Brave New World Reading Assignments #1-3

Reading Assignments

Brave New World

Reading Assignment #1

Read Chapters 1 - 2 of Brave New World (p. 3-29), and answer the questions:

1. 
   
   According to the Director, “the secret of happiness and virtue [is] liking what you have to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their inescapable social identity” (16). Use the quote below to explain what this means:
   “Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm really awfully glad I'm a Beta because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh, no. I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able to read or write. Besides, they wear black, which is such a beastly colour. I'm so glad I'm a Beta.” (27-28)
2. 
   
   What lesson is the Director trying to “rub in […] with a mild electric shock” (21)? Why are the children being taught this lesson?
3. 
   
   What is hypnopaedia? What is it used for? Use the quote below to help you:

“'Till at last the child's mind is these suggestions, and the sum of the suggestions is the child's mind. And not the child's mind only. The adult's mind too—all his life long. The mind that judges, and desires, and decides—made up of these suggestions. But all these suggestions are our suggestions!' The Director almost shouted in his triumph. 'Suggestions from the State!'” (29)

Reading Assignment #2

Read Chapter 3 of Brave New World (p. 30-56), and answer the questions:

1. 
   
   How is human emotion viewed by this society? What are the drawbacks of feeling strong emotions? Use the quote below to help you:

“Mother, monogamy, romance. High spurts the fountain; fierce and foamy the wild jet. The urge has but a single outlet. My love, my baby. No wonder these poor pre- moderns were mad and wicked and miserable. Their world didn't allow them to take thinks easily, didn't allow them to be sane, virtuous, happy. What with mothers and lovers, what with the prohibitions they were not conditioned to obey, what with the temptations and the lonely remorses, what with all the diseases and the endless isolating pain, what with the uncertainties and the poverty—they were forced to feel strongly. And feeling strongly (and strongly, what was more, in solitude, in hopelessly individual isolation), how could they be stable?” (41)

2. 
   
   How does this hypnopaedic saying ensure that individuals will spend their lives as consumers?

“Every man, woman and child compelled (forced) to consume so much a year. In the interests of industry. […] Ending is better than mending. The more stitches the less riches.” (49)

3. 
   
   Do you think this society values what we think of as education? Do you think education as you know it is a good value to have? Why or why not?

“You can't consume much if you sit still and read books.” (50)

4. 
   
   What is this society's attitude about drugs? Why might a society allow for recreational drug use?

“Six years later it [soma] was being produced commercially. The perfect drug […] euphoric, narcotic, pleasantly hallucinant.” (53)

Reading Assignment #3

Read Chapters 4-5 of Brave New World (p. 57-86), and answer the questions:

1. 
   
   How is Lenina an example of a citizen of the society? Use the quotes below to help you:

“'That is,' Lenina gave him her most deliciously significant smile, 'if you still want to have me.'” (58)

“What a hideous color khaki is,' remarked Lenina, voicing the hypnopaedic prejudices of her caste.” (62)

2. 
   
   Why is it significant that Bernard and Helmholz know that they are individuals? (67)
3. 
   
   Why do you think Bernard is left unfulfilled by the Solidarity Service? (78-86)

IMK Reading assignment Chapters 41-45 (p. 495-514)

Read IMK Chapters 41-45 (p. 495-514)

"Say Something" for page 496

Reading Response Questions:

1. Why does Arthur lose his temper while jousting with Lancelot? (495-96)

2. Why does Meliagrance decide to kidnap the Queen? (498)

3. Why does Meliagrance accuse the Queen of treason? What is his mistake in the accusation? (503-504)

4. Why does Arthur choose to ignore Lancelot and Guenever's affair? (509)

5. Why is Lancelot ashamed of doing another miracle? (512)

IMK Reading Assignment Chs. 36-40 (p. 477-494)

Read Chapters 36-40 of IMK (p. 477-494)

"Say Something" for page 488

Reading Response Questions:

1. What signs show that Arthur's kingdom is in decline? (477-479)

2. Why must Arthur "be ready to burn his wife"? (482)

3. Why does Lancelot have difficulty in his choice between Guenever and God? (483-484)

4. Why has Lancelot "begun to blame himself exclusively for Elaine's sorrows"? (491)

5. What are the reasons why Guenever is angry at Lancelot? (493)

IMK Reading Assignment Chs. 32-35 (p. 458-477)

Read Chapters 32-35 of IMK (p. 458-477)

"Say Something" for page 464 (1 set)

Reading Response questions:

1. How does Lancelot explain why people don't like Galahad? (460-61)

2. Why does Lancelot call pride his "worst sin of all"? (465)

3. What does Lancelot give as a reason why he was denied the Grail? (468)

4. How does being a woman make Guenever's life different from that of her male counterparts? (472-73)

5. How does Guenever's attitude change one year after Lancelot returns from the Grail quest? (475-76)

IMK Reading assignment Chapters 28-31 (p. 437-458)

Read Chapters 28-31 of IMK (p. 437-458)

"Say Something" for pages 440-441, 446, and 457-458 (3 sets)

Reading Response Questions:

1. What is Gawaine's opinion of Galahad? (438-39)

2. Why is Gawaine unable to attain the Grail? (441-42)

3. What actions get Sir Bors off to a good start on his quest for the Grail? (444)

4. What were Bors' 4 trials? (444, 445, 446, 447)

5. How does Arthur convince Aglovale not to punish Gawaine? (450-51)

6. Why is Percivale allowed to achieve the Grail? (453-54)

IMK Reading assignment Chapters 26-27 (p. 426-436)

Reading Response & “Say Something”

“Say Something” for pages 429-30 and 434 (2 sets)

Read The Ill-Made Knight, Chapters 26-27 (pages 426-436) and answer the following questions on loose-leaf paper:

1.How does Arthur explain about why Morgause hates him? (427)
2.What does Arthur say is his error about the Round Table? What causes him to realize the problem? (428)
3.How does Arthur explain the problem of Might for Right to Lancelot? What does Arthur say he should have done? (433)
4.Why does Arthur decide to send his knights on a quest for the Holy Grail? (434-435)

IMK Reading assignment Chapters 23-25 (p. 412-425)

Reading Response

Read The Ill-Made Knight, Chapters 23-25 (pages 412-425) and answer the following questions on loose-leaf paper:

1.Who do you think the “silver woman on the sable field” is? (413)
2.How do Ector and Degalis convince Lancelot to return to court? (417)
3.How do the young members of the court perceive Arthur, Lancelot and Guenever? (420-421)
4.Why did the “ambitious knights of Europe” want to join Arthur's court? (425)

IMK Reading assignment Chapters 19-22 (p. 397-413)

Read Chapters 19-22 of IMK (pages 397-413)

"Say Something" for pages 407 and 411 (2 sets)

Reading Response Questions:

1. What reason does Sir Bliant give for thinking the "Wild Man" may have been Lancelot? (401)

2. Why does Elaine decide to become a nun? (406)

3. What "humiliating terms" must Elaine accept if she wants Lancelot to live with her? (410)

IMK Reading assignment Chapters 15-18 (p. 384-397)

Read Chapters 15-18 of IMK (pages 384-397)

"Say Something" for pages 387, 388, and 389 (3 sets)

Reading Response Questions:

1. For what reason does Lancelot and Guenever's year of happiness "collapse in ruin"? (384)

2. What has given Guenever and Lancelot's love "its greatest fury"? (386)

3. How does Elaine's arrival at court affect Lancelot, Guenever, and Arthur? (387, 388, and 389)

4. How does Guenever's attitude change after Elaine's arrival? (391)

5. What happens to Lancelot after Elaine tricks him a second time? (396)

IMK Reading assignment Chapters 11-14 (p. 368-383)

Read Chapters 11-14 of IMK, pages 368-383

"Say Something" for pages 377, 378, and 379-380 (3 sets)

Reading Response Questions:

1. What reason does Lancelot give for fighting his desire for Guenever? (368)

2. What miracle does Lancelot perform at Corbin? (370-371)

3. What treachery does Elaine do against Lancelot? Why does she do it? (375-376)

4. In your own words, what is "knowledge of the world"? (377)

5. What does Lancelot have to give up in order to be with Guenever? (382-383)

The Ill-Made Knight (IMK) Reading assignment Chapters 8-10

Read chapters 8-10 of IMK (p. 355-368)

"Say Something" for pages 355, 364, and 365

Reading Response questions:

1. Why do the "coleric (angry) barons who lived by Forte Mayne (Strong Arm)" hate Lancelot so much? (355)

2. Why does Arthur ask his knights to tell of their adventures? Why is the feast a fiasco (disaster)? (361-362)

3. How does Guenever feel about Arthur? How does she react when all of Lancelot's captives arrive? (363)

4. What problems does Arthur face as he tries to institute his ideal of Right? What is Games-mania and why is it a problem? (364-365)

5. What is one reason for Lancelot's dilemma about Guenever? (367-368)

The Ill-Made Knight (IMK) Reading assignment Chapter 7

Read Chaoter 7 of IMK (p. 340-354)

"Say Something" for p. 352, 353, and 354 (3 sets)

Reading Response Questions:

1. Why does Lancelot fight Sir Carados? (341-342)

2. What does Sir Turquine usually do with his captives? (343)

3. EWhat does Lancelot promise the lady who helps him escape from the Castle Chariot? (346)

4. How does Sir Turquine exemplify the old order of knights who are more interested in Might than Right? (343, 354)

5. How does Gaheris feel towards Lancelot? Why? (354)

Chapters 3-6 of The Ill-Made Knight - Assignment

Read Chapters 3-6 of The Ill-Made Knight (IMK), pages 328-340

"Say Something" for pages 333-334, 336, and 339

Reading Response Questions:

1. Why was Lancelot jealous of Guenever and Gawaine? (328)

2. Who is the black knight? What is his reaction when Lancelot knocks him over? (330)

3. What is Lancelot's initial impression of Guenever? (331)

4. How and why do Lancelot's feelings for Guenever change? (334, 337)

5. Why is Arthur able to forget Merlyn's prophecy that Lancelot would fall in love with Guenever? (338)

6. Why does Lancelot leave the court? (339-340)

The Ill-Made Knight (IMK) Reading assignment Chapters 1-3

Read chapters 1-3 of The Ill-Made Knight (IMK), pages 315-328

"Say Something" for pages 326 and 327 (one for each)

Reading Response questions for Chapters 1-3 of IMK

1. How does Lancelot describe Forte Mayne? Why does Lancelot want to join Arthur? (p. 316)

2. What did it take for Lancelot to become Arthur's best knight? (pp. 322-323)

3. What was Lancelot's other wish aside from being the best knight in the world? (p. 323)

4. What gift does Guenever's father give to Arthur? (p. 326)

5. What does Lancelot decide to do after Merlyn's visit? (p. 327)

The Parable of Man

After reading pp. 188-194 of The Once and Future King, answer the following questions:

1. What do all animals look like before they are born?

2. What gift does God give to the embryos?

3. What reason does Man give for refraining from choosing a tool?

4. Why do you think God is "partially sorry and partially hopeful" for Man?

5. Why does the Wart say he would have liked to go to war? Do you agree with his reasons?

Chapter 12 Reading Response Questions

1. How does Alice feel about the trial at the beginning of Chapter 12? How do you know?

2. How does the King try to remove Alice from the courtroom? What argument does Alice make against the King?

3. What evidence from the text shows that the King is trying to incriminate the Knave?

4. What sense does the King find in the verses presented as evidence?

5. What can we learn about Alice by reading about her older sister?

Chapter 11 Reading Response Questions

1. Who has been accused of stealing the tarts?

2. Who is the judge? Do you think the judge will be impartial? Why or why not?

3. Do you think the jurors will do a good job at the trial? Why or why not?

4. Who is the first witness? What does he report to the court? Is it useful to the trial?

5. What begins happening to Alice during the trial? How do you think this will impact the proceedings?

6. Who is the second witness? What happens when the King tries to question her?

Notes for Chapter 9, "The Mock Turtle's Story"

- The Duchess continually tells Alice that there is always a moral if you look hard enough
  - this is a reflection of moralistic education of the early 19th c.
    - like the Busy Bee poem which tells children to work hard and stay out of trouble
  - the Duchess seems to twist the moral she wants, regardless of the conversation
    - ex: "The more there is of mine, the less there is of yours" regarding a conversation about mustard
- The Queen takes Alice to the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle
  - The Gryphon tells us that the Queen never executes anyone - "it's all her fancy, that"
  - The Mock Turtle's sorrow is also "all his fancy"
  - Carroll is trying to tell us that our world is shaped by the attitude we bring to it
- The Mock Turtle's story is a parody of Victorian education
  - took Reeling & Writhing (reading and writing)
    - words that describe suffering
  - took Mystery (History)
  - Drawling, Stretching, and Fainting in Coils (Drawing, sketching, and painting in oils)
  - Laughing and Grief (Latin and Greek)
    - Greeks also taught us about laughing and grief through comedy and tragedy (Greek drama)
    - the Mock Turtle's grief brings the reader laughter through his puns
  - Lessons lessen every day
- Each pun shows an emotion associated with the topic being taught

Assignment:


1. How does the Mock Turtle's use of puns help us understand his attitudes about school?
2. Choose 2 questions you wrote for Chapter 9, "The Mock Turtle's Story," and answer in paragraph form.

"The Mock Turtle's Story"

Read Chapter 9, "The Mock Turtle's Story," and write 5 questions about the chapter. These questions can be about details from the text, themes we have seen in the novel, or any other significant connections you can think of.

Chapter 7 Reading Response Questions

1. What 3 characters does Alice meet in Chapter 7? How is their behavior similar to that of other characters in Wonderland?

2. Re-read the argument Alice has with the Hatter, Hare and Dormouse. Why does Alice's argument (I mean what I say) make sense, and their arguments (eating, getting what you like, and sleeping) not make sense?

3. How does the Hatter try to fix his watch?

4. Why are the Hatter, Hare and Dormouse always having a tea-party?

5. How do the characters deal with the problem of dirty dishes? Which character benefits from this solution?

6. Why does Alice finally leave the party?

7. Where does she end up at the end of Chapter 7? What do you think will happen next?