Based on the context of this excerpt from w. w. jacobs's "the monkey's paw," what does the word placidly mean?
without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of laburnam villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.
a completing a task in a frantic manner
b having a particular motive for an action
c appearing to be calm and relaxed
d acting harshly or stubbornly

How should i transition this woodrow wilson was born on december 28, 1856, in staunton, virginia. his parents were joseph wilson, a presbyterian minister, and jessie wilson, a confederate nurse. growing up wilson was rigorously taught oratory and debate by his father, which would later become a passion of wilsons. wilson eventually enrolled at davidson college in 1874 but later transferred to princeton in 1875. after wilson graduated from princeton in 1879, he went on to study law at the university of virginia. wilson concluded his education at john hopkins university where he earned his ph. d. in political science and history. wilson went on to teach at bryn mawr and wesleyan. it wasn’t until 1890 that he accepted a professorship to teach at college of new jersey, now known as princeton, which led to him becoming the 13th president of princeton. wilson brought many curriculum upgrades and through his efforts it is said that he is the one who shaped the college of new jersey into the prestigious princeton university. in 1909 wilson’s efforts sparked the attention of several new jersey democrats who asked him to run for governor in 1910. wilson’s victory launched his political career and in 1912 he ran for president and succeeded. he was inaugurated on march 4, 1913. wilson went on to pursue promises made during his campaign based on a “new freedom” platform. these promises included lowering tariffs, creating the federal reserve system, championing antitrust legislation, improving protections for workers, and establishing the federal trade commission. wilson’s new freedom platform favored small businesses and farmers. he signed the underwood-simmons act, which reduced tax rates that had previously favored industrialists over small business. he also approved the federal reserve act, making loans more accessible to the average american. i know need transition into talking about his involvement in the kkk.

Which ideas are expressed as literacy themes?

What does lennie's dream remind crooks of in of mice and men