Amy Lepore
eNotes Educator
Achievements
16
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3680
Answers Posted
448
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About
Born in Bowling Green, KY. Graduated high school from Hopkinsville High in 1986; University of Central Florida with B.S. in 1991; and Murray State University with M.A. in 1996. Taught in Kentucky, South Korea, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, Mississippi on both high school and college/university levels. Freelance author. Married with two sons.
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Recent Activity
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Answered a Question in The Cask of Amontillado
It's been a long time since I've read or taught this story, but one symbol you can definitely count is the cask of the Amontillado wine, itself. It is the sole reason Fortunato has agreed to... -
Answered a Question in Literature
As far as classics go, anything by Faulkner or James gives me fits. I also remember the first time I read The Grapes of Wrath (of course, I was in middle school, so that is a telling factor... -
Answered a Question in The Birthmark
It's been a while since I've read this story, so let me start you with these two conflicts: The main conflict in this story is indicated by the title--Georgina's birthmark. She is beautiful,... -
Answered a Question in As I Lay Dying
I was always under the belief that Anse knew but chose to remain silent. The very fact that Jewel is so extremely different from anyone else in the family is enough to put his parentage... -
Answered a Question in The Bible
While I agree with the two posts above (they have done a wonderful job of explaining this parable and what a parable's purpose is), I would also like to point out that this work of fiction which... -
Answered a Question in The Picture of Dorian Gray
"Moral duty is fulfilled through the pursuit of pleasure"--one definition of hedonism. Of course, Dorian commits himself to this after having been tainted by both Lord Henry and the book that... -
Answered a Question in The Tyger
I love this poem, and its counterpart, "The Lamb". The Tyger is a poem from the Songs of Experience (how the world effects us as we grow older and have experiences); the Lamb from... -
Answered a Question in Ode on a Grecian Urn
It's been a long time since I've read this poem, but the relationship between truth and beauty is in each of the scenes on the urn. For instance, the youth who chases his lovely young woman... -
Answered a Question in The Chosen
Great ideas! I love the idea of reading the quote from different perspectives and tones. I'm thinking of writing the quote on the board and having different groups brainstorm it from a... -
Answered a Question in Ode on a Grecian Urn
Interesting questions. I have always assumed that the speaker looking at the urn was addressing the urn...that the truth is in the stories depicted on the side of the urn and that the beauty... -
Answered a Question in The Taming of the Shrew
This is the part of the frame story in the play where Christopher Sly is dressed up and told by many that he is indeed a nobleman when he is equal to the town drunk. It is part of the... -
Answered a Question in History
A strong central government supports for a sound and strong economy. Of course, with any one person or one group of people in control, there is always to power-hungry and greedy... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
I, too, agree that Romeo and Juliet would be a great play to alter especially since the teens are in over their heads as far as controlling what happens to them but also because the teens reading... -
Answered a Question in Literature
I love Shakespeare's language and the way he is able to connect with all sorts of people from all walks of life. As far as living authors, I enjoy Philipa Gregory for her historical romance... -
Answered a Question in History
Your post needs a little clarification...do you mean altogether, on a particular continent, as an organized institution? Frankly, you could argue that education begins the day a child is... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
Shakespeare is one of the greatest poets who ever lived simply because he knew what made people tick. Through the beauty of his language, he creates characters from all walks of life who are... -
Answered a Question in History
One word: czars. The Founding Fathers were brilliant people who believed in God and designed not only our government but also our nation's capital on those beliefs and principles. ... -
Answered a Question in A Rose for Emily
I'm not sure I'd go with insanity, but I would definitely push the issue that she is not mentally stable...obviously she lives in an alternate universe. A place where she never pays taxes,... -
Answered a Question in The Great Gatsby
Isn't it interesting that Tom is the one born with money, privilege, and prestige, yet he is not as polished and refined as Gatsby, who was not born into the life he now leads. Rather, Gatsby... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
They both have elements of comedy--R & J has the scenes with the nurse (A sail! A sail!) and with Mercutio and his wild and silly side. MSND is written as a comedy right off the bat so... -
Answered a Question in Literature
Absolutely! If we as a society quit reading difficult texts, it is just one more step in the dumbing down of America! In this high-tech, fast-paced society, if it takes longer to do... -
Answered a Question in Literature
Here are some of my favorite authors and pieces from the early 1900's: 1900 *Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum 1901 * Kim by Rudyard Kipling 1902 * Heart... -
Answered a Question in Roman Fever
The story is set in Rome, but there are many references to the ladies' homes in New York and the other various places where their high society life takes them. The reason the setting of Rome... -
Answered a Question in Roman Fever
One of the main themes is that of competition and "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality of the women in the story. From the very beginning, Mrs. Slade and Mrs. Ansley are competing for the... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
Lady Macbeth also refers to the murders of Banquo and the household of Macduff in her little rant. "Look not so pale, my Lord. Banquo's buried. He can not come out of his grave." "The... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
Well, there are witches who make prophecies and predictions throughout the play, but it is Macbeth who chooses to act upon these prophecies to force them to come true in his favor. He is also... -
Answered a Question in The Miller's Tale
The Miller and the Carpenter have words on the trip, so when the Miller's turn comes to tell his tale, his main character is a carpenter. The Miller makes the carpenter rather dumb and... -
Answered a Question in History
The other thing with the chaotic nature of the Nazi government was that they were not allowed to think on their own feet. Everything had to be approved by Hitler, who was not always readily... -
Answered a Question in The Last Lecture
Riding on the "Vomit Comet" or the "Weightless Wonder" as they call it today to be a little more politically correct, was one of Randy's childhood dreams. It finally came true for him after... -
Answered a Question in Julius Caesar
In this play, Portia commits suicide by swallowing hot coals. She is the daughter of a warrior, Cato, and the wife of Brutus. We can only guess that she kills herself out of fear that... -
Answered a Question in Essays
I'm casting my vote for Frankenstein (which, of course, you've excluded) or The Picture of Dorian Gray. Both of these are among my favorites--they both focus on imagination, the... -
Answered a Question in Literature
You've gotten a lot of great suggestions here already. American literature isn't my strenght, but I will add to the list: Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome and her short story, "Roman... -
Answered a Question in History
There is always Elvis...this discussion is quite entertaining and enlightening. I wouldn't completely discount the King of Rock and Roll, or Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. Of course,... -
Answered a Question in Othello
Othello kills Desdemona because he is jealous of the affair he is led to believe she is having. Of course, we all know she was innocent, but he never asked her. He just blindly believed... -
Answered a Question in History
I always think about a quote that my college history professor repeated often, "History books are written by the winners of the battles and wars." To a large extent, that is true. I... -
Answered a Question in Frankenstein
Walton is obviously skeptical about the story he has heard, but he is empathetic to Victor and his traumatized life. The appearance of the creature at Victor's bedside proves the verity... -
Answered a Question in A Worn Path
Phoenix is the woman reborn--just like the mythical bird, a phoenix, dies and rises again in the ashes, the grandmother reinvents herself every time she has to make that trip. She is strong... -
Answered a Question in Literary Terms
I love Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever". The Exposition is the background knowledge of the two women (whose names escape me at the moment) in the story and their relationship. The... -
Answered a Question in Hamlet
Probably the most obvious is Claudius. He has coveted the position of King, so he plots to murder his own brother and marry Gertrude in order to secure the throne--literally stealing it from... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
The language is not always easily picked up, but that is NOT a reason to avoid teaching it. That is a lazy, pitiful, and pathetic view. If it were easy, any old fool could do... -
Answered a Question in Romeo and Juliet
I agree with #2. The Nurse and the Friar are the only two in the play who know about the secret marriage and the plans to avoid Juliet's marriage with Paris. They are the adults and... -
Answered a Question in The Grapes of Wrath
The book is a classic. It tells the true story of life in the depression era...no frills, no lies. Life is not always hunky-dorey with a happy ending. We do not live in Disney... -
Answered a Question in Beowulf
Beowulf is the hero who embodies the religious faith and the qualities that his people admire--bravery, loyalty, honor, strength, integrity, determination to do the right thing, and a will to... -
Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
While I like Criminal Minds, I'm not convinced they have correctly attribued this quote. I did a quote search, and nothing from Shakespeare came remotely close. As far as the meaning, it... -
Answered a Question in Frankenstein
How is it not? Without Victor's hubris, there would be no situation where he is forced to finally think about others and sacrifice his own family's safety for the whole of mankind by denying... -
Answered a Question in Frankenstein
It depends on what your focus is. In Victor's life, he is plagued by events which pull him to and from the ancient scientists and their works--his father's and his professor's rebuking... -
Answered a Question in Frankenstein
Safie is the young foreign woman who comes to live with the DeLacey family at the cabin where the creature is hiding. She is a feminist character because she travels virtually alone (with... -
Answered a Question in Macbeth
When the witches first meet Macbeth, they greet him with "Hail Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King hereafter". He has one of those titles, he acquires the next within minutes of their... -
Answered a Question in The Renaissance
Well, the word "renaissance" means literally, "rebirth". In this time period in England, many new things were coming about in areas of art, philosophy, religion, music, etc. For literature,... -
Answered a Question in Julius Caesar
Brutus is a man of thoughts and words rather than action. This is why is spent such a long, restless night thinking about the conspirators' request before joining their cause. He...
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