The shade (ghost or spirit) of Elpenor, one of Odysseus' men whom he spoke to in Hades, begged Odysseus to give him the proper funeral rites. The Greeks believed that a soul suffered and could not be at rest unless it was properly buried (this was the impetus for the plot of Antigone). Since Odysseus had promised to give him all the proper funeral rites, he needed to go back to Circe's island to do so
This question is incomplete because part of the text is missing; here is the complete question and text:
Read the passage from A Doll's House.
[SCENE: A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly. At the back, a door to the right leads to the entrance-hall, another to the left leads to Helmer's study. Between the doors stands a piano. In the middle of the left-hand wall is a door, and beyond it a window. Near the window are a round table, arm-chairs and a small sofa. In the right-hand wall, at the farther end, another door; and on the same side, nearer the footlights, a stove, two easy chairs and a rocking-chair; between the stove and the door, a small table. Engravings on the walls; a cabinet with china and other small objects; a small book-case with well-bound books. The floors are carpeted, and a fire burns in the stove.
It is winter. A bell rings in the hall; shortly afterwards the door is heard to open. Enter NORA, humming a tune and in high spirits. She is in outdoor dress and carries a number of parcels; these she lays on the table to the right. She leaves the outer door open after her, and through it is seen a porter who is carrying a Christmas Tree and a basket, which he gives to the maid who has opened the door.]
Nora: Hide the Christmas Tree carefully, Helen. Be sure the children do not see it until this evening, when it is dressed. [To the porter, taking out her purse.] How much?
Why does the author of the play include the first paragraph of stage directions?
a)To allow the readers to get to know the characters
b)To explain how a character feels about something
c)To allow the reader to visualize the play's setting
d)To familiarize the reader with the theme of the play
The correct answer is C. To allow the reader to visualize the play's settings
Explanation:
The purpose of stage directions is to provide information that complements the dialogs of characters in a play. This includes details about the setting and descriptions of the actions of the characters. In the case of the excerpt presented, the main purpose of the stage directions in paragraph 1 is to describe the setting and in this way allow the reader to imagine it. This can be seen in details such as "A room furnished comfortably and tastefully, but not extravagantly" or "between the stove and the door, a small table" that focuses on describing the arrangement of objects in the room and the general features of it.
The correct answer is:
Tommy and Rachel were happily eng engaged: Promised to another to be married.
The students were engaged in the scientist’s presentation: busy or interested sentence.
These engaged definitions show two cases with different meanings. Being engaged means to be occupied, involved or attracked in any situation. But the correct application depends on the context. In the case of Tommy and Rachel, they are “engaged” because they have the commitment to get married. Both have accepted an agreed. In the case of the students, they are interested and engaged or “committed” to finish the scientist’s presentation.
From great classical authors like Ovid and Seneca, to English historians like Holinshed, Shakespeare's greatest influences were the works of other great writers. With the exception of A Midsummer Night's Dream<span>, </span>Love's Labour's Lost<span> and </span>The Tempest<span>, which are wholly original stories, Shakespeare borrowed his plots, down to fine detail. You can read about what Shakespeare read as he crafted each play in my </span>sources section<span>. Here is a brief biography of two of Shakespeare's favourite authors: </span>
Geoffery Chaucer<span> (1340-1400)</span>
<span>Even though Chaucer wrote his poetry in Middle English, he is still regarded as one of England's finest poets. Chaucer was born into a wealthy family and his father, John, spent time at the court of King Edward III as a deputy to the King's butler. His father's ties to the royal family helped Geoffery acquire a position at court, and he became a permanent member of the King's household. In 1368, Chaucer was listed among the King's esquires, and, in 1369, shortly after the death of Queen Philippa, he wrote his first major poem, </span>Book of the Duchess<span>. The work for which Chaucer is most noted is the </span>Canterbury Tales<span>, in which a group of pilgrims gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, across the Thames from London, and agree to a storytelling contest as they travel to the shrine of Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, Kent. Chaucer died in 1400 and he was the first poet ever to be buried in the "poet's corner" in Westminster Abby. Shakespeare undoubtedly admired Chaucer works immensely, for he uses several of Chaucer's poems as sources of his plays. </span>Troilus and Criseyde<span> was the primary source of </span>Troilus and Cressida<span>, and the </span>Parliment of Fowles<span> was a source of Mercutio's </span>"Queen Mab"<span> speech in </span>Romeo and Juliet<span>. It is apparent that The Knight's Tale sparked Shakespeare to craft the </span>The Two Noble Kinsmen, and there are several other minor examples one could cite.
Plutarch<span> (46-120 AD)</span>
<span>Plutarch was the son of Aristobulus, an important biographer and philosopher. In 66-67, Plutarch studied philosophy and mathematics at Athens under the philosopher Ammonius. After studying with Ammonius, Plutarch became a teacher of philosophy in Rome and earned the admiration of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. But Plutarch was not content to stay in Rome and, after Trajan's death, Plutarch traveled widely, to central Greece, Sparta, Corinth, Sardis, and Alexandria. Although he was away much of the time, his main residence was Chaeronea, a small Greek town on Mt. Petrachus, guarding the entry into Boeotia from the North. Plutarch is best known for the work </span>Parallel Lives<span>, which consists of the biographies of notable soldiers and statesmen. Plutarch's </span>Lives<span> was translated by Sir Thomas North in 1579 and the work grew very popular in Renaissance England. Shakespeare himself used North's translation of </span>Parallel Lives<span> as the primary source for </span>Antony and Cleopatra<span>, </span>Julius Caesar<span>, </span>Coriolanus<span>, </span>Timon of Athens<span>, and a minor source in several other plays. It is a testament to the quality of North's translation that Shakespeare copied whole passages from the work, making only the smallest of changes. Plutarch's influence upon others writers through history is just as profound - Otway used </span>Lives<span> as a source for </span>Caius Marius<span>, and Addison used the same as a souce for </span>Cato<span>. Among Plutarch's greatest admirers have been Michel de Montaigne, Mary Shelley, Napoleon, Milton, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who once wrote: "Go with mean people and you think life is mean. Then read Plutarch, and the world is a proud place, peopled with men of positive quality, with heroes and demigods standing around us, who will not let us sleep"</span>