What do the color red, water, and Lucie's hair symbolize in the novel "A Tale of Two Cities"?

In "A Tale of Two Cities,"  Chapter 5 of Book I is entitled "The Wine-Shop." It begins,

A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken, in the street...All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine.....A shrill sound of laughter and of amused voices--voices of men, women, and children--resounded in the street while this wine-game lasted...men with bare arms, matted locks, and cadaverous faces,...emerged into the winter light from cellars...and a gloom gathered on the scene that appeared more natural to it than sunshine.

The wine was red wine, and had stained the ground of the narrow street...in Paris, where it was spilled.  it had stained many hands, too, and many faces,....one tall joker so besmirched...scrawled upon a wall with his finger dipped in muddy wine less--BLOOD....The time was to come, when that wine too would be spilled on the street-stones, and when the stain of it would be red upon many there.

With these last lines of this memorable passage, it is apparent to the reader that Dickens employs foreshadowing with the red wine as a symbol of blood, the blood spilled on the peasants [who later in red hats] watched the murderous beheading of the aristocrats on the guillotine in Paris.  The wine-shop keeper, Monsieur DeFarge and his wife Madame DeFarge--one of the great villains of literature--will soon have the blood of many upon their hands.  Later, too, in the novel, Sydney Carton pours out his brandy "like a man who was done with it."  This action signifies his pouring of his lifeblood for Charles Darnay. 

Still another example of the life/blood symbolism of red comes in the Marquis's remark that the red sun shining "will die out soon."  Since the hands of the Marquis are figuratively red with the blood of the child run over by his carriage, he pays for this murder with his own death.  The villagers meet at the fountain before the death of the Marquis; after his death, the chateau burns, the water boils out of the fountain, followed by molten lead and iron. Thus, water is both a symbol of life and death for Dickens  In his novel, references are made to "unfathomable water" and "the memorable storm" in London with its "sweep of water."  The flooding of water presages the sweeping French Revolution and destruction of life.

Lucie's hair, golden and silken, reminds her poor father of his wife.  Because he has long been in solitary imprisonment,his daughter is unrecognizable to him until he sees her hair; the color of it reminds him of a locket of hair that he keeps around his neck which is a memento of his wife that he took with him to the Bastille when he was arrested. 

As the stereotypical Victorian heroine, Lucy is the perfect lady.  Her "radiant hair" lends her a madonna-like presence.  The father is "saved" by her when he recognizes this hair and begins to return to the memory of his former life.  Dickens entitles a chapter "The Golden Thread" as the "golden-haired doll" as Carton calls her is the connection for several of the male characters from whom she derives strength.

In Lord of the Flies, why is Roger more sadistic than Jack?

In this allegory of "The Lord of the Flies," Roger and Jack are analagous to Ralph and Piggy in the sense that of the two pairs of boys, one is more representative of a "pure" trait that the other. That is, Piggy and Roger are more allegorical characters, representing qualities rather than rounded characters.

For instance, Piggy is purely rational while Ralph cannot always think as rationally; for example, he participates in the hunt for the pig at one point in the narrative.  Roger, numb to the suffering of others, represents pure savagery from the beginning to the end, while Jack displays more human characteristics at the first, hesitating at first to stab a pig, for instance, but later degenerating into savagery once he can hide behind the mask of the paint on his face.  Early in his novel (Chapter 4), Golding depicts Roger as intrinsically evil:

[As Henry plays in the shallow water as the shore] Roger waited too. At first he had hidden behind a great palm; but Henry's absorption with the transparencies was so obvious that at last he stood ut in full view....Roger stooped picked up a stone, aimed, and threw it at Henry--threw it to miss.  The stone, that token of preposterous time, bounced five yards to Henry's right and fell in the water...there was a space round Henry...into which he dare not throw.  Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life.  Round the squatting child was the protection of parnet and school and policemen and the law.  Roger's arm ws conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and was in ruins.

It is Roger who "carries death in his hands" because he is pure predator, only "conditioned by a civilization."  And, once that civilization loses its hold, Roger gives free reign to his intrinsic sadism. He releases "with a sense of delirious abandonment" the rock that kills Piggy, and he intimidates SamnEric into joining the hunters' group. as he "advanced upon them as one wielding a nameless authority."

Why is the professor in "The Lesson" by Toni Bambara feeling nervous when she meets her pupils? What is the effectiveness of the feeling of...

In Toni Bambara's "The Lesson," Miss Moore might be feeling nervous or uncomfortable because she has returned home to teach as one of the only college-educated African Americans in her neighborhood.  She stands out as different from the rest since she wears her hair in its natural curls and speaks proper Standard American English as opposed to the neighborhood version of English.  She also takes it upon herself to teach the children about poverty and the society which allows such poverty to exist amidst such obvious wealth.  One of the things she does is arranges field trips to show the children the differences in the world they live.  On one trip to FAO Swartz, the childen are amazed that a sailboat can cost $35--a huge amount in their eyes which would pay the rent, feed a whole family for a very long time, or pay for a trip to see a grandparent for the entire family.  They are angry that people have so much money to spend on toys when they are so impoverished. 

The feeling of nervousness throughout the story is exactly what the teacher and her students are feeling.  The teacher is nervous about bringing her group to such a place, and she is also nervous about whether or not her lesson will be learned.  The children are nervous about being in a place where things are so expensive, and they are feeling a little like they are  under a microscope in this store.  The nervousness is mixed with frustration and anger which further helps the reader step into the shoes of the characters and live for a short while as they do.  In this way, the lesson is not just for Miss Moore's students, but for us as well.

In "The Outsiders", how do Ponyboy's relationships with Darry and Sodapop differ?no

Pony and Sodapop are very close.  Soda is a laid-back, good looking high school dropout who works at a gas station and gets along with virtually everyone (except Socs).  However, Ponyboy and Darry's relationship for much of the novel is troubled.  Darry, as the head of the family after the death of their parents, does not have the luxury of spending time building relationships with his brothers, although he and Soda get along fine.  Darry works full time in construction and spends time at home making sure Ponyboy does his homework, paying bills and keeping the household running as best he can.  When Ponyboy comes in after curfew one night, he faces the wrath of Darry, who was actually quite worried about his brother, although Pony doesn't realize that.  He thinks this is just another indicator that Darry likes Soda better.  They argue, and Darry ends up slapping Ponyboy, who runs out, even as Darry is apologizing.  Pony heads back to the park where he had been hanging out with Johnnie, and this is where the two boys meet up with the Soc bullies and Johnny kills Bob, causing the two boys to think they must run away--which moves the plot forward quickly as they go into hiding. The relationship between Darry and Pony improves considerably after Pony and Johnnie are hospitalized due to injuries from the church fire.  Darry breaks down and tells Pony he thought they were going to lose Pony just like they lost their parents.

In the poem "Homecoming" by Bruce Dawe, what are some of the most effective techiques? Explain their use in the poem.

Bruce Dawe wrote his poem “Homecoming” in 1968 during the Viet Nam war. The poem is an anti-war poem giving the author’s negative view of his home country Australia’s involvement in the dehumanizing conflict. 

The title of the poem provides irony. When one thinks of homecoming, it is usually a happy time or one that both parties find reviving. There is no happiness for those involved in this homecoming…only deep loss and the question, “Why?”

This poem is written in the free verse style. It utilizes repetition to emphasize his key points. In addition, his use of participial “ing” words promotes the loss of identity of those soldiers who have died in this bleak war. Those who care for the dead follow a standard procedure: They are picking, bringing, zipping, tagging, giving, rolling, freezing, and bringing the dead heroes home.

Those who collect and take care of the bodies are never given a name; but they do their jobs not only with sorrow but coolly and quickly.   His imagery gruesomely portrays the gathering of the dead and  differentiating them  in a cataloguing style. He separates the ethnicity of the dead by their hair: curly, crew-cuts and balding.

To represent the loss of men in a respectful way is part of the theme of the poem. Yet, Dawe’s perspective of war in its entirety forces the reader to watch as the many young bodies that are flown home are taken by their families to their final resting place.

The author’s tone is sardonic and ironic.  His repetitive point of more and more dead coming day after day forces the reader to visualize the sacrificial lambs [men] to the great god “war.” The treatment of the body is the respectful but robotic management which saddens and evokes strong emotions.

The literary devices employed by the author include alliteration:

• The feared “telegrams tremble like leaves from a wintering tree…”


• The spider grief swings in his bitter geometry


• …the howl of their homecoming rises

The images drawn are both visual and auditory. If the poem is read alive, the rhythm of the poem conveys the idea of the drum beating during the funeral march to the grave.

A moving image portraying the dogs in the howling stance saluting the dead soldiers passing by in the hearse. This finds a place in the mind’s eye.

Dawe’s primary point comes in the repetition of the first and last line of the poem:

All day, day after day, they’re bringing them home,

---they’re bringing them home, now, too late, too early.

Those that have died in battle come home late because if they have not been there, they would not have died.  They are always too early because the men do not need to die at such a young age.

I need to know how each of these represent symbolism in Jane Eyre: Reed, Blanche, Gateswood, Lowood,Thornfield, and Whitcross.

Your question is a little confused and also seems to ask more than one question. Whilst you are right to identify that certain locations in the novel seem to have symbolic significance, the names of the locations you have given are not accurate. This answer then will point towards the 5 central locations of the novel and what symbolic significance they have in their naming.

Gateshead marks the first section of the novel, and the name certainly seems to indicate a feeling of entrapment or imprisonment, which is one of the key themes of the novel. From the very first sentence of the novel, where Jane is forced to stay indoors because of the weather, Jane is "gated" in, both literally, symbolically and figuratively, into a set role in society. Perhaps the "head" refers to the way that her being, her personality and thoughts are pressured to conform to this role as well.

The name "Lowood", which marks the next section of the novel, marks a "low" time in Jane's life, where she experiences suffering and the death of a close friend. It also marks her education and equipping for her "low" role in society.

"Thornfield" foreshadows the pain that Jane will suffer through her relationship with Mr. Rochester, indicating there is something that will spoil the supposedly happy ending that the text points towards.

"Moor House" and "Whitcross" both indicate the isolated position of Jane as she leaves Rochester and Thornfield, but also point towards a "resurrection" after the suffering of the "cross" that Jane has carried.

Lastly, "Ferndean" is a much softer and gentler name than Thornfield, indicating the happy ending that the text gives Jane and Rochester, and also perhaps suggesting the softening that Rochester has undergone through his experiences.

Bronte clearly divided her novel into 5 identifiable sections, and the naming of the locations are clearly indicative of what happens in each part, tracing the development of Jane Eyre as a character from start to finish.

What is the theme of Tagore's poem, "Where the Mind is Without Fear"?

Tagore's poem,' Where the mind is without fear' is a prayer addressed to a father-figure, presumably God, for an awakening into a heaven of freedom where the mind will be fearless and the head held high, where men will get the freedom of knowledge, where all words issue out from the well of truth, where superstitious beliefs and dead old habits shall not impede the transparent flow of thought, where narrow parochial interests shall no longer separate nations or communities of people.

The poem was written when India was under the British rule and the Indians struggled for freedom. But, for Tagore, freedom was more than merely political; he dwelt on the theme of spritual freedom: freedom of mind, speech, thought, belief, practice & behaviour.

How were the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan similar and how were they different?

Both the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan were part of the United States' policy of containment during the Cold War. "Containment" referred to the United State's strategies to prevent the spread of Communism. The containment policy had military, economic, and diplomatic aspects.

The Truman Doctrine made containment the United State's official policy in March 1947, when Truman's pledged to "support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures." The Truman Doctrine was a statement of the United States' policy of supporting capitalism and fighting communism during the Cold War. It was applied to the conflicts in Greece and Turkey during Truman's presidency. The spread of communism was prevented in these two countries. 

The Marshall Plan was an economic plan for the recovery of Europe. The United States would give significant funds to countries in Europe recovering from World War II. It was part of the United States' containment policy in that it was meant to prevent the spread of communism in European countries by helping Europe prosper. George Marshall, U.S. Secretary of State at that time, believed that communism is more likely to spread to countries that are struggling economically. The Soviet Union and its allies refused to receive aid from the Marshall Plan. Thus, the Marshall Plan was representative of another standoff between the "free world" and communist countries.

The difference between the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine is that the Marshall Plan was a systematic plan for providing European countries with economic aid, while the Truman Doctrine was a more general statement of United States policy toward communism.  

In the short story "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker, who values the quilts more, Dee or Maggie? Why?

Maggie more than Dee would  value and permanently treasure the quilts because of the following reasons:

1. The quilts have always proved to be a source of comfort and encouragement to her who is described by the mother as "homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs, [who is always] eying her sister with a mixture of envy and awe." and a little later as, "she has been like this, chin on chest, eyes on ground, feet in shuffle, ever since the fire that burned the other house to the ground." So a girl like Maggie who is timid and not successful in life like her sister will have great regard for the tradition and the culture of her past.

2. Maggie's roots are deeply and firmly planted in the cultural soil of her family's traditions, unlike Dee who was always ashamed of and hated her rural traditions and upbringing:"she had hated the house that much." Dee was more literate and would constantly read to them about life which the mother and Maggie were not interested in at all : "she washed us in a river of make believe, burned us with a lot of knowledge we didn't necessarily need to know." So, certainly Maggie more than Dee will set more value on the  family quilts.

2. Maggie, unlike Dee never "wanted nice things." The quilts would be old and faded and were certainly not "nice" to look at and Dee would not consider them valuable because they were not attractive to look at. Maggie on the other hand would consider them precious and worth preserving for life.

3. Most importantly Dee has changed her name into the African Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, because her old name "Dee" reminded her of her white colonial masters. Outwardly her reason for changing her name might be politically correct but its certainly not culturally correct.  Her entire past is negated because of this name change. Dee's mother traces the family history of that name saying, "though, in fact, I probably could have carried it back beyond the Civil War through the branches." Maggie on the other hand would treasure the quilt not as a mere showpiece but as a treasure trove of the collected memories - both painful and pleasant - of the cultural past of her ancestors.

In the poem "The Trees" by Philip Larkin, what do the "rings of grain" show?The Trees The Trees are coming into leaf Like something almost...

Like many of Philip Larkin's poems, "The Trees" focuses on issues of life, death, and mutability. The poem opens with imagery that seems fairly optimistic and pleasant for a Larkin poem, but the reference to “grief” in line 4 (especially since it ironically echoes, through assonance, the word “green” earlier in that line) helps suggest that this will be a typical poem by Larkin.

In the second stanza, the speaker wonders whether the slight grief we feel when we see trees blooming is due to our recognition that trees are born again whereas we, as humans, simply and inevitably age as we move toward an equally inevitable death. He then answers his own question by asserting that

. . . No, they die too,

Their yearly trick of looking new

Is written down in rings of grain. (6-8)

In other words, the rings that become visible when a tree is cut down – the rings that radiate outward from the center of the tree trunk to its circumference – indicate the slow, steady pattern of growth and dormancy, growth and dormancy, that marks the developing life of a tree. Each year, a growing tree adds another “ring” to this visible pattern, so that it is actually possible to determine a tree’s age with great accuracy.

Trees, then, also age, as humans do, although they can refresh themselves, physically, every year. Humans, of course, cannot, although the ending of the poem suggests that humans may be able to refresh themselves in other ways (such as emotionally or perhaps even spiritually, in the broadest sense of that word).

Why do you think mercury is a metal and bromine a non-metal?

Materials are classified as metals and nonmetals primarily based on their physical properties. However, elements are also classified as metals and non-metals based on the structure of their atoms, which in turn affects their chemical properties.

Metals are shiny substances that can be polished like mirror to reflect light, they have high density, they are good conductors of heat and electricity. Also metals are ductile and malleable - the change their shape under external force or impact without breaking or crumbling. All metals, with the exception of mercury are solid at room temperature.

When defined chemically, metals react with non-metals in which metal atoms lose one or more of their electrons. As per this criteria there are are group of six elements called alkali metals which do not possess the common physical properties of metals.

Mercury is a metal because it has physical as well as chemical properties of metals. Bromine has neither physical nor chemical properties of a metal therefore it is not a metal

In Macbeth, how does Macbeth change from the beginning to the end of Act I?

Macbeth's character is introduced in Act I through the description of his most recent heroic deeds in Scotland's war with Norway. A captain who comes from the field tells King Duncan of Macbeth's raw courage and determination in battle: Macbeth's sword "smoked with bloody execution" as he fought against overwhelming odds to defeat Duncan's enemies. Macbeth is presented as a loyal soldier and supporter of the King, a man of unprecedented valor, and for these attributes, Duncan loves and respects Macbeth and rewards him.

The witches' prophecies, however, incite a change in Macbeth's sterling character. His ambition is aroused as he contemplates himself as King of Scotland. When Duncan names his son Malcolm as his heir, Macbeth's immediate reaction is that Malcolm now stands in his way to the throne. Macbeth's course is set; although he turns away from it momentarily and ruminates on the horror of the crime he will commit, he proceeds in the plan to murder the monarch. Ironically, for one so strong and brave in battle, Macbeth shows fear of what is to be done and its possible consequences; his resolve seems weak in contrast to Lady Macbeth's.

In the conclusion of the first act, by the time Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle, Macbeth's thoughts reveal him as the deadly conspirator he has become:

I am settled, and bend up

Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.

Away, and mock the time with fairest show:

False face must hide what the false heart doth know.

The valiant, loyal soldier who was willing to sacrifice his life for his king has become a traitor, conspiring with his wife to murder Duncan and steal the throne of Scotland.

What important background information is established in Act1 Scene1 & is it intended for Bassiano to be viewed as a "golddigger" and...

You have correctly identified an interesting problem of the play and that is based around the character of Bassanio, who from this beginning scene of the play appears to be a heartless manipulator of Antonio's affections for him.

This scene introduces us to the world of wealthy merchants of Venice, who take great risks for their trade whilst feigning nonchalance about those risks. We can see this in Antonio's denial of worry about his ships. We can also see to that there is a crucial difference between the relationships of Antonio with his fellow merchants Salerio and Solanio. Although they clearly are friends, and feel it is their duty to cheer Antonio up, they excuse themselves when Bassanio arrives to do their own business. Clearly, their friendship has limits.

However, Antonio shows that he is willing to do anything for Bassanio - his relationship is one of true love. Surely we must be intended to read this line as being particularly suggestive: “My purse, my person, my extremest means / Lie all unlocked to your occasions”. The recent Al Pacino film version of this play makes the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio explicitly homosexual (shown by a kiss), and if you choose to read their relationship in this way, you can only go on to conclude that Bassanio is a bit of a spendthrift - he openly confesses to having wasted lots of Antonio's money, yet has the temerity to manipulate (for what else can we call it?) Antonio for money so that he can marry Portia. His motive he clearly states is to gain her wealth.

We can only defend Bassanio by his later actions of being wise enough to choose the right casket and having met his match in Portia, but still at the end of this initial scene he hardly wins our approval.

What caused Zionism between the Israelis and the Palestinians?the types of causes that led to zionism and the war between them.

If you do additional research, particularly on the Internet, you will find that most web sites promote either the Israeli or the Palestinian point of view, and that it is difficult to find a "neutral" source on-line.  It might be best to about both points of view and come to your own conclusions.

Speamerfam

This is very true and very good advice. Jewish/Arab relations are very negative and toxic. Both sides are extremely distrustful of the other and each side is extremely angry and paranoid. The subject is swamped in propaganda and mis-information. It is very hard to find well informed and unbiased news. Be very very careful before you believe 'facts' and 'history' that you are told.

The Israel/Palestine conflict is perhaps the most difficult political situation of modern times. It is amazing how much international attention is given to the struggles of these two small groups of people. There are no easy solutions, both sides have many people who do not want peace. Any international attempts at peace are usually smashed by extremists on both sides.

In my opinion the situation is almost unsolvable, both sides have a list of minimum acceptable demands for a workable peace and each side's list is mutually exclusive. In other words they want completely different things and niether side will stop fighting until they get them.

I would say this; America tends to be rather 'pro-Israel'. Most American media coverage of this conflict assumes the right of Israel to exist without comment...

Imagine if, in 1942, in World War Two, the Japanese had invaded California claiming that their religion/history said California is special holy Japanese land from 2000 years ago. Imagine if the Japanese had then physically forced Americans living in California to leave. Imagine if the Japanese had then spent the last 60 years building bigger and bigger defences around California and taking more bits of land here and more bits of land there. Imagine if California were a Japanese state today. How would Americans feel about that? Would you respect the Japanese's wish for a holy land in California? How would you feel if your Grandfather had owned a nice farm in California, but he had been forced to leave at gunpoint, and now Japanese people live there?

That is the Palestinian experience of Israel. 

I'm not saying the Jews don't deserve a homeland, but the Palestinians have every right to feel the victims of unfairness. It is a very very messed-up situation and peace is a long way off. Our Grandchildren will be having this conversation.

What rhymes with cool that is also school related?Please help.. Writing a poem for school.

One major rhyme with the word "cool" that is also related to school, is the word "rule."  Every school and classroom has at least one rule.  Another rhyme word might be tool.  Many classrooms use tools such has pencils, paper, pens and the like. You might use something like:

"to be cool

and not be a fool

use all your tools

follow the rules

and stay in school."

There are some really great on-line rhyming dictionaries.  I have included some links below that may be helpful.  Thanks for your question.

What does "The Lottery" imply about family loyalties and human nature?

In "The Lottery," the story implies that there are no family loyalties, only self-preservation.  This is evidenced by the way that the Hutchinson family behaves when they are required to select slips, as the chosen family, to determine which member of their family will win the lottery.  There is detached indifference on the part of Mr. Hutchinson, particularly when his wife protests that the process has not been carried out properly.

"Bill Hutchinson went over to his wife and forced the slip of paper out of her hand. It had a black spot on it, the black spot Mr. Summers had made the night before with the heavy pencil in the coal company office. Bill Hutchinson held it up, and there was a stir in the crowd." (Jackson)

Mr. Hutchinson is cruel and indifferent to the fact that his wife has drawn the slip with the black mark.  He is relieved that it is not him.  He forces her to show the gathered crowd that she is the "winner."

Human nature is based on, Shirley Jackson points out, exclusively, on self-preservation.  Family loyalty, in this story has no meaning, no value.

Human nature is at its core, cruel and violent.  Jackson implies that given the choice between death and murder, most of us will pick up a heavy stone, just like Mrs. Delacroix.

"The pile of stones the boys had made earlier was ready; there were stones on the ground with the blowing scraps of paper that had come out of the box Delacroix selected a stone so large she had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dunbar. "Come on," she said. "Hurry up." (Jackson)

In "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" how is widow Douglas a good parent to Huck and a bad one?

To start off, she is willing to take Huck in and try to take care of him:  "She took me as her son, and allowed she would sivilize me."  He is a pretty rough-around-the edges kid, with little manners and not much upbringing.  Her willingness to take him in shows just how good of a person that she is.  She also shows a lot of love and concern for him.  On his occasional run-aways, she is very worried, and "cried over me and called me a poor lost lamb".  She also tries to teach him manners, and about the bible, praying, and heaven.  So, she's doing her best with him.  Then, when Pap comes back and is trying to get Huck's money,

"the widow went to the law to get the courts to...let [her] be my guardian."

So she not only takes him in, but tries to save him from his abusive father by trying to adopt him.  She takes action to keep him for hers for good.  This reflects her parental nature, good sense, and kind heart.

Her parenting is a bit naive though; she takes a pretty uncivilized Huck and expects him to be mannered and still right away, and to get everything perfectly the first time.  She was also a bit of a hypocrite, telling Huck to stop smoking because "it was a mean practice and wasn't clean," but at the same time, "she took snuff"; so, she was giving out orders that she wasn't keeping herself.

Other than a bit of naivety and being a bit hypocritical on some things, I would say the widow is doing a good job, doing the best that she can, given her circumstances.  Huck is lucky to have her.

In part 1, an old woman was burned in her house with the books. Why didn't she want to get out the house? And what is the meaning of her...

In part one of "Fahrenheit 451," by Ray Bradbury,the unnamed woman not only refuses to leave her books, she lights the match which burns her books, her house and herself.  She won't leave because she would rather die free, with her books, than live in a world of oppression and without the freedom of thought the books symbolize.

According to the information Beatty gives his firemen on the way back to the firehouse,

"A man named Latimer said those words to Nicholas Ridley, as they were being burnt alive at Oxford, for heresy, on October 16, 1555."

Beatty is aware of much of the literature used to promote the concept of freedom of thought and freedom of speech.  His belief is that it is necessary to burn books because these ideas make people think for themselves and that is dangerous to the control of the society.  Freedom of thought makes people unique and different. In Beatty's mind this is dangerous.

It is ironic that the woman is willing to die for the right to read and think for herself and she uses the speech as her last testament to that freedom, while Beatty uses literary quotes to justify his job of burning the books and taking away this freedom of thought.

"We must all be alike. Not everyone is born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone is made equal. Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against. So! A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it."

Who in "To Kill a Mockingbird" is considered the filthiest human with a dark gray neck?

Burris Ewell is known as

"the filthiest human [Scout] had ever seen.  His newck was dark gray, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were black deep into the quick.  He peered at Miss Caroline from the fist-sized clean space on his face."

Burris is the boy who only attends the first day of class and then never comes to school again.  He is the first of the Ewells that we meet.  The rest of the story is based around Mayella's (his sister) accusations on Tom Robinson and her father's (his dad) behavior and relationship with those in Maycomb.

This description happens in chapter 3 at school.

In "Great Expectations" to what extent do Pip's expectations come true in London? Is Pip satisfied? Why or why not?

It was upon his frequent association with Miss Havisham and Estella that made Pip discontented with his current state in life, and he felt that disgruntlement for quite some time.  He felt embarrassed by Joe and Biddy, and by the humble circumstances in which he lived.  Upon receiving his inheritance, he was able to "move up" in the world; he was able to get an education, live on his own, and become a gentleman of sorts.  And, for a while, it is pleasing to him.  He enjoys the comforts of having money.  He enjoys his companionship with his friend Herbert and his association with his family.

However, his new money has not brought him what he desires most in the world--respect and love from the unattainable Estella.  Despite his wealth, despite his status of being a gentleman, and despite Pip's supsicions that his benefactor is trying to align him with Estella, he does not get the girl.  Estella shows no romantic interest.  To add to this disappointment is Pip's own guilt over his poor treatment of his family back home.  Since coming into his money and moving to London, Pip has been horrible about staying in contact with Joe and his family, and has shunned them on numerous occasions.  He knows that is wrong, and always feels a weight of guilt over it, that shadows over all of his comforts and hapipness.   Another burden is Pip's increasing debt, which weighs on and comfort and security that he does have through his money.

Pip expected to gain Estella's love, respect in the world and for himself, and great comfort and security. In the end, he pretty much strikes out on all of those expectations.  He does have money, yes, but at the alienation of his family, and his increasing debt and unromantic relationship with Estella come along with it.  I imagine that on a certain level Pip wants to be satisfied, but as the end of the novel will attest, Pip learns that money is indeed, not the key to happiness.  I hope that helped; good luck!

What is Hawthorne's own attitude toward Dimmesdale which he makes increasingly clear in chapters 10-12 in The Scarlet Letter?

Nathaniel Hawthorne was a descendant of John Hathorne, a judge in the Salem witch trials.  That was always a source of personal shame for him--so much so that he even changed the spelling of his name in order to distance himself from his guilt. 

In these chapters of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne is clear in his belief that what's happening on the inside is directly related to what's happening on the outside.  He shows a man, Arthur Dimmesdale, who is literally deteriorating physically as he carries the weight and burden of his unforgiven sin and guilt.  He walks like an old man, he constantly places his hand over his heart, his voice is weak, and he startles easily.  He is a picture of a man sick with his own sin. 

In The Pearl, essentially, Steinbeck has Kino and Juana return to La Paz in order to ____________?(a) start a new life; (b) perform a symbolic...

Essentially, Steinbeck has Kino and Juana return to La Paz in order to

b.  perform a symbolic act.

Kino and Juana return to La Paz to throw the great pearl away into the sea.  The pearl, which was to have been the answer to all their prayers, has brought nothing but disaster.  The riches which Kino had envisioned attaining by selling the pearl have not materialized, and instead, he and Juana have lost everything of value to them, including the most valuable thing of all, their son Coyotito.  Before he throws the pearl away, Kino looks at it closely and sees that

"it (is) gray and ulcerous...evil faces (peer) from it into his eyes...and in the surface of the pearl he (sees) Coyotito lying in the little cave with the top of his head shot away...and the pearl (is) ugly, it (is) gray, like a malignant growth...and Kino hear(s) the music of the pearl, distorted and insane".

Kino flings the pearl "with all his might" into the water, and as it settles to the bottom of the sea, and "the music of the pearl drift(s) to a whisper and disappear(s)".  It had brought out nothing but the darkest evil in all those who coveted it, and now that it is gone, that cloud has been lifted, the evil vanished.

Although the ritual which Kino and Juana perform in throwing the pearl into the sea is symbolic, the author gives us a sense that the change for which the action stands has already taken place in their own lives. The two return to their village walking side by side, not "in single file, Kino ahead and Juana behind, as usual".  They are introspective, and have begun to throw aside traditional values and customs in favor of ones they have chosen themselves, ones based on love.  The author does not say exactly what will happen to Kino and Juana, or what they will do once they resume their lives in the village.  He only lets us see that their lives have changed, as exmplified by their symbolic act of throwing the great pearl back into the sea (Chapter 6).

I'm writing a compare/contrast paper using "The Chrysanthemums" and Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily." Any suggestions on how to start the paper?

"Chrysanthemums" and "A Rose for Emily" offer great opportunities for comparison and contrast. The first step that you should take is brainstorming. What subjects and themes are there in the stories and, since it has to be 5 pages, is there enough material to work with?

Let's look at some brainstorming ideas:

1) Setting: You could write about the settings.  One takes place in the South, the other takes place in a closed-off valley in California.  Both might have enough material to write about setting if you include not only time and place but economic, political, and social conditions at the time plus the prevailing attitudes of men and women.  This might be good.

2) Characters: Both stories contain women who are affected by their environment and people in their lives. You could write about how they think, act. feel, and what other characters think about the women.  I would choose this one.

3) Theme: Theme is always great to work with and can be included in your thesis statement.

4) Symbolism: There is great symbolism in both stories.  There are Gothic literature conventions, "invisible" watches, Emily being constantly "framed," a closed-off valley, travelling salesman, apples, chrysanthemums (especially), and a rose. Flowers can make interesting comparisons. Does one require a great deal of work to care for them?

5) Tone and style: Both stories offer a wealth of description, various sentence styles and unique diction.

6) Figurative language: Possibly some examples. This might be less attractive to write about.

7) Plot: Next to characterization, this is one of the most expansive topics to write about because it includes all the elements of the story: exposition, rising action, complications, etc.  This might be too broad.

I would choose female characterization. Start with how they are described. Then what they do, how they think, and what others think about them. Then write about their diction, etc. This is one of the more manageable topics and should fill 5 pages. Good luck with the assignment!

How does Jesse quiet Joyce Ann when she is crying in Bridge to Terabithia?

Joyce Ann starts to cry when the ride to church ends too quickly and she doesn't get to hear the others sing her second most favorite song, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town".  Jess tickles her "to get her giggling again", so that when they get out of the truck she is "flushed-faced and happy once more".

Leslie has never been to church, so Jess arranges it so that she can attend with his family on Easter.  Jess's older sisters, who are all decked out "like a pair of peacocks with fake tail feathers", insist on riding in the cab of the family pickup with their parents, so Jess, Leslie, and the two little girls, May Belle and Joyce Ann, must ride in the back.  To amuse themselves, the children sing on the way to church, and have just finished the first verse of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" when they arrive.  Joyce Ann, who is only four, starts to cry because they will not be able to finish the song, but when Jess tickles her, she forgets her unhappiness and cheerfully clambers over the tailgate of the truck with the others (Chapter 8).

What is the summary of "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost?

quaile,

Robert Frost sets the poem in the New England countryside in spring. The speaker and his neighbor are building a physical wall on the edge of their properties, but a wall of misunderstanding between the two is already in place. The speaker wants to engage his neighbor in debate and discussion, but the neighbor prefers quiet and refuses to argue. The images in the poem, though, invite the reader to imagine not only the relationship between this speaker and neighbor, but also the nature of relationships in general.

Frost also places emphasis on the point that it is not the neighbor (who believes that “good fences make good neighbors”) who initiates the ritual of mending the wall; rather, it is the speaker: “I let my neighbor know beyond the hill.” This suggests that “if fences do not ‘make good neighbors,’ the making of fences can,” for it makes for talk—even though the neighbor is hopelessly taciturn.

In "Fahrenheit 451" what decision did Montag make that morning after Mrs. Blake's fire?

First of all, he decides to not go to work that night, and maybe never again.  He asks Mildred, "how would it be if, well, maybe, I quite my job awhile?"  He is feeling ill from what happened, his world is turned upside down, and he just wants to be able to stay home and process it all.  Secondly, I think that he decides to take the step forward and actually start reading the books that he has hidden.  At Mrs. Blake's house, he takes another book, and when he gets home that night, it states, as he hold the book, "His hands were ravenous.  And his eyes were beginning to feel hunger."  So, he was feeling that need, that burning desire to read.  Then, after Beatty leaves, Montag gets out the books and really sits down to read.  He tries to read with Mildred, but she is whining and upset, so that doesn't work too well.  He ends up at Faber's where he sets up a plan to frame firemen houses to burn.  So on the simplest level, after the Blake fire, he decides to not go to work that night, and to start reading.  But those decisions start a chain reaction that set him on the road to open rebellion, and to enlightenment.

Explain the satire behind Snowball's committees in Animal Farm.

In Chapter Three of Animal Farm, Snowball sets up numerous committees in the wake of the revolution to overthrow Mr Jones. What immediately strikes the reader is the satirical nature of these committees, for two reasons.

First of all, the names of the committees are humorous in themselves. There is the "Whiter Wool Movement" for the sheep, the "Clean Tails League" for the cows and even a committee for the rats, called "Wild Comrades Re-education." The very idea that farm animals can be organised and tamed, to remove the characteristics which define them as animals, further adds to this sense of satire and humour.

Secondly, the abject failure of these committees is another source of satire. As Orwell comments: "They continued to behave very much as before, and when treated with generosity, simply took advantage of it." In the reader's mind, this description conjures humorous images of the "indefatigable" Snowball battling with hens and rats to make them cleaner and less animalistic. Similarly, the description of the cat talking to the birds and calling them her 'comrades' provides further humour because the reader knows that it is a ruse to lure the birds into a false sense of security. 

It is interesting to note that the only committee which meets with any success is the class to teach reading and writing. Through Snowball's efforts, Animal Farm and its inhabitants become semi-literate, an effort which is to be commended. It does, however, foreshadow the inequalities which will later surface and become a source of conflict. As the most intelligent, the pigs will occupy the top of the farm's social structure, with the other animals situated firmly below.

In this respect, then, the committees may be satirical, but they hint at the inequalities which soon follow.  

Why does beatty love fire? How does fire act as a metaphor to describe how society treats information and minds?

Beatty's love of fire is a self-contradiction. As a fireman who seems to enjoy the burning, he also has a great appreciation of literature which means he must be a learned man who has read many books. 

For me, Beatty is a sad figure who has embraced his current circumstances with a vacant disbelief, accepting that this is the way it is in the world, giving up hope that the joy of knowledge and books is gone forever.  In my view, he is a lonely man who functions like the mechanical dogs in the story.

His depression and sadness is brought to a climax when he does not attempt to protect himself from death.  He wants to die, he doesn't care about this life anymore.

"It is Beatty who explains the history of firefighting in the story and who fully embraces its justification, ironically quoting from literature to support his arguments."

Beatty fits into the symbolic message that fire represents in this society, as both a destructive force and a cleansing mechanism.  Fire purifies through its destruction and for Beatty, destroying the old way of life, burning the books, is cathartic, because why have the books if they cannot be read and enjoyed.

Knowledge is being burned from the minds of people as a mechanism to control behavior.  Censorship by fire, very effective, there is nothing but ashes left.  Symbolically, the minds of this society are being gutted the same way that books are being burned, the knowledge is removed, destroyed so that it can be replaced with images and commands that control the individual. 

There is no individual thought, books are a danger, the sooner they are gone, the less chance there is for revolt around the remnants of a lost society.

Why were the Jewish musicians not allowed to play music by Beethoven in Chapter 4 of Night?

To understand the reasons why Jewish musicians were not allowed to play music by Beethoven as described by Elie Wiesel in Night, it is important to comprehend the Nazi agenda. Hitler and members of the Nazi party had agreed to purge the Jewish community, among other groups termed undesirable, from humanity. The hatred towards these communities was extreme, and the Nazis made this clear by subjecting millions to forced labor and mass killings (holocaust). Basically, what they were communicating through their actions was that Jews and other "undesirables" were undeserving of life. For this reason, they were also undeserving of the German culture. It was an insult to the Nazis for a Jew to play German music (Beethoven was a German composer and musician). The Jews were considered inferior and subordinate to the Nazi Germans.

In Night, Elie met some musicians while at one of the concentration camps. The musicians, who were previously popular, and possibly played in front of German audiences, were barred from playing Beethoven or German music in general. This was an extension of the Nazi agenda, to prove to the Jews that they were undeserving.

We struck up conversations with our neighbors, the musicians. Almost all of them were Jews. Juliek, a Pole with eyeglasses and a cynical smile in a pale face. Louis, a native of Holland, a well known violinist. He complained that they would not let him play Beethoven; Jews were not allowed to play German music. Hans, the young man from Berlin, was full of wit. The foreman was a Pole: Franek, a former student in Warsaw.

In "Pride and Prejudice," do you think Lizzy marries Mr.Darcy out of love or for money, considering her feelings changed after she saw...

While I get what you're saying, I just can't believe it to be true; Lizzy was a person who cared mostly for other people's character and kindness, not their money.  Her feelings changed after Pemberly because of the housekeeper's description of Darcy.  She describes him as an incredibly kind, loving, gracious, respectful man who cares about the people on his estate, and for his sister.  She, Darcy's servant, is the one to say these things, which is significant, because she is a servant in his household and could very well be bitter or resentful.  But she's not.  And then, when Darcy arrives on the scene, he is exactly as she had said-gracious, kind, welcoming and cordial.  He immediately makes her and her aunt and uncle feel welcome, and goes out of his way to be kind and accomodating.  So, while Pemberly was quite impressive, in her thoughts afterwards, it is not the mansion or estate that she dwells on.  It is Darcy's mannerisms, and the picture that others paint of his character.  Liz has always had more esteem for character than money, and Darcy's is starting to grow on her.  If you look in the chapters after the visit, Austen has Lizzy dwelling on his personality, and not his fortune.

In the beginning of the book, Lizzy was well aware of Darcy's fortune, but immediately dismissed him because of his rudeness to her and everyone at the ball.  That alone is evidence that she doesn't care for money if it is attached to such an aloof and condescendng personality.  Her visit to Pemberly wouldn't have made a difference at all without the housekeeper's kind words, and Darcy's impeccable behavior there.  That is what pushes her in his direction, not the estate, or money.

What does Jem learn from Aunt Alexandria (either good or bad)?Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird"

When Aunt Alexandria arrives in Chapter13 of "To Kill a Mockingbird," she comes with the motive of "What Is Best For The Family."  The concept of family being of paramount importance, Aunt Alexandria

points out the shortcomings of other tribal groups to the greater glory of our own, a habit that amused Jem rather than annoyed him.

Jem is amused at the hypocrisy of his aunt's remark, for if one were to research the other families, there would be blood connections among them and the Finches.  And, he challenges Aunt Alexandria's reasoning that if a family has squatted "on one patch of land the finer it was" when he points out that the Ewells have been in one spot for generations:

'That makes the Ewells fine folks, then,' said Jem.  The tribe of which Burris Ewell and hiss brethren consisted had loved on the same plot of earth behind the Maycomb dump, and had thrived on county welfare money for three generations.

In Chapter 14, he perceives further her hypocritical attitude as she scolds Atticus for allowing the children to go to church with Calpurnia.  Evidently, it is all right for Calpurnia to cook and care for the children, but they must not go out in public with her.  When Atticus and Aunt Alexandria argue about Calpurnia's place in the Finch home, Jem takes Scout aside and tells her not to "antagonize Aunty" because their father has much on his mind with the Tom Robinson case pending.  While Jem displays a maturity, Scout, in little-sisterly fashion, is riled by his "superiority."  They, then argue and are sent to their rooms.  However, when Atticus and Aunt Alexandria pass by their doors, the children make sure that she hears them tell each other "Good-night."  Thus, in their loyalty to each other against her, they have also underscored her declaration of the importance of "Family."

How was Imperialism inconsistent with basic American Principles?

If we examine a sample of fundamental American principles, we can see that the practice of Imperialism is one fraught with inconsistencies.  For example, the principle of popular sovereignty, the right of the people to voice their opinion about the nature of government, is something discarded in Imperialism, whose forceful and direct control of nations paid no heed to such an idea.  Imperialism carries with it the notion that "certain people were destined to be ruled by others, an idea that, at its essence, negates the American principle of popular sovereignty.  Another American principle vitiated with Imperialist practices is individual rights, the belief that there are some inalienable and fundamental notions of the good that individuals can use as a protectorate shield from government encroachment.  These rights such as the right to free expression and the right to fairness in the forms of legal due process are violated with imperialist practices, which usurp individual notions of expression and due process with their own senses of authority, power, and conceptions of right/ wrong.  For example, when Imperialist practices compelled America to overtake Latin American nations, there was not a discourse to ask indigenous people what kind of government or legal system they desired, but rather an imposition of what was deemed to be right without discussion from others.  Such an imposition causes a natural rebellion or dissent with current practices, revealing another principle of American thought that is denied with Imperialism.  The idea of dissenting from power based practices is a time honored tradition in American intellectual history. From the Framers' conception of the idea that citizens have an obligation or duty to speak out against governmental abuses of power to the Declaration of Independence and Constitutional Government, dissent and seeking to refine government so that it is reflective "of the people, for the people, and by the people," is representative of an essential for Republicanism in America.  Yet, Imperialist take over and usurpation of nations does not allow this notion to develop, as American control of nations did not allow for dialogue or dissent, which was usually met with force and crushed out of the discussion.

What are some of the language features in Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" and how do they add to the total effect?

One language technique that Chopin uses is imagry.  This is where you use the 5 senses to describe a scene, helping it to seem more vibrant and alive.  After Louise has heard the news of her husband's death, she retreats to her room out looks out the window.  Chopin describes the scene out her window:

"the tops of trees...were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which some one was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.  There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds"

In this passage, we get the sights, sounds, and beauty that Louise encountered through her window.  Chopin uses this imagery to symbolize Louise's coming feeling of freedom.  It is a nice day, "new life" was in the air, a distant song was coming to her...all of this symbolizes the "new life" she would be excited to live, free from the constraints of marriage.  It adds to the effect of Louise's rather unexpected happiness at the news of her husband's death.  So, imagery is one language tool Chopin uses to enhance the mood and foreshadow the elation of the story.

Along those same lines, foreshadowing and symbolism can be considered techniques in and of themselves, so mentioning that fits also, and serves to increase the suspense.  She uses irony, which is the opposite of what one would expect, in Louise's reaction, the summarized reason for her death, and in her husband walking in the door at the end.  This adds tension, shock, surprise and interest to the story.  Chopin also uses a third-person omniscent narrator, a narrator that knows and understands the thoughts of the characters, which helps us to get inside Louise's head, and to know key facts about the story and her heart condition adding to the overall tension and suspense also.

I hope that those thoughts help; good luck!

About quibbles and puns in the speech of Mercutio, Romeo and Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet.Did Shakespeare intend to use quibbles and puns in Romeo...

In my opinion, the short answer to your secondary question is "both."  Shakespeare intended to use quibbles and puns and those forms of speech were common in teen vernacular of the time.  In order to illustrate my point, let me report a very short exchange that contains more puns and twists than any I have ever seen:

Romeo. Good morrow to you both.  What counterfeit did I give you?

Mercutio. The slip, sir, the slip.  Can you not conceive?

Romeo. Pardon, good Mercutio. My business was great, and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.

Mercutio. That's as much to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.

Romeo. Meaning, to curtsy.

Mercutio. Thous hast most kindly hit it.

Romeo. A most courteous exposition.

Mercutio. Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.

Romeo. Pink for flower.

Mercutio.  Right.

Romeo.  Why then is my pump well-flowered.

Mercutio. Well said!  Follow me this jest now till thou hast worn out thy pump, that, when the single sole of it is worn, the jest may remain, after the wearing, solely singular. (2.4.47-64)

There is simply so much contained in this simple conversation!  The beauty of it is that I have seen it played quite serious indeed (and sometimes even with the most raucous bits left out).  Of course, I am more a fan of the bawdy interpretation.  The puns are incredible, depending on how you take the word "slip" and "business" and "bow in the hams" and "pink" and "flower" and "pump" and "single sole."  Many a lady, I suspect, has swooned in thinking about Romeo's "pump."  Ha!  This is also a very common exchange that critics point to as evidence of a physical attraction between the two friends.  In my opinion, the beauty of this scene is that these off-color jokes are just the kind that teens spout in the halls today, although not in Shakespearean language.  Some things never change.  That is the one of the many reasons that the genius of Shakespeare has stood the test of time.

What was Charles Darnay's secret?

Charles Darnay's secret that he hides from all except his father-in-law before he marries Lucie, is that he was born into the French aristocracy, and in addition, is the nephew of the Marquis Evermonde, who we are shown is a particularly cruel and heartless example of the French aristocracy. We are shown Charles' great strength of mind in his rejection of the values of his uncle and in his decision to live a significantly poorer life working in London than he would be able to live in France. We are also shown his tremendous loyalty in his decision to return to France to try and rescue Gabelle at great personal risk.

What are some similes, metaphors, personification, and sensory references in "The Devil and Tom Walker"?

The strong imagery in the story appeals to various senses. The swamp is dark and forbidding, "grown with great gloomy pines and hemlocks." It is a visual image of pits, quagmires, weeds, moss, slime, mud, rotting trees, and "stagnant pools" of water. The sounds of thunder claps, howling, hooting owls, and horses' hooves are heard in the story, and the "sweet-smelling" Indian sacrifices are referenced.

The major example of personification is the characterization of evil in the physical form of the devil who appears as a dark man, soiled with soot and dressed in "rude half-Indian garb." In this personification, the devil acts and speaks, luring Tom into a bargain that will cost him his soul.

There are numerous similes and metaphors throughout the story. Tom and his wife's home is metaphorically a "den of discord" and the greed which sweeps over New England is a "great speculating fever that breaks out now and then."

Some of the story's similes include these: The trees rot in the swamp, "looking like alligators sleeping in the mire," and Tom makes his way through the swamp by "pacing carefully, like a cat, along the prostrate trunks of trees."

What is the setting of Mrs. Hale's discovery inside the sewing basket? What are her facial and body expressions?how would you use lighting and...

The setting for Mrs. Hale's discovery is the Wright's kitchen.  The men have left the women to their own devices downstairs while they go upstairs to investigate the murder scene.  Of course, they feel free to leave the women downstairs because they do not believe that the women will do or say anything of significance.  As the play opens, Glaspell describes the kitchen as "gloomy" and writes that it looks like it was

"left without having been put in order--unwashed pans under the sink, a loaf of bread outside the breadbox, a dish towel on the table--other signs of incompleted work."

When the women first bring out the sewing basket with the bright colored quilt pieces on top, the men are in the kitchen with them, but they soon go upstairs after making snide comments about "trifles" or what type of sewing Minnie Wright was going to use.

Later, as the women look for items to take to Minnie Wright at the jail, they return to the sewing basket.  At this point, they have already discussed why Minnie might have killed her husband and have discovered Minnie's empty bird cage, they decide to take the basket to Minnie so that she can keep busy with sewing.  As Mrs. Hale moves aside the piece of quilting, the following dialogue takes place:

MRS. HALE. Here's some red. I expect this has got sewing things in it (Brings out a fancy box.) What a pretty box. Looks like something somebody would give you. Maybe her scissors are in here. (Opens box. Suddenly puts her hand to her nose.) Why-- (Mrs. Peters bend nearer, then turns her face away.) There's something wrapped up in this piece of silk.

MRS. PETERS. Why, this isn't her scissors.

MRS. HALE (lifting the silk.) Oh, Mrs. Peters--it's-- (Mrs. Peters bend closer.)

MRS. PETERS. It's the bird.

MRS. HALE (jumping up.) But, Mrs. Peters--look at it. Its neck! Look at its neck! It's all--other side to.

MRS. PETERS. Somebody--wrung--its neck.
(Their eyes meet. A look of growing comprehension of horror. Steps are heard outside. Mrs. Hale slips box under quilt pieces, and sinks into her chair. Enter Sheriff and County Attorney. Mrs. Peters rises.)

Glaspell describes Mrs. Hale's facial and body expressions quite clearly.  As she leans closer to the basket, Mrs. Hale should wrinkle her nose to show that she has smelled a foul odor. When she sees the dead bird, she jumps (probably away from the basket, as a stage director, you might even have her drop the basket at the sight. As she and Mrs. Peters recover their senses, both should have the look of realization on their faces.  They have just determined Minnie Wright's motive, and as they hear the men approach, both would most likely have looks of understanding and determination on their faces, because at this point they have probably already silently determined not to tell the men what they found.

As for lighting, it should be dim up until Mrs. Hale leans over the basket.  As she does so, a spotlight on her and the basket would enhance the suspense and action of the play.  Not only would show the importance of her actions, but it would also literally shed light on Minnie Wright's motive.

How are Julia and Winston betrayed in 1984.

Winston and Julia got involved in an affair, an act which the Party prohibited. The Party ideals advocated for hatred and banned promiscuity among its members. This means that they were doing something wrong and if caught they would be eliminated. They therefore sought to keep their involvement clandestine and Winston rented a room on top of a junk shop owned by Mr. Charrington, the individual who had previously sold him a diary. The two continue to meet in this room where they discussed very serious matters including their intention to join the Brotherhood, an outlaw group led by Goldstein, enemy of the people. They later met O’Brien who recruited them into the Brotherhood. However, during one of their secret meetings in the rented room, Julia and Winston were arrested. They were betrayed by Mr. Charrington who was actually an undercover member of the Thought Police and O’Brien who was a devoted Inner Party member. Ironically, following their arrest, Winston was tortured by O’Brien himself in a bid to cure him. During an unplanned meeting between Julia and Winston they both admit to having given in and betrayed their love.

Define foreshadowing and give an example of it from "An Occurrence at Owl Creek."

Foreshadowing in literature are clues or hints in the story of events to come later in the story.

In An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, the story is a little disordered and the reader gets confused about what happens first.  The first part of the story is what is currently happening, Peyton Farquhar is going to be executed by the Union or Federal Army.  He was caught conspiring to blow up Owl Creek Bridge.  

Standing on the bridge he plotted to destroy, Farquhar, noose around his neck begins to imagine his family, he imagines that he escapes.  Except, the reader does not know whether his imaginings are real or just a dream he has as he is seconds away from death.

In my view, after Farquhar begins to imagine that he has escaped, the whole sequence of events foreshadow the end of the story.  As he escapes in his dream, he swims away, unharmed, while several soldiers are shooting at him in the water.  I found this very suspicious.

Farquhar swims and swims until he can safely leave the water and run onto land.  He then begins to run and run and run, all to get away from Federal forces and back to Southern controlled territory.  He seems to have unlimited energy and ability to travel great lengths.  This is an indication that he is experiencing a fantasy rather than a real event.

"In this section, the narrator's language is often melodramatic. For example, when Farquhar is in the river, fighting to break the rope around his wrists, the narrator declares: "What splendid effort!" and "What superhuman strength!" Additionally, the surroundings are described in the minutest detail, suggesting that Farquhar could not possibly be experiencing what is being described."

Finally, when Farquhar is within sight of his home, there is no sign on the face of his wife of any emotion regarding her husband's impending death.  She appears carefree and happy, unusual behavior on the day of your husband's execution.  The only explanation for this behavior is that she is a vision, as he wants to remember her.

As he reaches out to hug his wife, who remains smiling in a rather wooden fashion, he is literally jolted back to reality, he is swinging from the end of the rope, dead by execution for his crimes against the Union or Federal Army.

Peyton Farquhar is executed, at the end of the story we discover that he was only imagining his escape it was all a dream.    

Thinking Jem was the killer, Atticus was unwilling to go along with the story that Ewells had fallen on his knife. Why not?

Atticus Finch was nothing if not a man of integrity.  His moral compass demanded that he act with honesty in all aspects of his life, both personal and professional.  Of defending Tom Robinson, he said he couldn't live with himself or face his children if he didn't do his best to help the man, even if the ending was a foregone conclusion.  He stated the same thing to Heck regarding the Ewell incident. He didn't believe he could face his children, or expect them to have any respect for him whatsoever if he didn't "walk his talk" and live the way he made it clear he expected them to live.  Only when Heck alluded to Arthur Radley's role in the incident, and what it might do to him to be part of a murder investigation and thereby thrust into public view, for which he was clearly unprepared, only then did Atticus relent.

In The Great Gatsby, what is the meaning of the reference to "gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover" that precedes Chapter I?

This introductory passage appears on the title page of the novel:

Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;

If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,

Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,

I must have you!"

The poem is then attributed to one "Thomas Parke D'Invilliers," who was not a real person, but was actually one of Fitzgerald's fictional characters in This Side of Paradise; thus, Fitzgerald himself wrote the lines that introduce his novel.

The lines relate connotatively to Gatsby's romantic pursuit of Daisy. In order to win her back, he amasses--and then very conspicuously displays--an enormous amount of wealth. He takes extraordinary measures to capture Daisy's attention and to draw her from East Egg into one of his dazzling parties. He spares no expense to overwhelm her with his glamorous estate and his many beautiful possessions. Gatsby wears the "gold hat" for Daisy, and he "bounces" very high to impress her so significantly that she will decide she must have him back.

What is the thematic meaning of blindness in Carver's story "Cathedral" and the methods of revealing character?

In this story, the blind man is the one who can truly "see", or who really understands how life can be beautiful, meaningful, and happy, whereas the narrator is the one who is "blind" to those things.  The narrator spends the entire time moaning and groaning about life, his wife, the blind man, and his station in life, and it isn't until the very end, when he closes his eyes and guides the blind man's hands, that he truly sees and feels a profound experience that makes him grateful and happy.  The narrator, a very sarcastic and bitter man, feels, as he closes his eyes to attempt to draw a cathedral for a blind man, that "it was like nothing else in my life up to now."  That's a pretty strong statement for him, considering how negative he's been in the story up to this point.  He has to let go of the senses that he has clung to for so long, and in the dark, have a leap of faith as he drew the cathedral.  He put himself in someone else's shoes, something that he probably has never even tried before.  Before this, he was a bit resentful of the blind man coming to visit, resentful of the company, his wife's fondness for the man, and the inconvenience the visit put on his life.  He was thinking only from his own perspective-not from the blind man's, or his wife's.  But, as he closes his eyes and draws, he sees life from another person's perspective, and finds it incredible.  It is a profound moment for him.  So, the blind man led the seeing man to truly see something for the first time in his life.  The blind man reveals the petty, selfish nature of the narrator, and then helps him to have an experience that will hopefully help to change that character.  Blindness helps to reveal Robert as the truly seeing, wise one, that guides the storyteller to new and positive experiences.

Those are just some thoughts along those lines; I hope that they help get you started.  Good luck!

Describe the marriage in the story "The Lamp at Noon" by Sinclair Ross.

Sinclair Ross, A Canadian writer, wrote while he worked as a banker until his retirement.  Ross's parents divorced when he was young, and he lived with his mother.  Despite Ross never marrying,  he often wrote about married life. 

The story "The Lamp at Noon" takes place during the depression probably in the "Dust Bowl."  The winds and drought were so severe that nothing could be grown;consequently, farmers had to abandon their lands.   This is the setting for the story.  The narration is third person omniscient because the reader sees into the thoughts of the characters:  the wife, Ellen; the husband, Paul; and the baby.  The atmosphere is bleak and dark. The writer's word choice brings the experience of this terrible phenomenon of nature to life.  The author's language and descriptions detail the  wind and its horrendous results on the farm. Using personificiaton and a simile, Ross explains:

...wind sprang inside the room,  distraught like a bird that has felt the graze of talons on its wing; while furious the other wing shook the walls.

The perception of the couple's situation is so important to recognizing their misery.  Everything circulates around the wind, the dust, and the drought.

Both of the main characters are despondent.  Ellen's life prior to her marriage had been comfortable.  Her father owned a store in town. Now, she is distraught.  She feels alone isolated, angry, hurt, and most importantly, hopeless.  More than once, Ellen tells Paul that they have no future on the farm.  Nothing will grow; he has tried and the environment only beats him back.  Her baby coughs and cries constantly.  Begging for his attention, Ellen tries to communicate her feelings to her husband. 

I can't stand it any longer.  He cries all the time. You will go Paul-say you will.  We aren't living here-not really living.

No marriage can withstand such lack of communication.

For five years, Paul has worked hard to make his farm profitable.  He knows that his family is barely surviving.  His animals are suffering.  Tired of arguing with Ellen, he retreats to his sanctuary, the barn.  His manhood and self-respect refuse to give in to her request to try something different.  Her father offered him a job.  Blindly, Paul avoids his wife's pleas. 

Toward the end of the story, the wind does subside.  When Paul looks at his crops, all he sees are the results of the wind storm: black, barren fields. Still, he feels more loyalty to the land than to his wife. 

Ellen is tired of fighting the dust. All she can think of is getting out.  She tries to make Paul see her point of view.  She pleads with him.  In contrast, obviously, Paul does love his family; however, his pride prevents him from listening to her depression, loneliness, and misery. He thinks only of his connection to his land.  He hears his wife,  but he does not listen.  Unfortunately, his dismissal of her complaints leads to a tragic ending.

When Paul returns to the house, he finds his wife and baby gone.  Finally after searching, he finds them.  The baby is dead, and Ellen appears out of her mind.  Unable to cope with the loss of the child, Ellen tries to relate to her husband:

You're right Paul..You said tonight we'd see the storm go down. ...Tomorrow will be fine.

For this couple,  the future will not be satisfactory.  The lack of communication and pride have taken their child.  The marriage may be irretrievably lost as well.

I am writing an essay on swine flu (H1N1).Can you help me construct an essay on swine flu?

Swine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog fluand pig flu, is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus (SIV) or S-OIV (swine-origin influenza virus) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs.[2] As of 2009, the known SIV strains include influenza C and the subtypes of influenza Aknown as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3.

Swine influenza virus is common throughout pig populations worldwide. Transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always lead to human flu, often resulting only in the production of antibodies in the blood. If transmission does cause human flu, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People with regular exposure to pigs are at increased risk of swine flu infection. The meat of an infected animal poses no risk of infection when properly cooked.

During the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, allowing accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, only 50 such transmissions have been confirmed. These strains of swine flu rarely pass from human to human. Symptoms of zoonotic swine flu in humans are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namelychills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache,coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

In August 2010 the World Health Organization declared the swine flu pandemic officially over.[3]

Why was the only subject in school that Holden actually passed without much trouble prior to being kicked out was English?Does this hold some sort...

Early on, Holden tells Mr. Spencer that he passed English because he had the same class the year before, when he was at The Whooton School, so he did not have to work very hard, just "write compositions once in awhile."

Nevertheless, Holden is also very good in English. He is well-read, often quoting classics, such as Romeo and Juliet, The Return of the Native, and Out of Africa. The reader also gets to see his creative side, when he writes the descriptive piece for Stradlater, which he chooses to write on Allie's baseball glove. We understand his thought process better at this point, but we also understand from where his instability stems. It is interesting to note that he writes this piece in order to escape the world. He could not stop thinking about Stradlater and what he might be doing on his date with Jane, so he writes the essay, thus thinking about something else.

There is no doubt that Holden is smart. He puts little effort into his work, probably for a number of reasons, including his hatred of the hypocrisy he sees in the school, his fear of growing up, and his inability to accept his brother's death.

Name three uses of metaphors, similies, irony, foreshadowing, or hyperbole.

Many examples can easily be found in or around Cyrano's "nose" speech--when he is insulting Valvert's lack of wit, then fighting a duel with him.  I'll give you one example of each; you can certainly find more on your own.

Metaphor - "'Tis a rock--a crag--a cape--...a peninsula!"

Simile - "I do not dress up like a popinjay!"

Irony - "But I have no gloves!  A pity too!"  (verbal irony--he so wishes he had some gloves!)

Hyperbole - "When it blows, the typhoon howls....When it bleeds, the Red Sea!"

How is the moon and moonlight variously personified in Act 1 scene 1 of A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Throughout Midsummer Night's Dream, the moon and moonlight occur frequently, clearly making them a governing symbol of the play. It can be said to broadly symbolise love, lust and fantasy, though interestingly it is used differently by different characters throughout the play. However, for all of them, the moon and moonlight is linked to bizarre and out-of-character behaviour - it seems to encourage weird behaviour.

In Act I Scene 1, Theseus laments the amount of time that has to pass before his union to Hippolyta, saying:

... four hapy days bring in

Another moon: but oh, methinks, how slow

This old Moon wanes; she lingers my desires

Like to a step-dame, or a dowager,

Long withering out a young man's revenue.

The moon here then is compared to a step-dame or a dowager who is represented as a block to the union (we presume sexually as well) and true love of Theseus and Hippolyta.

In response to Theseus' impatience, Hippolyta replies:

Four days will quickly steep themselves in night:

Four nights will quickly dream away the time:

And then the Moon, like to a silver bow,

New bent in heaven, shall behold the night

Of our solemnities.

It is clear that Hippolyta is not necessarily in such a hurry. She regards the moon as a witness to their pleasures of their marriage, and of course the sexual union between them. Interestingly, the moon was considered to be a powerful force of fertility.

One of Egeus' complaints against Lysander is that he has wooed his daughter by serenading her at moonlight. To Egeus, then, the moon is associated with foolhardy and reckless acts of love - he links moonlight with Lysander having "bewitched" Hermia, as if he is blaming the malign influence of the moon for Hermia's defiance of his wishes.

Lastly, Lysander tells Helena of his and Hermia's plans to elope, he says:

Tomorrow night, when Phoebe doth behold

Her silver visage, in the watery glass,

Decking with liquid pearl, the bladed grass

A time that lovers' flights doth still conceal...

For him, then, he clearly regards the moon as a force that supports the cause of true love by aiding him and Hermia in their escape. The moon's visage seems almost to bless the elopement of the lovers.

Throughout the play the majority of the action happens in moonlight or it is referred to as a force of love or chaos, specifically later on in the play. It is perhaps significant that after the "Midsumer Night's Dream" the marriages of the three sets of lovers occur in daytime, perhaps reflecting the end of the power of the moon to disrupt and cause chaos.

Where did the plane land in "Lord of the Flies"?

The plane actually seems to have crashed into the ocean, since the boys never mention any remnants of the aircraft being anywhere on the island.  However, before it crashed, it did scrape alongside the outer edge of the jungle, right along the beach.  The narrator refers to this area as a "scar," signifying the damage the plane must have done to the jungle while crashing.  The constant use of the word "scar" to describe this is interesting diction to analyze:  Golding is already using a fairly violent word/image to describe the boys' arrival on the island, establishing the man vs. nature conflict early on in the book.

In The Great Gatsby, what morals, values, or goals are expressed and described?

The novel develops strong themes concerning morality and personal values. Nick's character is developed to represent solid personal values and moral conduct, while the Buchanans come to represent immorality, amorality, and personal values that have been corrupted by enormous inherited wealth and the social status it has created for them.

Nick, who comes East after being shaped by Midwestern values while growing up, believes in honesty, friendship. and loyalty. He values decency in human behavior and is dumbfounded and appalled by Tom and Daisy's lack of decency in the novel's conclusion. Gatsby's death is meaningless to them, except as a personal inconvenience and complication. It is Nick who makes arrangements for Gatsby's funeral, becoming more and more angry when he realizes he is the only one of Gatsby's "friends" who cares about him:

. . . I began to have a feeling of defiance, of scornful solidarity between Gatsby and me against them all.

Nick is not self-centered and obsessed with his own well being, unlike Tom, Daisy, and Jordan, as well as Myrtle Wilson, and Meyer Wolfsheim. After his time in the East, Nick comes home to condemn all the major players, except Gatsby, as being "foul dust."

In terms of the characters' goals, Nick's is substantial and honorable: to establish a career and make his way in the world. Gatsby's goal is grand and romantic: to repeat the past with Daisy, whom he loves at all costs. Myrtle wants to escape poverty, which in itself is understandable, even though her methods to achieve it are contemptible. George Wilson's goal in life is to survive economically, which points to the drastic discrepancy between the social classes in American life. Tom and Daisy, having everything, have no goals at all; their lives are lived without purpose.

In Ethan Frome, how long had Ethan and Zeena been married when Mattie came to the farm?

Ethan and Zeena had been married for seven years when Mattie came to keep house for them. Zeena had "fallen silent" after the first year of their marriage, and during the remainder of those seven years, Ethan had lived in emotional isolation. This represents one of the novel's many ironies since Ethan had married Zeena impulsively to avoid being alone on the farm during the long and bitter New England winter facing him as Zeena prepared to leave after his mother's death. Ethan once realized that he would not have married Zeena if his mother had died in the spring.

Casual references to time throughout the novel make it possible to determine the ages of the characters throughout the novel's events. Ethan was 52 when the narrator first saw him, and the smash-up had occurred 24 years previously. Ethan, then was 28 when he met Mattie. Zeena was 35 when Mattie came to them. Ethan married Zeena when he was only 21 years old and she was 28. By the time the narrator met Ethan, he had been married to Zeena for 31 years. No doubt they would be joined for the rest of their lives and then lie next to each other in the Frome graveyard. Ethan was forever bound to Zeena.

Summarize Beatty's explanation of how the need for firemen arose?

Many different segments of society were offended by ideas that were in print. Authors attempted to mollify those various segments to the point that most all printed matter ended up being much the same. After a while, a decision was made simply to burn books.

Beatty explains that society needs the firemen to protect them from unhappiness and discontent caused from independent thought and reading contradictory ideas found in books.

Beatty's explanation twists history to allude that even Benjamin Franlkin burned books.

By eliminating free thought, books, and alone time, society is more ordered and controlled. Everyone is equal because they are made equal by the social constraints that are in place.

Discuss the theme of truth and lies in The Wild Duck.

Truth and lies is a complicated theme in Ibsen's The Wild Duck. For instance, Gina Ekdal is living in a lie because she has never told Hjelmar Ekdal, her husband, that there may be some confusion as to Hedvig's paternity: Hedvig's father could be Hakon Werle or Hjelmar Ekdal. However, Gina is living in a wonderful truth because she adores her daughter and wholeheartedly loves her husband whom she protects with tender care. Gina in truth is happy and her family is happy, as separate individuals and as a unit.

Another example of truth and lies considers Gregars Werle. Gregars knows the truth about Hedvig's doubtful paternity and is determined that freedom and happiness require him to enlighten Hjelmar Ekdal as to the dubious nature of his paternity. Gregars is living in the truth. Yet, Gregars is living in a horrible lie because he believes everyone will glad to have the truth come out to dispel what he believes must be an oppressive burden of lies. His life of lies ruins the happiness of the family and causes Hedvig to take her life.

What lessons do we learn from the pilot in Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince?

One of the most important lessons we learn from the pilot is to look beyond the corporeal. We learn in the very first couple of chapters that the pilot struggled in his life because he saw things in a way that others could not see them. As we see from his "Drawing Number One," a person is only able to discern that it is a picture of a boa constrictor from the outside digesting an elephant if one pays close attention and notices the small details, such as the eyes of the snake and the shape of the shape of the elephant. Since the elephant is not truly seen, except in silhouette form, we see that this drawing is a lesson of seeing things beyond the obvious and beyond the corporeal. In addition, we learn that the pilot has shown his drawing to people throughout his life in order to determine if he or she is a "person of true understanding" (Ch. 1).

A second lesson we learn from the pilot is actually one the pilot learns from the prince himself. The pilot learns that, while he has always had an appreciation for the things unseen, he too has allowed himself to get swept away by things of less importance, just like the grown-ups. The prince has reached a very strong understanding that the things that really matter are what can't be seen, such as love and faithfulness. At one point the prince begins to worry about whether or not his drawing of a sheep in a box would eat his flower. The pilot replies that he is "very busy with matters of consequence!" (Ch. 7). The prince responds with a rational argument that portrays his love for his flower, even though he cannot see his flower because she is far away on one of millions of stars. He further argues that just the mere thought that his flower could be threatened by the sheep is a matter of great consequence, as we see in his lines:

If someone loves a flower, of which just one single blossom grows in all the millions and millions of stars, it is enough to make him happy just to look at the stars. He can say to himself, "Somewhere, my flower is there..." But if the sheep eats the flower, in one moment all his stars will be darkened...And you think that is not important! (Ch. 7)

Hence, we see that the little prince's speech teaches that what is truly important are the things unseen. In addition, the pilot accepts and teaches this lesson himself when he lets his tools drop from his hands in order to comfort his prince, the one he loves, showing us that what really matters are the things unseen, such as love.

What is the theme of the novel, The Loneliness of the Long- Distance Runner?

Isolation, individuality and rebellion are the interconnecting themes of Alan Sillitoe's British novel, The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner. A native of Nottingham, Smith has grown up on the streets and has been sent to a juvenile prison in Borstal to serve his sentence for theft. While there, he is selected to represent the school in a long-distance race. Smith finds solace in the solitude of the training, but he is proud of his roots: He will always remain an outlaw in a world of "in-laws." In the end, he deliberately loses the race after running to a big lead, since the "in-law" governor will receive the greatest accolades.

By losing the race, Smith maintains his individuality in what will be a continually rebellious life. Although he is most happy while running by himself, he looks forward to completing his sentence only so he can return to a life of crime--an outlaw to the end.

Why did Charlie have to take tests before he had his operation in Flowers for Algernon?Help please!!!!!!!

Charlie's operation is experimental, and in order for the doctors to be sure they have the best possible subject for the experiment, they must find out all they can about their candidates, and evaluate and compare their various attributes.  Also, by having the results of the tests taken before the operation by their chosen subject, the doctors will have a basis for comparison in order to measure the effects of the procedure once it is done.

Charlie must take a battery of tests "so they will see if they can use (him)" (March 3).  These tests include the Rorschach, or "inkblot" test and the Thematic Apperception Test, both of which evaluate the level of Charlie's personality development.  Charlie must also perform tasks involving puzzles and mazes, which measure his intelligence quotient, or IQ.

Based on the results of his tests, Charlie is actually not the perfect candidate for the operation, but he is chosen because he is "the best one they testid", and because of the unusually strong degree of motivation which he shows.  It is not often that a person with his level of intelligence has such a strong drive to improve himself, and for this reason, the doctors, along with Miss Kinnian, the teacher at the Center for Retarded Adults, decide to go ahead and use him in the experiment.  After the operation has been completed, they are able to measure Charlie's progress by having him take the tests again, and by comparing the results.  In this way, the doctors are able to use concrete statistical data in monitoring what is happening to Charlie, and in evaluating the effectiveness of the experiment.

What characteristics do Janie's three husbands share?

Although each marriage is very different, I would argue that there are a few commonalities between the men.

• Each man dominates Janie in some way. Logan sees her as another hand to help work the farm, and keeps her at home. Jody considers her almost like a trophy wife, and insists she wear her hair up. He also won't allow her to speak her mind. Tea Cake physically abuses her, and tells her it is so she'll know her place.


• Each man is hard-working in their own way. Logan constantly works to keep his farm running. Jody builds up his business and becomes mayor of Eatonville. Tea-Cake works with Janie in the fields, and although he gambles and seems aloof, he does work to earn money for himself and Janie.


• Each man helps Janie discover another aspect of herself. Logan awakens Janie to the reality of marriage, and his treatment encourages her to seek someone who will live up to her standards of love. Jody shows her that she has the strength to stand up for herself and claim her own life. Tea-Cake helps Janie discover what she really wants, & shows her that there can be happiness in life.

In Death of a Salesman, why does Willy get angry at Bernard?

His defenses down and very emotional, Willy falls into a conversation with Bernard, who has achieved success in life as a respected attorney with a growing family. Willy asks Bernard about the "secret" for his success and asks why Biff did not succeed, as well. This opens the door for Bernard to speak "candidly" about Biff; he wants to know why Biff didn't go to summer school in order to graduate from high school and go on to college. Bernard remembers that Biff was all set to go to summer school, but then he dropped out of sight for several weeks. Bernard believed that Biff had gone to Boston to see his father. Innocently, Bernard is leading Willy to the painful truth of Biff's discovery of his father's adultery in the Boston hotel room. Bernard tells Willy how Biff reacted when he showed up again:

And he came back after that month and took his sneakers--remember those sneakers with "University of Virginia" printed on them? He was so proud of those, wore them every day. And he took them down in the cellar, and burned them up in the furnace . . . . I knew he'd given up his life. What happened in Boston, Willy?

This is no doubt the first time Willy has heard this story about Biff burning his college sneakers, clearly an indicator of how deeply angry and disillusioned he was after the incident in Boston. Bernard, without realizing it, has made it clear to Willy that if Biff had not caught his father in that hotel room, he most likely would have gone to summer school, graduated, and attended college. Willy becomes infuriated:

What are you trying to do, blame it on me? If a boy lays down is that my fault . . . . don't talk to me that way! What does that mean, "What happened?"

Willy becomes defensive and angry with Bernard out of his own deep feelings of guilt and shame--and his pain in realizing the role he had played in destroying his son's future.

Under what genre is the Bible classified?

Certainly, the bulk of the Bible is either narrative or poetry.  You've left out, however, one very important element of the Hebrew Bible, namely, LAW.

The books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy contain long passages of the laws that God gave to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  Leviticus, in particular, contains very little narrative at all, being almost entirely in the form of a law code.

The Biblical law codes cover civil law, marital law, monetary law, laws of religious rituals, laws of animal sacrifice, laws of ritual purity, and many other fields. Jewish tradition calculates that there are a total of 613 statutes in the Five Books of Moses.

It is true that the laws are presented in the context of the historical narrative of the Hebrews leaving Egypt and then receiving the Torah (the Law) at Mt. Sinai.  It would be hard to argue, though, that the author (or Author) of the Bible intended only to tell the story about how a law code was once upon a time given to the Israelite nation.  Numerous verses indicate that the author considered these laws to be binding for all generations.

Thus, we must add LAW or LAW CODE to the list of genres that are used in the Bible.