The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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fl. 220 B.C.
Chinese general who directed the construction of the Great Wall. The first Ch'in emperor, Shih Huang-ti, entrusted his general, Meng T'ien, to supervise the construction of a 3,000-mile-long (4,828-km-long) fortification designed to defend northern China from nomadic Asian tribesmen. Meng began construction of the wall in 221 B.C., utilizing the services of some 300,000 men. His section of the Wall reportedly took ten years to build, but the Wall was not completed until the Ming Dynasty, around A.D. 1500. Meng is also credited with inventing a type of harpsichord, the cheng, as well as a pen made of hair.