What does the mythological Greek hero Theseus impart to other people? What are 5 words that describe Theseus?

Theseus is one of most famous Greek mythological heroes whose exploits and adventures have inspired countless stories and legends. In a majority of these myths, Theseus offers hope, redemption and the prospect of familial and political unity to the leaders he encounters. For example, in the famous tale of Theseus vanquishing the minotaur, the hero volunteers himself as a victim of the minotaur in order to save lives and prevent the breakdown of Athenian family structures; by killing the minotaur, Theseus intends to end the annual tradition of sacrificing Athenian youths (seven young men and seven maidens) instituted by the vengeful King Minos of Crete, who wanted to harm Athens following the accidental death of his son Androgeus during his visit to the city-state. 

In terms of choosing "5 words that describe Theseus", consider him in light of the following five characteristics: resourcefulness (devising clever and unusual ways to conquer enemies or beasts); ambition (in myth, he became king of Athens and significantly expanded the empire); selflessness (repeatedly risking his life to save others, as seen in the Minotaur story, among others); fair-mindedness (in myth, he is credited with reforming Athenian government in the direction of democracy and championing the rights of the oppressed); perseverance (in order to claim his birthright as heir to the throne of Athens, Theseus successfully endured 'Six Labors', requiring him to kill many bandits and monsters on his long journey to Athens).

What do the sheep, rose, snake, and adults symbolize in "The Little Prince"?

It can be hard to attach specific meanings to the things you mention. Let's consider each one:

The sheep is not even a character, really, but a desire, or, at best, a drawing. It is important that the only satisfactory drawing of the sheep is not a drawing of a sheep at all, only of a crate containing the sheep. So we can understand the sheep as a symbol of unconscious desire, or of the imagination -- it something we want but can't really describe in a direct way. The sheep can also be understood as a religious symbol: for Christians, Christ is known as "the lamb of God." The picture of the crate with the sheep inside can be understood as representing faith -- like the sheep, faith is a belief in something you feel to be true, but can't see.

The rose represents love. Flowers often represent beauty, grace, and purity, but the Prince's rose also is vain and demanding. The Prince's problem in the book is his quest to understand the Rose, and to understand how to love it. 

The snake, like almost everything in the book, can have many meanings. In a Christian sense, the snake has a specific meaning as a form of the devil that tempts Eve and causes Adam and Eve to be cast out of Eden. The snake represents death. Yet in the book, the snake is the means for the Prince to return to his planet -- a means for a sort of ressurection. In this sense, it is another kind of savior.

The adults represent the everyday world in which no one has time for imagination and everyone is consumed with useless tasks. There is the geographer that can record no information because he is not an explorer, or the drunkard who drinks because he is sad and sad because he drinks. All the adults are stuck in similar ruts, and none of the things they care about have any bearing on the real issues in the book.

So you can see that it is not easy to attach specific symbolic meanings to elements in the story. I think part of the point of the book is to make it difficult to create those kinds of definitions, as a way of challenging the reader to engage his own imagination!

In Lois Lowry's The Giver, how does Jonas respond to different events?

There are three major events that influence Jonas in The Giver: his first memory that he receives; when he discovers colors; and when he sees his father kill an innocent baby. With each event, Jonas discovers a little bit more about the sacrifices the community makes in order to live under a condition called Sameness. With every benefit that the community receives, such as safety, peace, and equality, they also must give up something just as precious in return. These three events are pivotal to how Jonas responds to his new assignment as the Receiver of Memory.

In chapter 11, the first memory Jonas receives is about sliding down a snowy hill on a sled. He absolutely loves sledding! Afterwards, he says that he was "Surprised" with the whole experience (82). Then, he asks the Giver why they don't have something so fun like snow anymore. The answer, of course, is Sameness. In an effort to live with perfect Climate Control, snow was taken away. Jonas reacts by frowning and saying, "I wish we had those things, still. Just now and then" (84).

Next, colors are discussed in chapters 12 and 13. As Jonas realizes that Fiona's hair and apples are red, the Giver helps him to notice other colors in the memories he gives him. Again, the answer to why the community does not have colors is because of Sameness. By giving up colors, they are able to control people's preferences and desires for making individual choices. Jonas reacts by saying the following:

"If everything's the same, then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things! A blue tunic, or a red one" (97).

Finally, and the most influential event that breeds the biggest reaction from Jonas is seeing his father inject a lethal drug into a newborn baby in chapter 19. The baby is a twin who weighs less than his brother, so he must die in order to maintain population control. 

"He killed it! My father killed it! Jonas said to himself, stunned at what he was realizing. He continued to stare at the screen numbly" (150).

As a result of witnessing this event, Jonas plots with the Giver to overthrow the system of Sameness. This is the final straw. Jonas cannot help a community that wants to do these things in order to achieve peace and stability for a chosen few. 

In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, what on page 119 shows that it was right or wrong of Atticus Finch to defend Tom Robinson? Why or why not?

As page numbers vary per publication of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, it's difficult to point to the specific passage you have in mind. However, in Chapter 9, fairly early on in the book, Atticus makes some comments about the case to his brother Jack that clearly show the unfairness of Tom Robinson's case and show Atticus is morally correct and obligated to defend Robinson.

While Jack is staying with Atticus for Christmas, Jack gets the opportunity to ask Atticus about the case; specifically, Jack asks how bad the trial will be. Atticus responds by explaining that no concrete evidence exists in the case to prove the crime actually even took place, let alone to prove that Robinson is guilty of the crime:

It couldn't be worse, Jack. The only thing we've got is a black man's word against the Ewells'. The evidence boils down to you-did--I-didn't. (Ch. 9)

In other words, all that's being used as evidence in the trial is the verbal testimonies of the plaintiff, who is Mayella Ewell, and other key witnesses, such as Sheriff Heck Tate and Mayella's father, Bob Ewell. In explaining the above to Jack, Atticus is actually exposing a critical problem with the case. US court of law acts based on the legal principle corpus delicti, which means in Latin "the body of [the] crime" (Wex, Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School). The principle asserts that there must be proof a crime actually took place "before an individual can be tried for the crime" (Wex). Mere "you-did--I-didn't" evidence does not serve as legal proof that a crime of rape actually took place. Since Atticus knows Robinson is being tried unfairly and illegally, Atticus knows he is morally obligated to put his all into defending Robinson. In addition, regardless of evidence, all defendants in a US court of law are entitled to a defense; therefore, Atticus knows he would not be upholding his responsibilities as a lawyer if he did not put his all into defending Robinson, which further proves that Atticus is right to defend Robinson.

When you think of a typical hero, what comes to mind? What qualities does Phoenix share with the typical hero? What qualities does she have that...

A hero usually exemplifies strength, courage, perseverance, skill, intellectual prowess, generosity, and is usually someone who is greatly admired. For starters, Phoenix Jackson is heroic because she is generous. She risks her own health, and life, when she makes the long trips to obtain medicine for her grandson. She also shows perseverance in making the trips. She's quite old. She's not even sure how old she is. Given her old, frail condition, it takes a lot of courage and determination to continue making the journey.

Welty aptly names her "Phoenix" because this is an allusion to the Greek myth about the phoenix which could repeatedly regenerate itself from the ashes. Just as the mythological phoenix would inevitably rise again, Phoenix Jackson continues to rise and make the pilgrimage for her grandson. 

Also, characteristic of a typical hero, Phoenix is fearless. When the hunter points the gun at her and asks if she is scared, she says "No, sir, I seen plenty go off closer by, in my day, and for less than what I done." 

Phoenix is also clever. She manages to pick up a nickel that the hunter drops even though he says he has no money. She also convinces the attendant at the nurse's station to give her a nickel. And in generous fashion, she intends to use the money to buy her grandson a windmill. 

Phoenix is not remarkably strong. In fact, she is remarkably weak in her old age. Her heart and mind are in the right place, heroically speaking, but she occasionally forgetful. However, the forgetfulness is temporary and her determination overrides these weaknesses. As a frail, old woman, Phoenix does not look like a typical hero. But this is based upon the notion that a hero is a person of action. If we expand the notion of a hero to include things like courage, generosity, and perseverance, then Phoenix is the paradigm of a hero. 

What is salmonella infection?

Causes and Symptoms

Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal infections, blood infections, and various local infections. All types of salmonella can be carried in the gastrointestinal tract without symptoms after recovery from infection.

The clinical disease caused by salmonella depends on the type of bacteria, the amount of organisms ingested, and the age and immune status of the person infected. Infection with salmonella can take place with the ingestion of one or 100 million organisms. Increasing the dosage of bacteria decreases the incubation period and increases the severity of the resulting disease. After ingestion, the bacteria adhere to and invade the gastrointestinal tract. In the wall of the intestinal tract, salmonella survive and multiply in immune cells and then enter the bloodstream, where they proceed to any area of the body. Young infants and people with immune deficiencies and hemolytic anemia are at increased risk for severe and complicated infections.

One specific type of serious illness caused by salmonella is enteric or typhoid fever. Typhoid fever is rare in the United States, causing an estimated 5,700 cases per year, primarily in people who acquired it in other countries. This disease is caused by the Typhi variety of the Salmonella enterica bacterium. Symptoms during the first week of illness include progressively increasing fever with associated headache, muscle aches, abdominal pains, and lethargy. In the second week, the heart rate decreases, the liver and spleen enlarge, small red bumps form on the trunk, and the patient enters into a stupor. During the third to fourth week, intestinal hemorrhage and perforation are common. The fever begins to remit in the fifth to sixth week of illness. Diarrhea usually starts in the first week and resolves within six weeks. Without treatment, death can occur from gastrointestinal hemorrhage and perforation. Infants tend to have much more severe disease than older children.

Salmonellosis caused by nontyphoid salmonella is more common in the United States, causing about forty thousand reported cases per year; the number of unreported cases is thought to be far higher. The major reservoir of nontyphoid salmonella is the gastrointestinal tract of many animals, including mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects, although plants may also become contaminated. Farm animals and pet reptiles commonly carry salmonella. Some antibiotic resistance is caused by the use of antibiotics in animal feeds. Contaminated eggs and milk products are common sources of human infection.

Gastroenteritis
is the most common disease caused by nontyphoid salmonella. The incubation period for this disease is about one day, with a range from six hours to three days. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Diarrhea typically contains blood and mucus. Usually, symptoms disappear in less than a week in healthy children, but in young infants and in children with immune deficiencies, symptoms may persist for several weeks.

Bacteremia can occur in 1 to 5 percent of patients with salmonella gastroenteritis. Bacteremia is generally associated with fever, chills, and toxicity in the older child but may be asymptomatic in the infant. Children with an increased risk of bacteremia include those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or other immune deficiencies and hemolytic anemias such as sickle cell anemia.

Bacteremia can lead to infection of almost any organ. Children with sickle cell anemia are more prone to bone infections and meningitis. Salmonella may localize to areas of the body that have received trauma or that contain damaged tissue or a foreign body. Meningitis, inflammation of the covering of the spine and brain, is primarily seen as a complication of bacteremia in infants. Patients who have persistent bacteremia should also be evaluated for heart infection.

The diagnosis of a salmonella infection is best made by culturing stool and blood samples. With enteric fever, it is important to culture multiple sites multiple times. Antibiotic susceptibility testing must be performed routinely to guide therapy. Other bacterial causes of gastroenteritis can be confused with salmonella infection.

Treatment and Therapy

Treatment for gastroenteritis usually does not require antibiotics. Antibiotics do not speed the resolution of disease but instead lead to prolonged excretion of salmonella. Therapy is primarily focused on the correction of fluid and salt imbalances and on general supportive care. If the patient has indications of sepsis, shock, or chills, however, then antibiotics should be administered. Infants under three months of age and children with immune deficiencies should also be treated with antibiotics. Ampicillin is usually used as the initial treatment in uncomplicated cases, and third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics are used in severe and complicated cases. About 20 percent of nontyphoid salmonella in the United States is resistant to ampicillin as well as to other antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment should last ten days to two weeks in children with bacteremia and four to six weeks in children with bone infection or meningitis. Local infections may require surgical drainage.

Typhoid fever is treated for a minimum of two weeks. It is important to perform susceptibility testing for the possibility of resistance so that proper antibiotic therapy can be chosen. Chronic carriers of Salmonella enterica Typhi should be treated with antibiotics. If eradication is unsuccessful, surgical assessment of the biliary tract should be sought.

Prevention of the spread of salmonella requires a number of public health procedures. Hand washing is critical to the prevention of transmission. Persons who are carriers of salmonella should be excluded from food preparation and child-care settings. Hospitalized infants and children should be isolated. Proper sewage disposal, water purification, and chlorination are essential public health measures. In developing countries, the promotion of prolonged breast-feeding also reduces the infection rate.

There are two typhoid vaccines commercially available in the United States. The first is an oral, live attenuated vaccine that requires four doses given over a period of one week and a booster every five years. The second is a parenteral capsular polysaccharide vaccine given as a single intramuscular injection and a booster every two years. The vaccines are 50 to 80 percent protective. The live attenuated vaccine should not be given to patients who are pregnant, taking antibiotics, or immunocompromised, such as persons with the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Perspective and Prospects

Salmonella was identified as the cause of typhoid fever in 1880 and was first cultured in 1884. Since 1920, improvements in sanitation, water supplies, and sewage disposal have resulted in a marked decrease of typhoid fever in the United States. However, it is still a problem in the developing world, where it affects over 20 million people per year.

Recent research is focused on public health. Measures to decrease food contamination such as improved cleanliness, decreased use of antibiotics in animal feeds, and food irradiation are being evaluated and used to decrease transmission to humans. Research into alternate vaccines with fewer side effects and improved immune response is also being performed.

Nontyphoid salmonella causes as many as half a million infections per year in the United States. One-third of these infections are in children less than five years of age, and 40 percent are in adults over thirty years of age.

Bibliography

Aaron, Shara. "Salmonellosis." Health Library, November 26, 2012.

Beers, Mark H., et al., eds. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 18th ed. Whitehouse Station, N.J.: Merck Research Laboratories, 2006.

Bellenir, Karen, and Peter D. Dresser, eds. Contagious and Noncontagious Infectious Diseases Sourcebook. Detroit, Mich.: Omnigraphics, 1996.

Biddle, Wayne. A Field Guide to Germs. 3d ed. New York: Anchor Books, 2010.

Cliver, Dean O., and Hans P. Riemann, eds. Foodborne Diseases. 2d ed. San Diego, Calif.: Academic Press, 2002.

Jay, James M., Martin J. Loessner, and David A. Golden. Modern Food Microbiology. 7th ed. New York: Springer, 2005.

Leon, Warren, and Caroline Smith DeWaal. Is Our Food Safe? A Consumer’s Guide to Protecting Your Health and the Environment. New York: Crown, 2002.

Parker, James N., and Philip M. Parker, eds. The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Salmonella Enteritidis Infection. San Diego, Calif.: Icon Health, 2002.

"Salmonella." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 22, 2013.

"Salmonellosis." National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, November 16, 2011.

In the play Julius Caesar, how is Mark Antony shown as a cunning and selfish politician?

Mark Antony is cunning and selfish because he takes advantage of Caesar’s death to gain power for himself. 

Mark Antony was supposed to be Julius Caesar’s trusted aid.  He was loyal to Caesar, and upset when he died.  Yet he used Caesar’s death to gain power by first tricking Brutus into letting him address the people and then forming a triumvirate with Lepidus and Octavius.  When he defeated Brutus and Cassius, he probably expected to be leader of Rome, but Octavius stood in his way. 

When Caesar was assassinated, the conspirators made sure that Mark Antony was nowhere nearby.  They were afraid he would interfere.  When Antony saw Caesar’s body, surrounded still by the conspirators, he seemed to genuinely feel grief and remorse.  He vowed to avenge Caesar’s death.

O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! (Act 3, Scene 1) 

Antony makes an agreement with Brutus to speak at Caesar’s funeral. He has to agree to say that he spoke with Brutus’s permission, and has to speak after Brutus.  Antony readily agrees, because he knows that he can use this to catapult himself into the public eye, outside of Caesar’s shadow.  Cassius fears that Antony will influence the people.  He is right.

Antony’s funeral speech is a work of art.  He accuses Brutus and Cassius of murder and shows the people Caesar’s will, describing the bequests. This associates him with Caesar's generosity and makes him seem like Caesar's heir to power.  Every word of the speech is designed to get the people to turn against the conspirators and support him.  He also made sure that Octavius wasn’t there, telling him it was too dangerous.  Caesar’s named heir showing up would put a wrench in his plans. 

Antony seems quite pleased with himself after his speech.  Everything is going according to plan. 

Servant

I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.

ANTONY

Belike they had some notice of the people,
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius. (Act 3, Scene 2) 

After his speech, Antony is presented as even more cunning and cruel.  During the triumvirate’s meeting, he almost gleefully condemns family members to death and patronizes Lepidus.  He also tries to convince Octavius to listen to him, because he is older and more experienced.  Antony wants the power for himself.  He thinks that he is the most important member of the triumvirate, next to a boy and a nobody.