Rita Wilson
eNotes Educator
Achievements
13
Educator Level
1041
Answers Posted
162
Answers Bonused
About
I am a retired English teacher with degrees in English and Social Studies. I've taught grades 7-12, in the juvenile and adult correctional system, and a university seminar for student teachers. Subjects taught included English 7-12, Creative Writing, American History, Geography, Youth Issues in high school, Grammar, and Modern Novels. These subjects were because I moved many times and therefore, taught many subjects. I earned my masters degree at the U of MN and my undergrad at the U of WI-Eau Claire.
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Recent Activity
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Answered a Question in William Shakespeare
I assume that you are asking this question in reference to a Shakespearean play such as Romeo and Juliet. In Shakespeare's time, acting was considered a low profession, not far above... -
Answered a Question in Flowers for Algernon
In the story, Flowers for Algernon, Charlie is the main character and Miss Kinnian is his teacher. At first, Charlie does not understand much of school but tries hard. Miss Kinnian... -
Answered a Question in Essays
First of all, you have my sympathy in losing your dad so young. In this essay, please consider what your three body paragraphs will be about. Will you be discussing three adversities which he... -
Answered a Question in To Build a Fire
In the short story, "To Build a Fire" by Jack London, the newcomer heads out for his camp and ignores the advice of the old timers that it is too cold to travel alone. He is sure that he will... -
Answered a Question in The Diary of a Young Girl
In the Annex, many reasons existed for the constant tension. One of the most difficult reasons was the shortage of food. Food was controlled with ration cards which were very difficult... -
Answered a Question in World War II
In World War II, Hitler split his forces in order to invade Russia. The decision was a costly one and in essence, cost him the war. To invade Russia meant fewer forces elsewhere, made... -
Answered a Question in Of Mice and Men
In the novel Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck has one main character, George, kill the other important character, Lennie, in a mercy killing in order to prevent a lynch mob from killing... -
Answered a Question in Romeo and Juliet
In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is in conflict with himself in several places in the play. At first, he doesn't want to go to the Capulet evening because he is supposedly in love with... -
Answered a Question in Charles
In the short story, "Charles" by Shirley Jackson, a number of things can be inferred from the character's actions and interactions with others, such as that with each story Laurie tells about... -
Answered a Question in The Diary of Anne Frank
Anne's relationship with her mother has some similarities with her relationship with her father. She does love them both as her parents, and does understand that her mother is trying her best... -
Answered a Question in Night
In the book Night, Elie Wiesel uses several ideas to establish the setting. At the beginning of Chapter 1, when Moishe the Beadle is being described, the author also describes the... -
Answered a Question in The Miracle Worker
In The Miracle Worker, Annie Sullivan and Captain Arthur Keller, Helen's father, are both similar and different. If we look at the similarities, both love Helen, though the captain hides his... -
Answered a Question in Lord of the Flies
In the novel, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the island represents the microcosm of the world the boys have left behind. The island is by itself with no other people nearby, so the... -
Answered a Question in Farewell To Manzanar
Using the novel, Farewell to Manzanar, collaborators or informers are objects of hatred and fear for good reasons. In World War II, informers turned in their neighbors for simple things... -
Answered a Question in Literature
The answer I would give you to this question is a qualified yes. Many writers use the most important to least important ideas while others use the opposite of least important to most... -
Answered a Question in Flowers for Algernon
In the short story," Flowers for Algernon", several significant events occur. First of all, the reader is introduced to Charlie as a man who has mental handicaps but still tries to... -
Answered a Question in Lord of the Flies
In the novel, Lord of the Flies, the boys landed on an island during a war when their plane crashed. As the students began to gather together, and coming from the British system of... -
Answered a Question in Night
In the book Night by Elie Wiesel, Elie's father refuses to let the gold crown in Elie's teeth be removed. In my book this scene is on page 73 and starts on page 72, continuing until page 74... -
Answered a Question in Raymond's Run
In Toni Cade Bambara's short story, "Raymond's Run", the setting impacts the story a great deal. Because Squeaky, Raymond's sister, is a fast runner, and wins the races in the neighborhood... -
Answered a Question in The Lady, or the Tiger?
In the story "The Lady or the Tiger," the princess lived with a barbaric father in a rather barbaric country. Her father gave her the terrible choice of what to do with her lover as her... -
Answered a Question in The Lady, or the Tiger?
I assume that you need a hook for an essay on "The Lady or the Tiger". To find a hook, I would first do an outline of what you want to say in your essay. Are you going to explain... -
Answered a Question in To Build a Fire
In Jack London's short story, "To Build a Fire", the man is a newcomer to the wildness of Alaska, and against all advice, he starts out for his camp alone except for his dog. The man and the... -
Answered a Question in Soldier's Heart
In Gary Paulsen's novel Soldier's Heart, the main character's name is Charley. This novel is about the Civil War and its effects on the soldiers, focusing on 15-year-old Charley, who thought... -
Answered a Question in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Junior was born with "water on the brain," which was removed at six months of age. He had seizures, with a head and feet which looked out of proportion to his body. Because of this, he... -
Answered a Question in Woodsong
In the book Woodsong by Gary Paulsen, the characters focused on are the animals. Paulsen has many dogs as he is going to and does run the Alaskan sled dog race, the Iditarod. Scarface... -
Answered a Question in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
As you know, symbols represent something else. For example, a flag might represent freedom. In this novel, if you look at the first several drawings, you can see that for Junior, the main... -
Answered a Question in The Sniper
In the short story "The Sniper" many events build tension. The title itself is a means of tension as a sniper is an expert marksman who is able to kill others while staying alive... -
Answered a Question in Raymond's Run
In the short story "Raymond's Run," Toni Cade Bambara creates a memorable character in Hazel, who is the fastest runner in her age group. She helps take care of her brother Raymond who needs... -
Answered a Question in Woodsong
Gary Paulsen's book Woodsong is not a novel but a memoir, meaning that it is true and not a fictional story. His real problem is that his parents provide no care, no love, no support... -
Answered a Question in The Help
In my opinion, the main conflict in The Help is the racism that still exists between the black maids and the white women who employ them. Only one white woman is willing to help and sets off... -
Answered a Question in To Build a Fire
In Jack London's short story, "To Build a Fire", the man's dog is afraid and foreshadows the man's death. The dog is afraid because it must go ahead of the man to find any open water or thin... -
Answered a Question in History
Think about what your essay will look like and which idea you favor; is he a hero or villain? I would make two lists, one for each idea and list which material fits under which column. ... -
Answered a Question in Flowers for Algernon
In the novel, Flowers for Algernon, the central character Charlie has little intelligence, but it does affect his feelings, emotions and perceptions. For example, his feelings are not really... -
Answered a Question in The Swiss Family Robinson
If you remember that the family left Switzerland to begin a new life in another place, the ship contained what they needed to start that new life. However, when chased by pirates they crash... -
Answered a Question in The Sniper
The other answer on The Sniper is what you need to answer your question. In addition, I would add that the internal conflict is deeper than indicated. The sniper battles himself over... -
Answered a Question in Essays
The first answer covers everything you need to know to write a thesis or paper. The reason I am adding to this answer is that homeless students in the shelter where I volunteer has... -
Answered a Question in Richard Cory
Alliteration is the repetition of a consonant sound in a line of poetry. In the poem "Richard Cory", many examples of alliteration exist. For example, the first... -
Answered a Question in Ender's Game
In the novel Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, Ender Wiggin is the young boy chosen to go to Battle School to find out if he can be the commander of the army to defeat the Buggers. ... -
Answered a Question in The Monkey's Paw
In the short story, "The Monkey's Paw", Mr. White is the main character which makes him a major character. Major characters are important in the story and move the action forward. Mr. White... -
Answered a Question in Joseph Conrad
This statement by Joseph Conrad is indeed powerful as the right word is the size of a sound byte and easily repeated. His statement means that reason can be overcome by emotion and the right word,... -
Answered a Question in The Road Not Taken
This poem by Robert Frost is a very complicated poem though it seems quite simple on the surface. To understand the poem is to look at the author as standing still looking at two paths in a... -
Answered a Question in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Elie Wiesel survived the Holocaust, wrote the books Night and Dawn which detailed what he went through, and has served as the conscience of many in this world who know about the horror of the... -
Answered a Question in Of Mice and Men
In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the two characters George and Lennie are both men who work on the ranches, traveling together from place to place whenever they need to move because... -
Answered a Question in Essays
Wow! The previous two answers are terrific and give you what you must have. I would offer one suggestion only and that is to really sit down, make a list of your hopes and dreams in... -
Answered a Question in 1984
This answer is simply pulling apart the quotation. If you control the present, you are able to present your version of the past because no one else is in control. Only you will... -
Answered a Question in Essays
To write a high scoring ACT essay, time is of the essence as is practice preparation. Many students panic when they realize how short the time is to think, outline ideas, write and... -
Answered a Question in Literature
This essay is an opinion paper on why school should be four days a week, and you must first decide on a thesis statement and reasons why the school week should change. Your thesis... -
Answered a Question in Gathering Blue
In the novel Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry, Kira's attitude towards the people in the fen changes when Matt becomes her friend. Matt, even though he is dirty, abused and neglected, is free to... -
Answered a Question in Jacob Have I Loved
Katherine Patterson's novel, Jacob Have I Loved, has several values, virtues or morals which are important in the novel. The most important moral is that love can truly be the value which... -
Answered a Question in The Road Not Taken
In the famous poem, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost, the symbolic meaning of the phrases the fork in the road and the two different paths in the woods is that they represent the choices...
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