What is the tone of Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address" speech?

The purpose of the Gettysburg Address was to dedicate a Civil War battlefield. Lincoln helped put the war in a larger context—that it was a war to protect government "of the people" from "perishing from the Earth." Lincoln uses the line "of the people" to frame the war as a war to protect the Founding Fathers' view of the nation. Lincoln takes a reverential tone when he states the people gathered at Gettysburg that November...

The purpose of the Gettysburg Address was to dedicate a Civil War battlefield. Lincoln helped put the war in a larger context—that it was a war to protect government "of the people" from "perishing from the Earth." Lincoln uses the line "of the people" to frame the war as a war to protect the Founding Fathers' view of the nation. Lincoln takes a reverential tone when he states the people gathered at Gettysburg that November afternoon could not "dedicate" or "consecrate" that land any more than the soldiers who died there the previous July. Lincoln's concise speech always keeps the focus on the soldiers buried there. Also, Lincoln does not differentiate between the Confederate and Union dead—he seems to value them both equally.  

Lincoln gave this speech at a time when, while the Confederacy was losing power, the outcome of the war was in doubt. The war had already killed hundreds of thousands of men on both sides, and many in the Union were asking if the war was worth the cost. By framing the war as a battle to maintain the Founding Fathers' view of the nation, Lincoln states the Union's success is critical.  

What is the theme of "The Truly Great" poem by Stephen Spender? What are two literary devices that contribute to the theme?

The main theme of the poem centers on the necessity of remembering, celebrating, and cherishing the "truly great" among us. The narrator doesn't specifically state who these "truly great" people are, but they might be famous writers and poets the narrator knows.

The narrator praises these "truly great" individuals with highly laudatory words. During his life, Stephen Spender was infatuated with the idea of fame and greatness. He yearned for success and dreamed about it;...

The main theme of the poem centers on the necessity of remembering, celebrating, and cherishing the "truly great" among us. The narrator doesn't specifically state who these "truly great" people are, but they might be famous writers and poets the narrator knows.

The narrator praises these "truly great" individuals with highly laudatory words. During his life, Stephen Spender was infatuated with the idea of fame and greatness. He yearned for success and dreamed about it; as a rule, he thoroughly enjoyed being surrounded by successful writers, authors, and poets. It's no surprise, then, that he lavishes high praise on the "truly great."

He likens these individuals to essentially superior beings, born from divinity:

What is precious, is never to forget

The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs

Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth

Here, the "blood" of the "truly great" is of divine origin. It is "drawn from ageless springs," meaning God himself has infused his divine essence into the bloodstreams of the "truly great." So, "ageless springs" are a metaphor describing God or Providence, whose power is ageless and eternal. This "ageless spring" is formidable enough to break through "rocks in worlds before our earth." Essentially, the narrator may be intimating that the "truly great" have charted new territory in areas beyond the average citizen's comprehension. Because of this, we should remember them with deep gratitude and strive to emulate their wisdom and nobility of spirit.

Besides using metaphors to reinforce his points, Spender also uses synecdoche to warn us against letting our busy lives crowd out what's truly important:

Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother

With noise and fog, the flowering of the spirit.

In the above, Spender mentions the "traffic" that smothers "the flowering of the spirit." Traffic is part and parcel of bustling, modern lifestyles. Traffic, along with grueling work schedules and demanding familial responsibilities, often robs us of time to contemplate the achievements of the "truly great" and emulate them.

What kind of actions did the British take to get money from colonists, and do you think the reactions of the colonists were justified?

The British used several methods to get money from the colonists. The British were concerned that the colonies were becoming more expensive to run after the French and Indian War ended. The British believed that since the colonists were benefiting from the British presence, they should share in the cost of running the colonies. For example, the British military protected the colonists from attacks from other nations or groups.

The British did a few things to...

The British used several methods to get money from the colonists. The British were concerned that the colonies were becoming more expensive to run after the French and Indian War ended. The British believed that since the colonists were benefiting from the British presence, they should share in the cost of running the colonies. For example, the British military protected the colonists from attacks from other nations or groups.

The British did a few things to get more money from the colonists. First, the British decided to more strictly enforce some of the trade laws that existed. The British cracked down on smuggling with the passage of the Sugar Act. This law lowered the taxes on sugar but increased enforcement of this law. With stricter enforcement of this law, the British hoped to gain more tax revenue.

The British also passed a few additional tax laws. The Stamp Act required the colonists to pay a tax when they bought newspapers or playing cards. They also had to pay a tax on legal documents. In 1767, the Townshend Acts were passed. The Townshend Acts placed taxes on imported products such as glass, tea, and other products.

The colonists weren’t happy with these taxes, and they took various actions to protest them. The colonists certainly had a valid point that they didn't have representatives in Parliament that could speak about and vote on these proposed taxes, which is a right that British citizens have. These taxes were one of the factors leading to the Revolutionary War.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, how is Atticus a positive influence on the African American community?

Atticus is not only a respected lawyer, but he is also a popular state representative who is continually re-elected without opposition. His defiant stance against Macomb's racial prejudice positively influences the African American community by giving them a sense of hope for future equality and change. Having such a prominent member of Maycomb's community support an African American man and openly challenge centuries-old racist ideologies provides the African American community with optimism and pride.As...

Atticus is not only a respected lawyer, but he is also a popular state representative who is continually re-elected without opposition. His defiant stance against Macomb's racial prejudice positively influences the African American community by giving them a sense of hope for future equality and change. Having such a prominent member of Maycomb's community support an African American man and openly challenge centuries-old racist ideologies provides the African American community with optimism and pride. As an oppressed part of society, they sympathize with Atticus' difficult situation. They understand that Atticus is putting himself and his family in danger by defending Tom Robinson. By having the relentless support of a respected white man, the African American community is making steps towards desegregation and equality. Also, Atticus is unashamed to let his children attend First Purchase African M.E., which helps bridge the gap between the white and black communities. Atticus not only takes it upon himself to stand up for African Americans' rights, but encourages his children, and future generations, to practice tolerance towards people of a different race. A future tolerant society will greatly benefit the currently oppressed African American community.

What is a book's title that is taken from terms common to architecture, thus indicating its author's ambitious intentions?

I'm guessing this question is meant to get you to identify a book you read for class that has a title using architectural terms. I'm unsure if the book in question is fiction or non-fiction, so it's hard to guess what the title might be. It's also unclear what sort of class you're answering this question for. Does your course have a syllabus with a reading list? Maybe you can figure out which book it...

I'm guessing this question is meant to get you to identify a book you read for class that has a title using architectural terms. I'm unsure if the book in question is fiction or non-fiction, so it's hard to guess what the title might be. It's also unclear what sort of class you're answering this question for. Does your course have a syllabus with a reading list? Maybe you can figure out which book it is from looking at the required reading list or bibliography.

Architectural terms could refer to features of building, design elements, or planning. Some novels about architects don't necessarily contain these terms, however (such as The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, which is about a talented and visionary architect whose integrity makes it hard for him to find success in the business world).

Here are some book titles that make me think of architecture and ambition: The Master Builder (play by Henrik Ibsen); The House of the Seven Gables (Nathaniel Hawthorne); The Castle of Crossed Destinies (by Italo Calvino); The Library of Babel (by Jorge Luis Borges); The Pillar of the Earth (by Ken Follett).

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) has had a significant impact on strategic management practices and strategies. Discuss how the Sarbanes-Oxley...

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), passed in 2002, was intended to prevent scandals such as the Enron accounting fraud. It tried to prevent fraud in accounting, increase people's confidence in the financial reports of public companies, and safeguard shareholders. It created new laws about internal financial reporting and new requirements for financial audits of public companies. 

One of the most important effects the law had was that it made boards more powerful than management. Before Sarbanes-Oxley,...

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), passed in 2002, was intended to prevent scandals such as the Enron accounting fraud. It tried to prevent fraud in accounting, increase people's confidence in the financial reports of public companies, and safeguard shareholders. It created new laws about internal financial reporting and new requirements for financial audits of public companies. 

One of the most important effects the law had was that it made boards more powerful than management. Before Sarbanes-Oxley, boards had to some degree served under management. Boards now have greater oversight over management and must be more active about making sure management is abiding by the terms of the law. Boards have to take a more responsible role over management, and they also have to have greater technical expertise to do so. 

In addition, since the law was passed, companies have had to develop codes of ethics and conduct that apply to their senior management and financial officers. NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange also started expecting companies to disclose their codes of conduct, and the Sarbanes-Oxley law stated that the SEC would expect companies to do so as well. 

Sarbanes-Oxley also instituted the independent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) to perform external independent audits of companies. In the past, companies were allowed to perform these functions internally. In addition, since the law was passed, shareholders have taken a more proactive role in the management of companies and used proxy votes to voice their opinions on matters such as executive compensation. The need to follow the provisions of the law has resulted in increased costs for public companies. 

In The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, does Bailey merge into the tree?

No, Bailey does not merge into the tree at the end of The Night Circus.

Bailey is a great character.  It's through him that the reader learns to really feel the power and pull that the circus has on people.  Readers knowthat the circus is held together and made magical by the romantic overtures of Celia and Marco, but knowing that fact doesn't do the circus justice.  Readers need Bailey in order to feel...

No, Bailey does not merge into the tree at the end of The Night Circus.

Bailey is a great character.  It's through him that the reader learns to really feel the power and pull that the circus has on people.  Readers know that the circus is held together and made magical by the romantic overtures of Celia and Marco, but knowing that fact doesn't do the circus justice.  Readers need Bailey in order to feel and understand that the circus is as mystical and magical as we are told it is.  Bailey simply cannot resist the circus.  He is drawn to it.  He is drawn to sneak into it the very first time, and he is drawn to follow it across large distances with the other Reveurs.  He is so drawn to it that he willingly commits eternity to the circus. 

Bailey plays an important part in the story's ultimate climax.  The purpose of the circus is equivalent to a duel.  Marco and Celia are supposed to use the circus as their magical battle arena, and only one is supposed to come out alive; however, the two characters fall in love with each other.  In order to preserve their love and the circus, the circus's power must be merged/tied to a new individual.  Bailey is that individual.  Marco asks Bailey if Bailey is willing to be the circus's new caretaker, which is a permanent position.  It's permanent because everybody involved with the circus is immortal.  Bailey weighs his options, but he wants to be a part of the circus more than anything else in his life, so he agrees to be the person that the circus's magic is tied to and through.  Marco gives Bailey a ring and binds it to Bailey's finger.  Bailey's final step is to ignite the circus fire that has always stayed ignited.  He does this successfully, which guarantees the survival of the circus, Celia, and Marco.  Bailey continues to be the caretaker, in his human form, through the novel's end.