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Literature/Questions Answered by Expert Ted Nesbitt
| Subject | Date Asked |
| H.G. Wells | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I am looking for two short stories by H.G. Wells that I cannot find in any collection. I know that ... A: I do hope that you will respond to this answer by completing the evaluation form that is attached. ... | |
| What does the author mean? | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: In "The Echo Maker", a scientist and author reading the review to his last book: 'The title of the ... A: "Neurologist in a Vat" is a rather sarcastic reference to the philosophical/psychological theory of ... | |
| Thank you! | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: I have no question for you, just a thank you. I just read through the compilation of answers for a ... A: Denise. I have heard from several people in the last few weeks with messages like yours. They ... | |
| english | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: What is the adverb in this question Almost every person at the meeting was angry about the decision A: Matt: Almost every person at the meeting was angry about the decision *** The adverb is "almost." ... | |
| Red-headed Stepchild | 7/20/2009 |
| Q: Nesbitt, At the risk of appearing disrespectful (which I in no way intend), I do realize that you ... A: It took me a while to find the answer I sent to "Jason," but I finally found it. However, the date ... | |
| Sound and the Fury | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: Ted Nesbitt, I have used your knowledge before; it's extremely helpful. I am writing a paper about ... A: Jen: You "completely spaced it," and I had to plead, very politely, with you to complete the ... | |
| Report Referencing | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: Nesbitt, I'm writing a report and for the first time (ever) I'm having to make ... A: Your question is not very clear. Do you mean that you have written a research paper and you must ... | |
| Genre definition | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: Can you define graphic fiction? Does it specifcally pertain to gore and the detailed description of ... A: The usual term is "graphic novel." The very simplest definition is "a comic book for adults." The ... | |
| Penelope-Odyssey | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: Where was Penelope born? A: Laura: There are different versions about Penelope's background. Probably the most reliable ... | |
| william wentworth | 5/17/2008 |
| Q: I just watched csi and they used the poem from Splender in the grass. How do the words go to that ... A: Ron: The English spelling is "splendour," which is the word used in the original poem. At the end ... | |
| essay | 4/21/2008 |
| Q: What is the criteria for a classic? not a classical book as in written in the classical era but a ... A: As I suspected, I should have just clicked the "reject button." My answer was not all that helpful ... | |
| Honors English 10 | 2/19/2008 |
| Q: Why is Emily Dickinson referred to as Belle of Amherst? A: Many of her contemporaries living in Emily Dickinson's home town of Amherst, Massachusetts gave the ... | |
| an old short story(american lit.class) | 1/30/2008 |
| Q: While in college,we used a Norton Anthology of short stories in my American Lit class,and this story ... A: Kathleen: PLEASE READ THE RESPONSE OUR EXPERT SENT TO YOU. PLEASE THANK THE EXPERT FOR HIS WORK. ... | |
| the american dream | 12/27/2007 |
| Q: I have recently read The Great Gatsby and Absalom, Absalom! and am doing a study on different ... A: Jack: First of all, what exactly IS "the American Dream"? If you were to ask the general public -- ... | |
| Recomend A Book? | 12/23/2007 |
| Q: I love classic novels, such as "The Catcher In The Rye", "The Great Gatsby", etc. have any amazing ... A: Dane: Those are interesting questions, and I get them occasionally. I never know how to answer. ... | |
| A separate Peace | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: I need help interpreting this quote "I never killed anyone and i never developed an intense hatred ... A: Zach: I'm not sure what your question is. Gene and Phineas [Finny] were friends, during World War ... | |
| Herman Melville and civil war poetry | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: - I am hoping you can help clarify something for me. In Herman Melville's great civil war poem "The ... A: I have spent a few hours doing some research on this poem. What appears to be the best critical ... | |
| ayuda | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: I know you are expert in literature and not in psychology but anyway I would like to know your ... A: If what you are doing is an "obsession," then it is a WONDERFUL OBSESSION. You are a thoughtful and ... | |
| great gatsby | 5/17/2007 |
| Q: i was readin the book and i came across the part where nick says "jay gatsby sprang from his ... A: Kelsey: You've got two problems: (1) Stop saying that you are not "a very bright person," because ... | |
| Great American Novel | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in the origin of the phrase 'Great American Novel' and am informed (by Wikipedia) ... A: Gary: From "The Yale Book of Quotations," New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2006, p. ... | |
| Question about Extended Metaphors | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: For my class I need to write an example of an extended metaphor. So I decided to compare Learning to ... A: David: Just a quick follow up: First, thank you for submitting the evaluation. Unbelievably, most ... | |
| Thoreau | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: I would like to ask you for help on a interpretating two lines. It't not very much. But I hope you ... A: The first statement means that for every 999 people who CLAIM to be good [virtuous], there really is ... | |
| WBY | 2/28/2007 |
| Q: I'd like to ask you about these two quotes by William Butler Yeats. I just came across them ... A: Many people have had many different views or interpretations of the first quotation from Yeats. I ... | |
| looking for an author | 2/25/2007 |
| Q: I am looking for the name of the author who wrote alright vegemite and far out brussel sprout any ... A: Loretta: The author is June Factor, an Australian. She has compiled two collections of children's ... | |
| quotes | 2/23/2007 |
| Q: Last time, I was reading Henry David Thoreau's quotes. there are some I don't quite understand, ... A: I will rephrase the three quotations and give a general explanation about them: 1. A man is rich in ... | |
| blake and architecture | 2/7/2007 |
| Q: I am now looking to further my detailed insight... I am currently studying architecture and have ... A: I admire your tenacity and perseverance in trying to understand Blake and his architectural views. ... | |
| Novel Recommendation | 1/26/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could recommend me any novels set in the southern states during the 1930's to ... A: Ben: First of all, there are many Faulkner novels that are not considered "complex." Probably the ... | |
| English Literature | 12/5/2006 |
| Q: I'm writing a paper on the portrayal of the French in English lit. Can you suggest any works of ... A: Alex: You MUST include Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities." Although one of the main ... | |
| hughes mearns | 11/20/2006 |
| Q: i feel i have been followed by the Hughes Mearns "Antagonish" verse for a few years now not only ... A: The poem, "Antigonish," has been perplexing people for many decades. Recently, our librarians' ... | |
| plot twists | 5/4/2006 |
| Q: I am looking for examples of clever plot twists or revelations that occur at the end of novels. ... A: Scott: Does this mean that you are going to READ the novels I suggest? After dealing with some ... | |
| Faulkner | 9/14/2005 |
| Q: I am seeking the title of short story by Faulkner. One of my colleagues says it is about a prisoner ... A: The story is entitled "Old Man" and it is a "novella," included as part of the novel "Wild Palms." ... | |
| Suicide in fiction | 6/27/2005 |
| Q: I'm hoping you can help me out. I remember some years ago reading a story (I cannot remember whether ... A: Dean -- I had to do some research. I had a fairly good idea, but I wasn't sure. The story is ... | |
| C.S Lewis essay topic ideas.... | 3/8/2005 |
| Q: I need to find a topic and thesis on C.S Lewis with regard to his literary work. I am not asking for ... A: Jered: I am posting below a series of websites that have information about the themes that C. S. ... | |
| Moby Dick | 3/1/2005 |
| Q: What was the ship's homeport? A: Although Ishmael and Queequeg sign up to sail with Captain Ahab in New Bedford, the home port of the ... | |
| Am Lit | 2/28/2005 |
| Q: how can i find the meaning of some ? obsolete words used by Walt Whitman in Leaves of Grass? A: Pat: An update: 1. The site I gave you lists the various places that words are found in the text, ... | |
| J.D Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye | 2/26/2005 |
| Q: Why and how was Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye linked to the assasination of J.F.K? A: This is a real "stretch." It's one of those conspiracy theories that has a VERY shaky basis and is ... | |
| Henry James and realism | 2/23/2005 |
| Q: I am reading at the moment THE PORTRAIT OF A LADY by Henry James, and although my English is far ... A: I do not know how much help I can be. First, I am not an expert in Henry James's fiction. I have ... | |
| A Little Princess | 2/10/2005 |
| Q: I was reading "A Litte Princess" and at one point it mentions Mrs. Menchin boxing Sara's ears. What ... A: I hope you haven't been waiting too long for this answer. Allexperts has been "down," apparently, ... | |
| The Origin Of A Quote | 1/1/2005 |
| Q: I'll try to get straight to the point and I am aware you may or may not know the answer. The quote ... A: Peter: The International Movie Database says that the line is an original. When a memorable ... | |
| Origin of a Phrase | 12/8/2004 |
| Q: Hey, You may not be the right expert...but I am looking for the origin of the phrase "Beaten like a ... A: Jason: I am pasting in below the various comments that I found. The one that I find most ... | |
| american literature | 7/19/2004 |
| Q: I am from the US, 35 years old, live close to Hamburg Germany now. I would like to read more books ... A: Michael: My favorite author is William Faulkner. I would recommend you start reading his work with ... | |
| literary term | 7/7/2004 |
| Q: could you please tell me what the literary term is for in a story where something modern is used in ... A: They are called "anachronisms." They are not so much a "style," as they are "mistakes." I ... | |
| authors | 6/5/2004 |
| Q: i am trying to find the authors of specific booksthough i'm not sure if your the right person to ... A: Bob: There are two books with the title "The Devil's Guard." The author of one is George R. ... | |
| The Tempest | 5/22/2004 |
| Q: Re the famous quote from Act 4, Scene 1, I have heard two versions: We are such stuff As dreams ... A: The correct preposition is "ON." The line is very frequently misquoted. I checked the full-text ... | |
| Is this from Mark Twain? | 2/10/2004 |
| Q: Nesbitt, Hopefully, this is the best way to reach you. Thank you for your response--I did not know ... A: Ann: I wrote a VERY lengthy response to you. Clicked the send button and the message disappeared. ... | |
| Sonnets | 1/25/2004 |
| Q: We are a group of teachers participating in a World Links workshop for proffessional development and ... A: I hope that you will be more fair with your students than you were in evaluating me. I spent a ... | |
Literature
Ted Nesbitt
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am willing to assist anyone in the interpretation of the literature of any genre, but my expertise is in American literature. My masters thesis is an analysis of the heroic novels of William Faulkner. I am also adept in English literature, particularly Shakespeare and the romantic poets. I will not edit or revise lengthy papers. Nor will I do homework.
Experience
I taught advanced placement English in a preparatory school and am now a reference librarian at a medium-sized public college. I have been a volunteer at the grammar and writing, poetry, etymology and politics sections of allexperts for more than four years.
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