ELA3 final
How do you think the Director would have finished the sentence "It therefore follows..."(29)?
"It therefore follows...... that the children will be good citizens of the state."
Based on context clues, what historical figure is referred to as "Our Ford"?
"Our Ford" likely refers to Henry Ford who is credited with inventing assembly lines in manufacturing cars.
According to Mr. Foster, at what point does the Centre leave the realm of imitating nature and begin to apply human invention to reproduction?
"So we allow as many as thirty percent of the female embryos to develop normally. The others get a dose of male sex-hormone every twenty-four metres for the rest of the course. Result: they're decanted as freemartins—structurally quite normal (except," he had to admit, "that they do have the slightest tendency to grow beards), but sterile. Guaranteed sterile. Which brings us at last," continued Mr. Foster, "out of the realm of mere slavish imitation of nature into the much more interesting world of human invention."
What is a Malthusian belt?
A Malthusian belt is like a bandolier but instead of holding bullets it hold condoms.
Who is Pope? How does John feel toward him?
A guy Linda was having sex with
Describe the aging process in the World State.
Aging does not exist. Procedures are performed to take away wrinkles and the lengthy daily rituals of washing and massaging one's body ensure that aging is put off for as long possible.
World State Transportation
Alphas and Betas use helicopters
Bernard's difficulty in interacting with others in the World State
Bernard feels as if everyone else is blissfully ignorant to the obvious brainwashing of the World State. He feels out of place because everyone else is happy with the way that things are and he feels as if no one else understands him. Also, he often feels as if he is being judged for his appearance despite the fact that he is an Alpha plus.
Describe Lenina's second thoughts about going to the Savage Reservation with Bernard. Why does she end up going with him?
Bernard is not the most sociable person and Lenina was worried that if she went with him to the Savage Reservation that she wouldn't enjoy his company. At the Savage Reservation, she wouldn't be able to leave if she didn't enjoy it as it was across the ocean. Lenina ultimately decides to go, remembering Fanny's advice; she needs to be more promiscuous. Bernard can be quite sweet, too.
What does Bernard offer John and Linda?
Bernard offers to bring John and Linda back to the World State with him. Linda undeniably wants to go with him, but John is apprehensive.
Go over Bernard's disappointment about sleeping with Lenina during their first date.
Bernard wanted to build an emotional connection with Lenina before he slept with her. He wanted to put Lenina on a pedestal as to not see her as an object for sexual pleasure but as an emotional companion. Lenina was offended that Bernard suggested that they wait. She saw his refusal to sleep with her as a hint that she was not good in bed or that she was too plump to be attractive.
What is Bokanovsky's Process? Which classes undergo Bokanovsky's Process? Which do not?
Bokanovsky's Process takes a single fertilized egg and continues to split it until there are 96 identical embryos. Deltas, Gammas, and Epsilons all undergo this process. The Alphas and Betas do not undergo the process.
What is Ectogenesis? According to the Director, why did world governments initially reject this scientific advancement? What other technological and social advances/reforms did they reject, and for what reason? What changed their minds?
Ectogenesis is growing something outside of the human body rather than inside. It was once rejected because of the drawbacks from certain groups, such as religion. They also rejected nuclear technology because it looked really dangerous. The positives changed their mind.
According to the Director, why did Ford/Freud decide that families were dangerous?
Families form personal loyalties that transcended material impulses like consumerism.
What treatment is Fanny undergoing? How do you think the treatment works? Why do you think it would be prescribed?
Fanny is prescribed some type of pill that mimics pregnancy by releasing hormones into the body. This may be prescribed as it allows women who want the positive feelings of pregnancy without the bearing of children. If a woman can take medicine that mimics pregnancy, the body won't feel the need to be pregnant for real, which benefits the World State.
Why doesn't Fanny approve of Lenina's interest in Bernard Marx? What is the rumor about Bernard?
Fanny thinks Bernard is unattractive as he is short and thin, especially as an Alpha, and therefore sees him as a waste of time. It is rumored that alcohol was added to his test tube while he was developing as an embryo, which stunted his growth.
Why does Fanny disapprove of Lenina's relationship with Henry Foster?
Fanny thinks that Lenina is becoming too involved with Henry as she isn't seeing other men. Fanny is concerned that Lenina may get attached to Henry in a romantic way, so she encourages her to go on dates with other men and "have them".
Based on context clues, what are Feelies (35)?
Feelies are like a erotic movie you can feel
What do you think a "freemartin" is (13)?
Freemartins are a result of female embryos receiving injections of male hormone daily while developing. They are sterile and remind me somewhat of hermaphrodites as they have female features but with some male characteristics due to the testosterone. Freemartins are created to ensure that women do not have children naturally; all children are created in the lab.
What is the purpose of depriving some embryos of adequate oxygen?
Freemartins are a result of female embryos receiving injections of male hormone daily while developing. They are sterile and remind me somewhat of hermaphrodites as they have female features but with some male characteristics due to the testosterone. Freemartins are created to ensure that women do not have children naturally; all children are created in the lab.
Summarize John's memory of childhood.
He is isolated because of his mother's mishaps. Linda slept with the majority of the men in the village and eventually the wives of these men found out. From then on out, both Linda and John were ostracised in any social gatherings.
Who is Helmholtz Watson? And how is he a foil to Bernard?
Helmholtz Watson is an Alpha, like Bernard, who feels out of place. Unlike Bernard, he is very attractive, built, and charming. Helmholtz often feels like his writing is not up to par with his thoughts. He gets frustrated with his pieces as they don't reflect how he truly feels, yet he can't find any words to describe how he feels either.
How does hypnopedia help condition people to be happy?
Hypnopaedia brainwashes people of the World State into listening to the social structure determined for them from birth. The phrases repeated are tailored to each caste, promoting the caste that they are meant to be in. When the Delta children were being conditioned, they were constantly reminded that they had it easier than Alphas and Betas but that they were smarter than Epsilons. Some people, however, can see past the technique. Bernard is not at all happy even though he underwent hypnopaedia and Helmholtz feels suppressed in his writing, too.
How was hypnopædia discovered? What were its limitations?
Hypnopaedia was discovered when a boy listened to the radio while he fell asleep. While he was asleep, the radio station broadcasted a story on the Nile River. The next day, when his mother said anything related to the story he heard, he was compelled to repeat what he had heard. Although he was able to memorize things, he was unable to comprehend the information that he retained.
Explain some of the processes that the Centre uses to prepare embryos for their "inescapable social destiny" (16-17).
In Chapter One, the students view various machines and techniques used to promote the production and conditioning of embryos. The scientists take an ovary, remove and fertilize the eggs, force the eggs to bud up to ninety-six times, and subsequently grow the embryos in bottles. Predestinators then decide the future function of each embryo within the society, essentially assigning a future job to each human.
What does it mean to call a woman "pneumatic?" Why does Henry Foster's conversation about Lenina anger Bernard Marx?
In the context of the book, pneumatic seems to be synonymous with sexy or curvy. Henry calls Lenina pneumatic and this angers Bernard as he sees Lenina as a person rather than an object for satisfying one's sexual desires.
How does the Director respond to the children he catches engaged in sexual play? In this society, what sort of behavior is considered "normal" and "abnormal"?
It is expected that children explore their sexual desires and even encouraged. Children who do not take to this activity are psychologically examined as it is seen to be unnatural to feel uncomfortable with erotic play.
What does Huxley mean when he compares hypnopædia to drops of sealing wax falling on granite (28)?
Its saying how messages seep into the brain the same way wax seeps into granite.
Who is John?
John is the savage. he was born in the reservation, therefore he doesn't know how the world state is like.
Who is Linda?
John's mother used to live in the world state but got pregnant with john and was banished.
what is the secret to happiness
Knowing your place in society and liking what you are meant to do
Why would Bokanovsky's Process help create social stability?
Large groups of identical people allow each group to specialize in a certain job so that the same machinery can be manipulated by the same people. Having groups of like-minded people allows for necessary tasks to be completed.
How does Lenina respond to the Savage Reservation?
Lenina is not accustomed to many of the Reservation's customs. The clothing disturbs her as it is organic (whereas hers is artificially synthesized in a factory) and she's put off by their odor. What truly bothered Lenina the most about the Reservation, though, was when the young boy circling the fire began to whip himself. She didn't understand why anyone would be compelled to harm themselves repeatedly, and especially not in front of the entire village.
What is moral education? Why was it possible to adapt hypnopædia for moral education?
Moral education is the implementation of instructional tools to teach children about the values of society. In school, you may have heard this referred to as "character ed". In Brave New World, this is implemented through sleep instruction from infancy, as children were taught societal values through auditory control.
Explain the saying "History is bunk." Consider the list of things (found on page 35) that the Controller dismisses and suggest a reason for his inclusion of these particular examples of "bunk." Are there any common themes among them?
Mustapha Mond instructs his citizens to disregard the lessons that history has taught. Mond wants people to believe in science and "progress" rather than old ideas and mistakes. The word "bunk" refers to the frailties and primal loyalties of man that he had no control over. Mond looks to the new model of people who have no individual loyalties to enact the violence and vengeance that was common in the past.
Who is Mustapha Mond?
One of the ten World Leaders. Mustapha Mond is the controller of everything in the World State. He is like a god in the way that he has power over everyone.
Explain the "conscription of consumption" (49). How are citizens conditioned to become consumers? Why would appreciating culture or nature be at odds with consumption?
People are expected to consume. Society views consumption as beneficial. The society believes that more consumption means more production of good, which will increase the number of jobs and keep the society fully employed. Endless consumption also keeps people's minds superficial and in a constant state of desire.
What is soma? What purpose does it serve in society?
Soma is a drug that is given to all citizens for whenever they begin to feel unhappy and need an escape. Daily rations are distributed to the people and soma is used regularly to take the edge off of life. Soma is used to suppress extreme emotions that could create instability in society; instead of dealing with these emotions (like anger, loneliness, and depression), citizens go on a "holiday".
How does the Director describe what a home was? Why effect does his description have on the students?
The Director describes a home as an unstable cage where emotions continue to brew until it somehow influences a person's behavior and sways their judgement from being objective to subjective. Like with the term "mother", the students are disgusted by the thought of living in a home.
Who is Tomakin?
The Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning
Why doesn't the Director approve Bernard's travelling to the Savage Reservation?
The Director traveled to the Savage Reservation with a woman when he was much younger. Apparently the woman had fallen, and while the Director went to find help, she had left. He tried to find her, but a terrible storm came and he had to go back to the Savage Reservation. He never found her and the thought of leaving her there still haunts him. The Director fears that seeing the Savage Reservation will in some way fuel Bernard's dislike for the World State. Stability is key in their society, so the Director wants to avoid putting Bernard in any vulnerable positions that might pressure him into rebelling.
Why does the Director want to fire Bernard in front of an audience?
The Director wants to remove Bernard from society as he threatens the social stability of the World State. In order to show the upper-caste workers what they may lose if they follow in Bernard's footsteps, he has them join the meeting. The Director claims that Bernard's refusal to partake in the societal norms (taking soma, sleeping around, going to the Feelies) is offensive and dangerous for everyone around him. In response to this blow, Bernard introduces Linda and John to the crowd.
Explain the methods used by the class, Elementary Class Consciousness, to condition children.
The children were exposed to a recording in their pillows as they slept that instilled the morals and reasoning for their caste system.
Explain the conditioning exercise that the Delta infants at the Centre experience. What is the purpose of the "lesson"? How does it reflect Pavlov's theory? Explain the economic rationale for conditioning lower-caste children to hate flowers.
The conditioning of the Delta infants began by exposing the children to books and flower petals. Once set free, the children crawled over to the books and flowers and explored the objects. After a minute or so, the Director instructed that the alarms be turned on. These alarms frightened the children, resulting in hysteria. As if the loud noises were not enough, the nurses also shocked the infants via metal plates on the floor under the books and flower petals. The fear and pain instilled upon the infants is meant to condition them into hating books and flowers. By avoiding books, the Deltas will not learn any information that the government does not intend for them to learn. Books are banned in the Brave New World society, but by conditioning the Deltas to fear and hate books, any rebels who would question this ban wouldn't have the urge to look further into books. Conditioning the Deltas to hate flowers keeps them in the city and out of the country. Because lower-castes work in the city, taking the time to travel to the country to look at the flowers would not be favorable on the economy. By spending time observing the flowers, the lower-castes would not be working in the cities which would result in less production.
Explain the allegory that the Director makes using water under pressure in a pipe. How does it illustrate the danger of monogamy or other exclusive relationships? According to the Director, why does promiscuity lead to stability?
The controller states that all human emotion or feeling can be seen in the same way as a pipe that carries water. Once the pipe has been lanced, water spurts out..... but if the pipe is pierced multiple times, each hole only leaks a small amount of water. Human emotion, like the water, can be stabilized to "small" leaks if there are multiple outlets or partners to consistently share it with.
Explain how Centrifugal Bumble-puppy is played. What is the government's perspective on the purpose of games?
The game is elaborate and requires complex machinery. They learn that the heavy reliance on machinery increases consumption of material goods and thus boost the economy.
Why do the scientists hope to discover a way to speed up maturation?
The labs want to speed up the rate of workers so they are fully developed as early as six years old to perform the tasks they were meant to do
Explain the fertilization process used in Brave New World. How does the Hatching and Conditioning Centre acquire the necessary ovum and spermatozoa?
The premise of the fertilization process used focuses on creating individuals who are as uniform as possible. Ova from one ovary and spermatozoa from one donor are obtained and then used to create up to 16,000 individuals. Similar to IVF, the ova are submerged in a concentrated solution of spermatozoa until each egg is successfully fertilized. Each fertilized egg is then split continuously until there are 96 identical embryos.
Describe solidarity service
The service just reinstates the values of the World State. To make the information palatable, it is presented with soma. After the service, the entire group has an orgy together. The goal of these services is to keep the higher castes satisfied with their role in society.
How does Bernard's character develop here?
The soma was not appealing to Bernard. He values having a clear mind and feels that soma fogs his memory in an unpleasant way. The rest of the participants try to pressure Bernard, but he is very persistent. They enjoy the escape the soma provides and take it with pleasure. His refusal to conform to societal norms just enhances the rebellious nature of his character.
Beginning on page 34, Huxley juxtaposes scenes between the Director and his students with scenes between Henry Foster and Bernard Marx and scenes of a discussion between Fanny and Lenina Crowne. What is happening in each of these three vignettes? What effect does the juxtaposition of the scenes create?
The students and the Director are discussing the caveats of past societies; Bernard and Henry argue over the way that women (specifically Lenina) should be treated and thought of; Fanny and Lenina discuss their relationships with men and their contraception requirements. All three scenes reveal various aspects of the World State and how citizens react to certain phrases/ideas. It is apparent that promiscuity is encouraged (for both men and women) and that becoming romantically invested in someone is blatantly wrong. The juxtaposition of the scenes reveals the views of each character on the World State. For a society where everyone's life is supposed to be planned out, these characters show an awful lot of individualism.
What does the Director tell the students about the way children were raised in the past? How do the students respond to this information?
The students are mortified and disgusted to learn that children in the past were raised by their biological mothers and fathers in groups called families. This concept is forbidden in the society that the students currently live in as "everyone belongs to everyone".
Explain how Huxley uses imagery to establish setting and mood. Cite specific examples that you find particularly effective.
The very first sentence of the book paints the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre as a "squat grey building" that is "cold for all the summer beyond the panes". Even though the physical temperature of the building is quite warm and tropical, the introductory page continues to suggest that the building is cold in appearance by using words like frozen, wintrous, and goose-flesh.
Explain the meaning of the proverb: "every one belongs to every one else." What does Huxley suggest about the reason that the students accept this proverb as truth?
This proverb is meant to remove the pressures of monogamy between people as to allow them to explore their sexuality. The World State is all about getting what you want when you want it-- that is how to keep people happy. There apparently are not temptations or desires as you may freely take part in them without judgement. It is suggested that the students learned this through hypnopaedia.
Based on context clues, what do you think the term "unforeseen wastages" is a euphemism for (10)?
Unforeseen wastage is a euphemism for the numbers of deaths in a catastrophe, and an increase in production to make sure those losses are replaced.
The World State's motto suggests that community, identity, and stability are the most important qualities in their society. What do you believe are the three most important values for a society? Explain your answer.
Unity, passion, and compassion.
who is popular all of a sudden in chapter 11
bernard
When is John tempted to do when he finds Lenina asleep? Why does he stop?
he is tempted to touch her. He wants to caress her cheek and feel her hair, but he stops himself.
transformation of Westminster Abbey
in really life, the Westminster Abbey is a church. in the book it is seen as an activity center.
Who does John love reading/quoting?
shakespeare
