1
Who wrote The Ones who Walk away from Omelas?
Ursula Le Guin
What type of figurative language is this quote an example of? "their high calls rising like the swallows' crossing flights"
simile
Fill in the blanks: The principle of utility states that we should act to produce the ______________ good for the ____________ number of people.
The principle of utility states that we should act to produce the GREATEST good for the GREATEST number of people.
How old are the children of Omelas when they are told about the child?
Between 8 and 12
What is the conflict in Omelas?
A child must suffer for everyone's happiness
What is utilitarianism?
an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes
How might the story be interpreted as a commentary on real-world societies?
a. It suggests that many societies maintain prosperity through the exploitation of certain groups
b. It proves that all governments are evil and nothing can be done about it
c. It argues that suffering doesn't exist in modern times
a. It suggests that many societies maintain prosperity through the exploitation of certain groups
What is the most common reaction when it is revealed that a child is being kept in misery as a condition of utopian living in Omelas?
Sadness, horror; some decide to walk away, but most end up staying
What is a utopia?
an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect
How is Omelas an example of utilitarian thinking?
The people of Omelas justify one person's suffering to maximize happiness for the majority.
Which statement best represents the central moral problem of Omelas?
a. Whether children should be told the truth about society
b. Whether individual suffering can be justified if it ensures collective happiness
c. Whether the city should punish criminals more severely
b. Whether individual suffering can be justified if it ensures collective happiness
How is utilitarianism different from egoism?
In Utilitarianism, the focus is on others. In Egoism, the focus is on the self.
Which narrative technique does Le Guin use when she invites readers to imagine Omelas as they wish?
a. rhetorical questions
b. figurative language
c. flashback
a. rhetorical questions
Which of these three names is not associated with Utilitarianism?
a. Jeremy Bentham
b. John Stuart Mill
c. Immanuel Kant
c. Immanuel Kant
What can be inferred about those who choose to stay in Omelas after learning the truth?
They have somehow accepted the moral compromise necessary for the city's happiness
How might an act utilitarian respond to the argument that the child's suffering is unjust?
a. By agreeing that the innocent child should be protected
b. By claiming the child's pain is less important than the collective happiness it produces
b. By claiming the child's pain is less important than the collective happiness it produces
What is the story's full title?
'The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas'
What is the effect of Le Guin's repeated use of rhetorical questions throughout the story?
a. It forces readers to actively participate in the story
b. It confuses readers about the plot
c. It demonstrates that the narrator is uncertain
a. It forces readers to actively participate in the story
What is the narrative effect of Le Guin's sudden revelation of the child's existence?
a. It makes the story less impactful
b. It suggests the narrator is unreliable
c. It makes the reader comfortable before confronting the moral crisis
c. It makes the reader comfortable before confronting the moral crisis
How might a rule utilitarian respond to the argument that the child's suffering is unjust?
a. By agreeing that the innocent child should be protected
b. By claiming the child's pain is less important than the collective happiness it produces
a. By agreeing that the innocent child should be protected