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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1834-1906
American aviation pioneer who first worked as an astrophysicist before becoming secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in 1887. While there, he studied solar radiation and popularized scientific knowledge through magazine articles. Beginning in 1890, he used his knowledge of aerodynamics to design and construct powered aircraft models and test them from a houseboat on the Potomac River. A full-scale piloted machine failed to fly in 1903, but the hired pilot survived. Langley claimed later that his machine could have beaten the Wright brothers' aircraft; the design, however, was structurally too weak to withstand aerodynamic forces.