusal to get involved with her. For this act, Enkidu is sentenced to death by the gods. Gilgamesh is overcome with grief by Enkidu's death and visits Utnapishtim, who has eternal life, to figure out how to become immortal. In the end, Gilgamesh does not become immortal, but he realizes that he can become great by treating his people well and being a good leader.

Some of the values reflected in the poem are the importance of good leadership, as the gods send Gilgamesh to befriend Enkidu to teach Gilgamesh to become a better leader and man. He is described in the epic as "very strong, and like a wild bull he lords it over men." In other words, Gilgamesh is likened to an animal in his instincts to mistreat others, but the gods want him to become superior to animals. In the end, he gives up the idea of immortality so that he can become a good leader. The symbol of the walls is often repeated in the epic. The beginning of the epic reads, "Look at it still today: the outer wall where the cornice runs, it shines with the brilliance of copper; and the inner wall, it has no equal." The repetition of the symbol of the walls emphasizes the importance of civilization and of Gilgamesh's dedication to building his city. 

From the epic, we also know that gods and goddesses were seen as having human qualities. For example, Ishtar falls in love with Gilgamesh, but when he refuses her, she "fell into a bitter rage, she went up to high heaven. Her tears poured down in front of her father Anu, and Antum her mother." Ishtar is described like a mortal, subject to feeling rejection and sadness as any human would.

From Ishtar's power, historians might also be able to surmise that women held a great deal of power in society. Ishtar is the goddess of fertility, war, and love. Fertility was very important in Sumerian society because of the importance of growing crops, so Ishtar was a very powerful goddess. The society saw women as powerful. 

What are the similarities and differences between behavioral deviance and the possession of involuntarily acquired, undesirable physical...

Behavioral deviance refers to actions voluntarily performed by individuals; these actions often inspire societal disgust, condemnation, and disapproval. For example, acts of behavioral deviance can include acts of sadomasochistic sex, animal torture, and bestiality. Such behavioral deviance perpetrates suffering on others; because of this, they invite the moral condemnation of the larger public.

On the other hand, involuntarily acquired, undesirable physical characteristics are only considered deviant based upon individual perception and biases. For example, someone can be born with a physical anomaly that causes him to be excluded from most social interactions. Claudio Vieira de Oliveira was born with an upside-down head due to a congenital anomaly. He did not choose to be born with such a disability. While many people admire his courage and perseverance in the face of his disability, others may react with disgust and horror at what they consider his deviant physical characteristics.

So, those with undesirable physical characteristics (for example, those who are extremely obese, deformed, or crippled in some way) are often subjected to ridicule, harassment, condemnation, and scorn. Those with such characteristics are labeled deviant not because of their abusive behavior towards others but because of the public's perception of their physical appearances.

Both behavioral deviance and the possession of involuntarily acquired, undesirable physical characteristics are similar in that both often result in negative attitudes from the larger public. Someone with a bad hump might be viewed as inept and untrustworthy as well as socially deviant. At the same time, possession of certain physical features may indicate a predilection for certain deviant beliefs, which in turn can cause the larger public to react in distrust and fear. For example, people who look like they might practice Islam may invite greater scrutiny from society, whether they are actually Muslims or not.

After the 9/11 attacks, a Time poll found the majority of Americans (61%) was against building a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero. These Americans feared the mosque project would not be a gesture of reconciliation, but rather a monument to Muslim hegemony. Fully 70% of Americans felt the mosque would be an insult to the victims of 9/11 (from Erich Goode's Deviant Behavior). So, any Muslim politician or dignitary who spoke in support of the mosque invited public condemnation and anger. Basically, an involuntarily acquired physical characteristic (looking Muslim) can inspire the same attitudes engendered by those who commit acts of atrocity (the deviant behavior exhibited by members of ISIS, for example).

As for your last question, these generalizations don't apply to all societies at all times. For example, marijuana use has been legalized for those 21 and older in Colorado, and consumption is permitted in the same way that alcohol consumption is authorized in the state. Still, there have been and still are people who consider the public consumption of marijuana to be deviant behavior.

Similarly, white supremacy, genocide, and torture have at different times and by different groups of people been viewed as acceptable. Today, most people do not believe so. For example, many Americans believe waterboarding terrorists is an unacceptable practice. Other Americans believe torture is permissible if many lives can be saved as a result of it. For more examples, please refer to the links below.

Source: Deviant Behavior by Erich Goode.

Using emotional intelligence, what would be the best way for one to handle the incident presented in the following scenario:One of your direct...

Assuming that the manager values all of these employees and wishes to retain them, he or she can use emotional intelligence as one tool in the management toolbox.  Emotional intelligence, the topic of much of Daniel Goleman's writing, is a term that seems to be tossed about a great deal but disregarded in action, much like critical thinking.  It is important, and it needs to be used far more than it is now.  Emotional intelligence, to me, is having empathy or insight into the behavior of others and oneself and acting in a way that defuses harm and produces positive outcomes. 

The manager who has been approached by the shaken employee needs to first have some empathy for that employee, understanding that she has been verbally attacked and threatened, and that she needs some assurance about the safety of the workplace, both mentally and physically, for herself and others.  If this attack on her has just happened, returning her immediately to the place where the problematic worker is without having done anything about him yet is not going to be particularly reassuring. I would say that some discussion about getting this fellow some help for his problems (and meaning it) will be helpful, and I would be inclined to tell her to take a long lunch or a long break while you sort this out with the fellow.  I also think that taking the "He will be punished" tone with her is a mistake, escalating the problem, particularly since she has already explained that he seems to be under stress.  She is not approaching the manager in a vindictive mood, I would say, just an upset and frightened one. She needs to be calmed down, removed from the situation, and assured that the manager is on the case.  We have all ready too many tales of employees going "postal," and that is likely to be her biggest fear, so words of assurance are the most important. 

The manager needs empathy to deal with the troubled employee, too.  Given that this troubled employee's problematic behavior is recent and reportedly caused by stress, something is clearly wrong.  Approaching him in a spirit of helpful inquiry is the key to learning what the problem is and then helping him, if possible, to solve it. This should be done immediately after meeting with the reporting employee, not delayed for any other reason. A meeting should be private, not a public questioning or chastising.  The manager must find out what the problem is and offer assistance.  Many organizations have an employee assistance plan (EAP) that provides counseling for employees.  Some problems can be solved simply by working with the employee.  He might have a new child at home and does not get enough sleep.  Perhaps his hours could be adjusted to allow him to sleep a bit later in the morning. He may be having marital problems, and all the manager can do is to sympathize.  But the employee who can articulate what the problem is is on the road to being helped. 

Having said all of that, the manager also needs to explain to this fellow that his behavior is unacceptable in the workplace, no matter what his reasons are.  His workmates are upset and afraid, with good reason.  The manager can ask this employee to use a little empathy too, asking "How would you feel if your fellow employees spoke to you and threatened you like this?" I would not at this point discipline or terminate.  Assuming that the manager has the discretion to decide upon this, he or she should give the person a chance to work on the underlying problem and his behavior.  It should be made clear that another incident will not be tolerated, though.  Followup with this employee is a must, to see if he is getting assistance, what kinds of arrangements can be made to accommodate him, and so on. The manager needs to keep a close eye on his behavior, too, but this could be done in a supportive way, by stopping by the department and asking everyone how things are going. 

Should there be a meeting to discuss violence and bullying in the workplace? I am not convinced this would be an emotionally intelligent step right away.  The rumor mill has already let everyone know what has happened, and a meeting might very well keep people gossiping.  After some time has passed, a manager might invite employees to a meeting to discuss what kinds of policies would work well to ensure that the workplace is safe for all. 

A manager who is calm and empathetic can deal with this problem in the workplace. Emotional intelligence is certainly applicable to this situation. 

What do the lives of great men teach others in "Psalm of Life" by Longfellow?

The lives of great men set an example for people, teaching them that they can make their lives "sublime," or lofty in thought and purpose, and then leave behind something worthwhile, such as noble deeds. In this manner, then, others can follow in their footprints:

 Lives of great men all remind us 

   We can make our lives sublime, 

And, departing, leave behind us 

   Footprints on the sands of time;

In his poem, Longfellow exhorts his fellowmen to live worthwhile lives with a strong heart for any fate. In this way, people set examples for those who follow, hopefully inspiring them in turn.

Let us, then, be up and doing, 

   With a heart for any fate; 

Still achieving, still pursuing, 

   Learn to labor and to wait.

"The Psalm of Life" verses carry a strong and encouraging message to live life fully and with the idea that one's life serves as an example to those who come afterwards and may wish to follow those "footprints on the sands of time."

Just as the Psalms of the Bible inspire, Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life" is meant to inspire those who read it to live better, more productive lives: "Learn to labor and to wait."

In "The Tiger in the Tunnel" by Ruskin Bond, what is the similarity between Baldeo and Tembu?

Baldeo and Tembu are both courageous. Baldeo took up the job as a railway watchman in a dangerous part of their location. He heard stories about a marauding tiger, but he still reported to his night duty without fail. On the night of the attack, he stood his ground and defended himself against attacks by the tiger. Tembu knew how dangerous the job was, but he still took up his father’s post after he was killed by the tiger.

Baldeo and Tembu are both responsible individuals. They understood the economic importance of the job in spite of the dangerous working conditions. The rice farms barely sustained their family and the situation forced Baldeo and later Tembu to take up the job as railway watchmen.

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what does Scout learn from the missionary circle tea party?

One day, Aunt Alexandra hosted a missionary circle social at the Finch house.  Mrs. Grace Merriweather reported on the conditions of a group of people living in Africa.  She described their lives as being very uncivilized.  A missionary was there seeking to convert them.  Mrs. Merriweather placed the missionary on a pedestal as a saint.

Aunt Alexandra requested that Scout dress up in her best clothes and join the ladies.  Scout tried to be polite and engaged the ladies in conversation.  After a while, Atticus called Aunt Alexandra into the kitchen and Scout followed.  He revealed terrible news:  Tom Robinson had been shot trying to escape.  He had been killed.  At first, Scout observed her aunt's reaction, which was one of shock and sadness.  Then Scout "found [herself] shaking and couldn’t stop."  After a time, Aunt Alexandra suggested that they compose themselves and rejoin the ladies who were visiting for the social.  Scout went out into the living room with her aunt.  She was beginning to learn how to be a lady.  She reasoned:

"After all, if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I."

Who was the first president of Nepal?

Nepal, historically, had a monarchy.  In 1990, the country transitioned into a parliamentary monarchy.  The country still had a prime minister.  It was not until 2008 that the country elected its first president after it transitioned into a republic.  That first president was Dr. Ram Baran Yadav.  Yadav was a physician before becoming president.  He became interested in politics while he was in medical school.  The country had a prime minister even after Dr. Yadav was elected president.

Yadav believed in democracy and promoted it during his political career.  He even went to jail during his struggle to promote democracy in Nepal.  Yadav eventually served in several political positions, such as Minister of Health and House of Representatives member.  He also served as a personal physician to one of Nepal's prime ministers and as a doctor in a rural part of the country. 

What is the exposition in the short story "Soldier's Home" by Ernest Hemingway?

The exposition is a part of the plot of a story which includes the setting, characters, and the basic situation. Hemingway's short story "Soldier's Home" is set in the Oklahoma town which is the home of the main character Harold Krebs. Other places which are mentioned in the story include the Methodist college which Krebs attended, places in Europe which Krebs encountered as a Marine fighting in World War I, and Kansas City, where he claims he will go to find a job at the end of the story. Krebs is the main character. He seems to be suffering from trauma and stress caused by the war because he tends to be apathetic and somewhat anti-social.

Other characters in the story include Krebs's devoutly religious mother, his father (who is prominent in the story despite the fact that he actually never appears but is often referred to) and his sister Helen. The basic situation is that Krebs has just returned from the war. The third person narrator states that Krebs fought in some of the most important battles of the war and also describes a photograph, taken in Germany, of Krebs, another soldier and two women. It seems to suggest that Krebs's military experience was unheroic considering that the German girls were "not beautiful" and the Rhine River, often described in the mythic tales of Germany, "does not show in the picture." As with much of his fiction, Hemingway never explicitly refers to important details which could be included in the exposition, especially Krebs's direct experience in combat. These details might go far in explaining Krebs's apparent inability to reintegrate into society.  

What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Many people use the terms more or less interchangeably (often using "velocity" when they mean "speed" but want to sound more impressive), but there is a very simple but vital difference between the two.

The easiest way to explain the difference between speed and velocity is that speed is a number, while velocity is a vector. Speed is the magnitude of velocity.

Speed has no direction associated with it; it's just a value, like 50 m/s or 60 mph.

But velocity has a direction, and is generally expressed in one of two forms: Components in x, y, and z, like this:
<30 m/s, 40 m/s, 0 m/s>

or magnitude and direction, like this:
50 m/s at 53 degrees north of east.

I've chosen these so they are in fact the same vector. This is analogous to the difference between rectangular (Cartesian) coordinates and polar coordinates.

Speed is the magnitude of direction; the above velocity vector has a magnitude of 50 m/s, so the speed is 50 m/s.

How does Doris Lessing's setting choice affect the themes and the progression of the plot of "Through the Tunnel"?

The setting of the story is fairly straightforward and appropriately vague. Jerry and his mother are on vacation together. Readers are told the vacation destination is a place that has large beaches, a bay, and big rocks at different parts of the beach. Readers are also told the vacation spot is familiar to both Jerry and his mother. That tells readers that the two of them have vacationed there together before.  

Thematically, the story is about a boy's rite of passage toward individualism and adulthood. Jerry desires some time and space away from his mother. Jerry's mother struggles with the concept, but she knows she needs to begin giving Jerry some personal freedom. She does this by allowing him to go the "wild beach" by himself. There, Jerry sees the other boys swimming through the tunnel. He makes it his personal goal to do the same before the vacation is over, and Jerry eventually succeeds.  

The setting is a realistic location that allows Jerry to pursue his independence. A day at the beach is likely relatable for a variety of readers, so the setting is immediately familiar to readers. Additionally, most readers have likely been in Jerry's position before and sought time away from parents. As a parent, I have had both Jerry's and his mother's experiences. I believe Lessing could have chosen a different setting to get the same point across to her audience. All Lessing needs is a setting that allows Jerry the opportunity to have a growing up moment. Camping in the woods or a day at the carnival could have supplied a similar situation.   

How does urban ethnography challenge assumptions about urban life and urban myths ?

Great question!

Urban ethnography challenges assumptions about urban life and urban myths through its very nature, and through its practices.

Ethnography applies direct, intense observation to cultural practices. Urban ethnography applies the techniques and methods of anthropology, which were traditionally applied to distant peoples (usually those considered primitive), to contemporary, urban populations. It can be applied here at home, rather than having to be practiced far away.

One of the goals of ethnography is to describe culture, and to do so with as much objectivity as possible. In that statement you see two distinct goals that would transform how people see urban life. The first is that it treats urban practices as a culture. When this happens, some urban activity (like, say, the use of gang tags) changes. It is no longer just vandalism, something criminal or senseless to be dismissed. It is a social practice with cultural meaning for those involved. The second is the objective, even scientific, approach involved. It is relatively easy to be objective about something distant from you. You aren't directly involved in the rings of Saturn, for example. However, it is much harder to be objective if you are actively involved in something, like a family or relationship. That's the case in many urban settings. People are part of what they are trying to understand, and so urban ethnography offers new possibilities for objectivity.