The Widow and Miss Watson see nothing wrong with slavery in modern society, while Huck actually takes actions to end slavery by leading Jim to freedom and treating Jim like a human being. 6. "To be or not to be, that is the bare bodkin."

Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Signet, 2002, p. 143.

The Shakespearean 'actors' Jim and Huck befriend are really charlatans, despite their pretence of learning. They cannot even quote William Shakespeare's Hamlet in his "To be or not to be" soliloquy correctly.

7. "He says anyone who doesn't understand the theorems of Euclid is an idiot."

McCourt, Frank. Angela's Ashes. New York: Scribner, 1999, p.151.

The references to Euclid show the disparity between what is taught in Frank's school by an ambitious teacher and the poverty and ignorance of the rest of the boy's life. It also shows the narrow-mindedness of the principal, who is horrified that young boys are learning Euclid out of synch with the school's strict curriculum.

8. "The ship pulled away from the dock…'That's the Statue...

Angela's Ashes. New York: Scribner, 1999, p.45.
Unlike most immigrants, who see the Statue of Liberty as they come to America as a sign of hope that they are entering a new and better world, Frank's family sees the Statue of Liberty receding, as they are forced to return to the misery of Ireland.

9. "The notorious and legendary Lev of the Brooklyn crucifixions…"

Potok, Chaim. My Name is Asher Lev. Anchor, p.3.

Asher Lev, an artist raised in a Hasidic society, defends his right to express himself artistically, even though this means using Christian symbolism. His family, who views is artistic gift and intellectual independence with suspicion, is horrified.

10. "My dearest companions were Eberhard and Crayola."

Potok, Chaim. My Name is Asher Lev. Anchor, p.6.

Unlike his religious parents, Asher is a gifted and innately talented artist. He draws almost as soon as he is out of his cradle and views the tools of his artwork as friends, including Eberhard (the brand name of a pen) and Crayola crayons.