Honors 4: Brave New World (5-8)

Chapter 5

• What is the effect of soma (based on Henry and Lenina's usage)? What is the purpose of soma?
• What is Huxely trying to say using soma as his reference point?
• Discuss a drug that is overused or overprescribed today—what purpose does it serve?
• Why and how has Lenina already seen the control The One World Government exerts?
• How hard or easy it si to ignore things that make us uncomfortable? Why do we do it?
• What does it mean to be “bottled”? Support and explain.
• Why does Huxley bastardize Christian communion in his "Solidarity Service"? What point is he trying to make?
• Why does Bernard need to fake his religious experience? Support and explain.
• How is human life shown to be of little value in this chapter?

Chapter 6

• Why does Bernard have sex with Lenina if he doesn't want to and he needs to be drugged to do it? Support and explain.
• What is Huxley pointing out about peer pressure with the Lenina/Bernard relationship? Support and explain.
• Why does the Director tell Bernard anything personal? Why does he then threaten him? Support and explain.
• What does the conversation with Bernard and the Director foreshadow (nothing to do with Iceland!)? Support and explain.
• Why does the Director really plan on sending Bernard to Iceland? Support and explain.
• What social commentary is Huxley making about the reservations? Support and explain.

Chapter 7

• Does Huxley appear to have done research on actual Native American culture? Support and explain.
• What does Bernard realize when he meets John? Support and explain.
• John represents the "every man" in this story—what does that mean? Support and explain.
• How are Linda and Lenina shadows? Who else are shadows? Support and explain.

Chapter 8

• What do John, Bernard, and Lenina have in common? Support and explain.
• Is Shakespeare something citizens of The World State would have easy access too? Why is Shakespeare dangerous? Support and explain.
• Does Bernard have any sense of what events he may be setting in motion by bringing John "home"? Support and explain.
• Does Bernard want anything from John besides the potential embarrassment of the Director? Support and explain.
• Why are human connections dangerous to the One World Government? Support and explain.
• What do Lenina, Bernard, and John really want (from each other? from life?)?