The Time Machine
By H. G. Wells ~Study Guide 2010 ~ name______
Objectives:
r Broaden vocabulary
r Understand the story and characters
r Analyze the writer’s art
r Identify & interpret figurative language & its effects
r Understand themes
r Make inferences as to how The Time Machine
both reflects and transcends its time
Before reading:
¯ What Sci-Fi books/movies have you read/seen?
¯ Think about that book/movie. Was there a moral to the
story? A lesson learned?
¯ What makes Sci-Fi a unique genre?
Chapter 1
1. The Time Traveler has an interesting idea about the
geometry of time that he explains to his friends. What,
basically, is his explanation of why one should be able to
travel in time? What must his guests do in order to follow his
explanation?
2. Describe the setting and the characters who are introduced in this chapter.
3. How does the author “hook” the reader at the end of chapter 1?
Chapter 2
4. How does Wells characterize the Time Traveller to make his audience doubt him?
5. The next time the narrator sees the Time Traveller is at a second dinner engagement. What is surprising about the time Traveller’s appearance?
6. Name the characters present at the second dinner engagement.
7. In what ways does Wells build suspense in this chapter?
Chapter 3
8. Explain the point of view shift that occurs, beginning with this chapter.
9. Describe the sensation the Time Traveller experiences traveling through time.
10. What does the Time Traveller most fear might happen when he brings his machine to a stop?
11. What does the Time Traveller see when he stops his machine?
Chapter 4
12. Using the descriptive passages
in this chapter for a guide,
draw and color a picture of
the creatures the TT meets:
13. How does the TT characterize the creatures intellectually?
14. What happens when the TT tries to learn the language of the “little people?”
15. What date have the dials of his machine recorded? ______
16. The TT has a theory to explain the condition of the people of the future (their physical weakness, their preoccupation with gentle activity, their lack of drive or concern). What is his theory?
Chapter 5
17. The protagonist’s initial conflict was whether or not he could time travel (chapter 1). At the beginning of chapter 5, the central conflict of the story is revealed. What is it? What serious problem does this pose for the TT?
18. Situational irony. What is ironic about the TT’s situation? [hint: he laughs aloud at himself ]
19. Reread p. 35. About what does the TT wonder?
·
20. How does the TT make a new friend, and what is her name?
21. As the TT investigates the new world, he discovers numerous “wells.” What are the features of these wells?
22. Name the two groups of people. Where does each group live?
Chapter 6
23. What sound does the TT hear on his descent into the well? What do you think those things (that are making the sounds) are for?
24. What items does the TT wish he had taken with him into the future?
* * * * *
25. Using the descriptive passages in this chapter and on page 39 (Ch. 5) for a guide, draw and color a picture of a Morlock here:
Chapter 7
26. What lunar phase do the Eloi most fear?
27. The TT has theorized that the Eloi are remnants of the aristocracy, and the Morlocks remnants of the working class. What is their relationship now?
28. Finish this analogy:
The Eloi are to cattle as
29. The TT develops a plan of action at the end of this chapter. What is his plan?
Chapter 8
30. What had the Palace of Green Porcelain once been?
31. What does the TT find that causes him and Weena to dance?
32. Explain how you think the TT will use the camphor.
Chapter 9
34. How does Weena first respond to the Time Traveler’s making of a fire?
35. What happens to Weena during the fight with the Morlocks?
36. The TT describes the Morlock’s reaction to the fire as “the most weird and horrible thing…that I beheld in that future age.” (Wells 62) How do the Morlocks react to the fire?
Chapter 10
37. Small groups (2 – 3 students). Reread the first three paragraphs on page 65. What does the TT conclude about humankind’s intellectual advancements? What does he feel caused the downfall of humanity? What is ironic about his conclusions?
Chapter 11
38. The earth in “futurity” has changed immensely. Describe some of the changes the TT notes.
39. Where does the TT go after the “antenna of another monster crab” (69) touches his ear? Why does he go in this time-direction, instead of back to his own time?
40. Small groups (2 – 3 students).What is the tone of this chapter? How does Wells create this tone?
Chapter 12
41. After telling his story to his guests, how does the TT reassure himself that the story is really true?
42. What happens the next day, when Hillyer goes to see the TT?
43. Why do you think that Wells doesn’t tell you what happened to the Time Traveller in the end? What is gained by making his fate a mystery?
Epilogue
44. After all the concerns the TT had about the advancement of humankind,
what does the narrator conclude is most important?
What do you think about his conclusion?
Post-reading Discussion
1. What are some of the themes in The Time Machine?
2. Wells believed that the human race was destined to destroy itself. Discuss the possibility of Wells’s belief. For what reasons do you agree or disagree?
3. In what ways is humanity evolving and/or devolving?
4. If you could travel into the past or future, where would you go and why?
5. Is utopia possible? What would it look like?
6. Wells’s novel has remained popular for more than one hundred years. What do you think accounts for its popularity?
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