brave new world ch.1&2

BRAVE NEW WORLD[ chapters

1&2 ]

Roberto Noda

Nicole Tagle

Eugenia Yeung

[Discussion Questions:]

#1 What is hypnopaedia and how do they use it in chapter two?

Hypnopaedia is known as the process of "sleep learning" DHC talks about its history during the time of Ford Way of teaching MORALS and not FACTS Used in Chapter 2 during the conditioning of Betas "Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do,

because they're so frightfully clever..." pg 27

[Discussion Questions:]

#2 What does the DHC mean when he says that Bokanovsky’s Process is one of the major instruments of Social stability?

Ties to theme of Community, Identity, Stability vs. Individual Freedom

In order for stability to exist, conflict must be depleted Bokanovsky's Process is the ability to create multiple children (8-

96) out of one female embryo Major instrument because it is a way of making everyone the same

in one social group, and if all are the same within that group, there is no problem with stability

Classes are separated, and all are equal per class

[Discussion Questions:]

#3 Describe the Bokanovsky’s Process.

Bokanovsky's Process is the ability to create multiple children (8-96) out of one female embryo

Done unto Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons Series of steps of development Due to this process, eggs begin to bud, and multiply from a

spectrum of 8 to 96 buds These buds then grow into female embryos These embryos will then produce full human beings, giving up to

96 more humans than a normal embryo would be able to develop

[Discussion Questions:]

#4 Why can’t anyone Bokanovskify indefinitely?

Indefinite Bokanovskify is impossible because male gametes can only ever handle 96 reproductions and 72 on average per ova

[Discussion Questions:]

#5 What is the purpose of freemartins?

70% of embryos given male sex hormone ~ non functioning ovaries

Process is flawless expect for the fact that some female may grow beards

Purpose is to eliminate chances of fertility Mr. Foster says, “in the vast majority of cases, fertility is merely a

nuisance” (page 13)

[Discussion Questions:]

#6 What did they do to the eight month Deltas in the infant nursery?

Process called conditioning Unloaded into area with flowers and books Explosion lead the children into terror Books offered once again and infants backed away

#7 Why were the Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons once conditioned to like flowers? What made them change their minds and condition them to hate nature?

[Discussion Questions:]

Compelled to travel to the country resulting in consumption of transportation

But only consumed transportation since nature was free Conditioned to love country sports which required equipment

[Discussion Questions:]

#8 Why do the people of the new world fear the concept of parents?

The people regard viviparous birth as inhumane, even taboo. The concept of fathers and mothers are seen as almost vulgar

words. Probably the cause of the government who may have conditioned

the people to think that certain way in order for the citizens not to try to reproduce, allowing the government to control the population (stability)

[Discussion Questions:]

#9 Why do they have the Beta children conditioned not to associate with other classes? Beta children are prevented from mingling with other social classes; it distinguishes them from other castes.

Helps the government bring about order, and creates morals for them.

[Discussion Questions:]

#10 How does the mass production of humans affect individuality?

Much of the population consist of sets of identical twins (8 to 96 people) which eliminates with differences between people’s likings, natural dispositions, and genetic characteristics that define individuality

People do not choose positions based on their talents and preferences, they are given them.

Citizens do not develop their intelligence, they are designated with a specific intellectual level.

[Challenging Words]

TRIVIA

challenging

The class will be divided into three groups.

For each of the ten rounds, the groups will choose a single representative.

A definition will be provided. The representatives must pick the correct corresponding word to win the round.

[prizes will be given to the winners]

[DIRECTIONS:]

of, relating to, or causing stroke

ANSWER: Apoplectic (adjective)

[DEFINITION #1:]

[DEFINITION #2:] producing living young instead of

eggs from within the body in the manner of nearly all mammals, many reptiles, and a few fishes

ANSWER: Viviparous (adjective)

[DEFINITION #3:] such as is or might be caused by

nervousness or shakiness

ANSWER: Tremulous (adjective)

[DEFINITION #4:] A clear; usually seasoned broth

made by straining water in which beef, chicken, etc.

ANSWER: Bouillon (noun)

[DEFINITION #5:] an unborn or unhatched vertebrate

especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind; specifically : a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth

ANSWER: Foetuses (plural of foetal or fetal)

[DEFINITION #6:] Extraordinary in Size

ANSWER: Prodigious (adjective)

[DEFINITION #7:] having, containing, or producing

the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash 

ANSWER: Sibilant (adjective)

[DEFINITION #8:] relating to or affected or

characterized by spasm

ANSWER: Spasmodic (adjective)

[DEFINITION #9:] Hot and Humid

ANSWER: Sultry (adjective)

[DEFINITION #10:] winning favor and confidence by

imperceptible degrees

ANSWER: Insinuating (adjective)

#1 DIRECTOR

[Character Development:]

Appearance: First character introduced  Tall, thin and upright

Long chin, prominent teeth, curved lips Age is hard to depict

Strong belief that social stability is the way to happiness  “Bokanovsky’s Process is one of the major instruments of social

stability!” (page 7) Believes that social stability comes from Bokanovsky’s Process since

the clones are predestined to do similar tasks at similar machines This leads to their motto “Community, Identity, Stability” “That is the secret of happiness and virtue─ liking what you’ve got to

do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their inescapable social destiny.” (page 16)

Belief that happiness is found in social stability. Conditioning again predestines people to be instinctive in a specific situation (ex. the heat)

[Character Development:]#1 DIRECTOR

Typical high level caste due to his intelligence  “Ass! Hasn’t it occurred to you that an Epsilon embryo must have an

Epsilon environment as well as an Epsilon heredity?” (page 14) When answering questions always replied with a rude manner often

implying that the student is dumb or unintelligent

Promiscuous  “Charming, charming” murmured the director and giving her two or

three little pats, received in exchange a rather deferential smile for himself.

“Charming,” said the Director once more, and, with a final pat, moved away after the others.

Publically shows superficial attraction towards Lenina

[Character Development:]#2 Mr. Foster

Appearance  Fair-haired, ruddy young man Spoke quickly, vivacious blue eyes

Knowledgeable   Director comments on Mr. Foster’s intelligence and Mr. Foster is

enthusiastic to share his knowledge and guide the students on their tour. “Come along with us, and give these boys the benefit of your expert knowledge.” Cried the Director. Mr. Foster smiled modestly, “With pleasure.” (page 9)

“Sixteen thousand and twelve; in one hundred and eighty-nine batches of identical. But of course they’ve done much better in some of the tropical Centres. Singapore has often produced over sixteen thousand five hundred; and Mombasa has actually touched the seventeen thousand mark.” (page 8-9)

[Character Development:]#2 Mr. Foster

Very precise and clear with all figures, pleasure in quoting figures “Mr. Foster was only too happy to give them a few figures. Two

hundred and twenty metres long, two hundred wide, ten high.” (page 11)

“Eighty-eight cubic metres of card-index” said Mr. Foster with relish, as they entered. (with relish ~ great enjoyment, take pleasure) (page 16)

Very knowledgeable and educated in topics such as freemartins “so we allow as many as thirty per cent 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.”

[Themes:]#1 COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, STABILITY VS. INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMSTABILITY : minimizing conflict, risk, and change 

"From eight to ninety-six buds, and every bud will grow into a perfectly formed embryo, and every embryo into a full-sized adult“ (page 6)

"Bokanovsky's Process is one of the major instruments of social stability.“ (page 7)IDENTITY : division of society

  "We also predestine and condition. We decant our babies as socialized

human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons“ (page 13) "How the fertilized ova went back to the incubators; where the Alphas

and Betas remained until definitely bottled; while the Gammas, Deltas, and Epsilons were brought out again, after thirty-six hours to undergo the Bokanovsky Process“ (page 6)

[Themes:]#1 COMMUNITY, IDENTITY, STABILITY VS. INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMCOMMUNITY 

Found as a theme through the combination of the Utopia's Identity and Stability

INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM 

Opposes normal "Individual Freedom" in societies unlike this one

[Themes:]#2 SCIENCE AS A MEANS OF CONTROL

Control of the birth of babies by class, number, predestination, and purpose through a Fertilizing Room

Conditioned babies in order to function to their specific predestination "We also predestine and condition. We decant our babies as socialized

human beings, as Alphas or Epsilons“ (page 13)

[Themes:]#3 THREAT OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

"Ninety-six identical twins working ninety-six identical machines!" The voice was almost tremulous with enthusiasm. "You really know where you are. For the first time in history." He quoted the planetary motto. "Community, Identity, Stability." Grand words. "If we could bokanovskify indefinitely the whole problem would be solved.“ (page 7)

"And in exceptional cases we can make one ovary yield us over fifteen thousand adult individuals.“ (page 8)

[Themes:]#4 THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FAMILY

"In brief," the Director summed up, "the parents were the father and the mother." The smut that was really science fell with a crash into the boys' eye-avoiding silence. "Mother," he repeated loudly rubbing in the science; and, leaning back in his chair, "These," he said gravely, "are unpleasant facts; I know it. But then most historical facts are unpleasant.“ (page 24)

[Themes:]#5 THE MISUSE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONING

"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.“ (page 27)

"And now," the Director shouted (for the noise was deafening), "now we proceed to rub in the lesson with a mild electric shock." He waved his hand again, and the Head Nurse pressed a second lever. (page 21)

“The nurses obeyed; but at the approach of the roses, at the mere sight of those gaily-coloured images of pussy and cock-a-doodle-doo and baa-baa black sheep, the infants shrank away in horror, the volume of their howling suddenly increased.” (page 21)

[Setting:]Chapter #1 CENTRAL LONDON HATCHERY AND CONDITIONING CENTRE

Enormous laboratories “Cold for all the summer beyond the panes, for all the tropical heat of

the room itself, a harsh thin light glared through the windows, hungrily seeking some draped lay figure, some pallid shape of goose-flesh, but finding only the glass and nickel and bleakly shinning porcelain of a laboratory” (page 3)

Unpleasant, ‘cold’ atmosphere “The bulging flanks of row on receding row and tier above tier of

bottles glinted with innumerable rubies” (page 11) Illustrates the mass production of humans ~ factory

[Setting:]Chapter #2 INFANT NURSERIES. NEO-PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING ROOMS

Large, bare room Bright, sunny ~ whole southern wall is a single window “Big bowls, packed tight with blossom. Thousand of petals, ripe-blown and

silkily smooth, like the cheeks of innumerable little cherubs” (page 19) contrasting the atmosphere and setting of the unpleasant laboratories with

bright room filled with colourful flowers Provides greater emotionally impact when the babies are electrocuted ~

misleading setting

“A squat building of only thirty-four stories.” (page 3)

[Literary Devices:]

i. Signifies that even tall 34 story building are found as small in the New World

ii. Hints that the average buildings of the New World must be enormous

UNDERSTATEMENT

“The light was frozen, dead, a ghost.” (page 3)

i. Aids into creating the cold, grim atmosphere of the laboratory (IMAGERY)

PERSONIFICATION/METAPHOR

[Literary Devices:]

“Only from the yellow barrels of the microscopes did it borrow a certain rich and living substance, lying along the polished tubes like butter”(page 3)i. Provides mental image of the Fertilizing Room ii. Contrasts from the rest of seemingly ‘cold’ and bleak

Fertilizing Room

SIMILE

“Whizz and then, click! the lift-hatches flew open”(page 9)ONOMATOPOEIA

i. Emphasizes the ‘factory’ setting/atmosphere (IMAGERY)

[Literary Devices:]

“And in effect the sultry darkness into which the students now followed him was visible and crimson, like the darkness of closed eyes on a summer’s afternoon.” (page 11)i. Provides a mental image of the red light that floods the

Embryo Store

IMAGERY/SIMILE

“NEO-PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING ROOMS” (19)

i. Alludes to the Russian scientist Pavlov who conducted experiments to determine how conditioning takes place.

ii. In Brave New World, individuals are conditioned to think, act, fell, believe, and respond the way the government wants them to in order to achieve stability

ALLUSION

[Literary Devices:]

[Literary Devices:]

“Thousand of petals, ripe-blown and silkily smooth, like the cheeks of innumerable little cherubs” (page 19)i. Comparison to cherubs (winged beings) contrasting the

atmosphere and setting of the unpleasant laboratoriesii. Provides PATHOS as the reader attains a pleasant feeling

from the bright flowers only to realize they are being used to condition (electrocute) the babies

SIMILE

[Literary Devices:]

“(A small boy asleep on his right side… Tommy burst into tears. “I don’t know,” he howls)” (page 25–26)i. Provides an example and additional information of why

early scientists were discouraged in using Hypnopaedia as a method of education and why it had been abandoned

FLASHBACK

[Literary Devices:]

“Only its thin ghost continued to mutter from beneath the eighty pillows.” (page 28)

i. Compares the voice of the sleep-teaching as a ghostii. Adds to the unpleasant, ‘cold’ atmosphere that is prevalent

throughout both chapters

METAPHOR

[Literary Devices:]

“Not so much like drops of water, through water, it is true, can wear holes in the hardest granite; rather, drops of liquid sealing-wax, drops that adhere, incrust, incorporate themselves with what they fall on, till finally the rock is all one scarlet blob.” (page 28)

i. Provides an explanation of the idea of Hypnopaedia through the comparison of liquid wax that the reader can easily understand

ii. Explains that through sleep-teaching, the messages that the child continually hears will eventually become the mentality of the child

ANALOGY

[Symbols:]#1 ANIMALS

Symbolizes the use of animals as way of describing perception of the Director

“Straight from the horse's mouth. It was a rare privilege.“ (page 4) Talked about constantly throughout both chapters Means that it is genuine information

#2 FORD

Symbolizes the termination of religious views in the society and replaced with believing that Ford is some kind of god

Time frames are named as A.F. (after Ford)

[Symbols:]#3 FREEMARTINS

Symbolizes the misuse of science and technology Described as women who are given male sex hormones in order for

them to not have babies Also symbolizes the ability of being able to have sexual pleasure

without any "consequences" with multiple partners as promoted by the Director

#4 DECANTING

Symbolizes the elimination of parents and natural reproduction Shows the technological advancements to an extreme Links into the process of separation between social classes

[Symbols:]#5 CASTES

Symbolizes the ways that identity and stability is linked with community

Shows the predestination of embryos into social classes Explanation of how cliques and the extrapolation of present world can

be put to the extremes

BRAVE NEW WORLD[ chapters

1&2 ]

Roberto Noda

Nicole Tagle

Eugenia Yeung