Brave New World

(chapter questions)

Answer the questions in complete sentence and quote and document every answer. We
will discuss the answers in class.

Chapter 1
1. How does the opening description of the Fertilizing Room set
the mood?
Answer: Since the Fertilizing Room is described as frigid, barren and sterile, this
creates a feeling of isolation and loneliness: “The enormous room…faced towards the
north [c]old for all the summer…[t]he light was frozen, dead, a ghost” (3). A very
impersonal atmosphere is presented.

2. What is Bokanovsky’s Process?

3. Why are Gammas, Deltas and Epsilons made inferior?
4. What happens to the embryos as they journey along the conveyor belt?
5. What is the state’s motto?

Chapter 2
1. Why are lower-caste infants conditioned to hate flowers and books?
2. Why are the students embarrassed by words such as “mother” and “father?
3. How is hypnopaedia used in BRAVE NEW WORLD?
4. Discuss the purpose of the caste system in Utopia.

Chapter 3
1. What is the State’s attitude toward marriage and personal relationships?
2. How is the Nine Years’ War important?
3. How is Bernard different from the other Alphas?
4. Why is the Controller’s lecture placed close to the conversation between Fanny and
Lenina?

Chapter 4
1. How does the episode in the elevator portray the robot-like characteristics of lower
caste workers?
2. Why does Bernard feel uncomfortable around members of the lower-caste workers?
3. How is Helmholtz Watson different from the other Alphas?
Chapter 5
1. How does Lenina demonstrate her hypnopaedic prejudices?
2. How does the night club illustrate the State’s philosophy?
3. What is the purpose of the Solidarity Service?

Chapter 6
1. How do Bernard’s dating habits differ from those of the society?
2. Why is the Director angry after telling Bernard about his visit to the Savage
Reservation?
3. How does Bernard’s behavior change when he learns that he is being sent to Iceland?

Chapter 7
1. What sights on the Reservation shock Lenina? Why?
2. What is the religion on the Savage Reservation?

Chapter 8
1. Why does Linda have difficulty adjusting to the Savage society?
2. How does John learn to read and why?
3. What is John’s mood when he first recites, “O brave new world that has such people
in it?”

Chapter 9
1. Why is Bernard bringing Linda and John to civilization?
2. What is John’s concept of love?

Chapter 10
1. Why is it ironical that the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning becomes a
father?

Chapter 11
1. Describe and discuss the change in Bernard’s character after he becomes John’s
guardian.
2. What tone is John using when he repeats Miranda’s words in the factory?
3. What effect do the feelies have on John?

Chapter 12
1. What has Bernard gained as John’s guardian?
2. Why is Lenina’s looking at the moon important?
3. Why is it not possible for Mond to publish the biological paper?
4. Why does the Principal refuse to publish Helmholtz’ poem?
5. What is Helmholtz’s opinion of Shakespeare?

Chapter 13
1.How does the confrontation between John and Lenina demonstrate their
differences?

Chapter 14
1. What makes it difficult for the nurses to understand John’s concern for Linda?
2. Why do children play in the park Lane Hospital for the Dying?

Chapter 15
1. Why does the Savage instigate a riot?
2. Why doesn’t Bernard help the Savage?

Chapter 16
1. Why is the Cyprus experiment important?
2. How does Bernard respond when he told he will go to Iceland ? Why?
3. Why did the Controller abandon pure science?
4. Mond relates the best argument for the Brave New World society. What is it?
5. How does Helmholtz gain Mond’s approval and admiration?

Chapter 17
1. According to Mond, why is man not independent?
2. Is there instinct in Brave New World?
3. What is the main argument against Brave New World?
4. What right does John claim?

Chapter 18
1. Why does John purify himself at the lighthouse? How does he do it?
2. How does society trick the Savage?
3. How does Lenina act when she sees John at the lighthouse?
4. What happens to John when the crowd begins to imitate his behavior?
5. What happens to John? Why?
Ch 1 4-18 15 pgs Ch 10 146-152 6 pgs
Ch 2 19-29 10 pgs Ch 11 153-171 18 pgs
Ch 3 30-56 26 pgs Ch 12 172-185 13pgs
Ch 4 57-71 14 pgs Ch 13 186-197 11 pgs
Ch 5 72-86 14 pgs Ch 14 198-207 9 pgs &
Ch 6 87-106 33 pgs Ch 15 208-216 8 pgs
Ch 7 107-122 15 pgs Ch 16 217-229 12 pgs &
Ch 8 123-139 16 pgs Ch 17 230-240 10 pgs
Ch 9 140-145 5 pgs & Ch 18 241-259 18 pgs

Background research look up the following topics and write a short explanation for
each:
Utopia/Dystopia Sigmund Freud Henry Ford
Soma B.F. Skinner John Malthus
Karl Marx Thomas Malthus
Ivan Pavlov Charles Darwin
Europe in 1932-generally Caste system
Define these terms as you encounter them in your reading:
Alphas Betas Deltas
Gammas Epsilons Bokanovsky Process
Bottling Decanting Ectogenesis
Erotic play Ford Freemartin
Hypnopaedia Malthusian Belt Malthusian Drill
Orgy-Porgy Pregnancy substitute Savage reservation

Identify and define the following characters as you encounter them in your reading:
For the names with an asterisk, please comment on the symbolism in the novel.
Mustapha Mond Bernard Marx* Lenina Crowne*
Helmholtz Watson Henry Foster* Fanny Crowne
John, the noble Savage* Linda* Ford*

California State Standards:

Reading: 1.0, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5c, 3.6, 3.7a,b,c, 3.9
Writing: 1.0, 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.9
Written and Oral English Conventions: 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
Listening and Speaking: 1.0, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6