"A HOUSE in the Country" and "A Sound of THUNDER"
In "HOUSE," what does the main character want?
He wants to design and build a perfect house in the country.
What is the relationship between Lyman and Henry?
They are brothers. They are very close and spend lots of time together before the war.
What is Charlie's initial goal for the surgery?
He hopes to become smart. His doctors want to triple his IQ.
In "WANTS," the narrator greets her ex-husband on the library steps by saying, "Hello, my life." How does he respond?
He cruelly rejects her greeting. He says, "What? What life? No life of mine." Despite their 27 years of marriage, he rejects her greeting.
What about Omelas makes it appear to be a perfect society?
They have a beautiful festival, no violence, no wars, no laws or government, no army, etc. They have no need for any of these things.
In "THUNDER," why does Eckels go on the time-traveling safari?
He wants to go back in time to kill a T-Rex.
How does Henry change after the war?
He suffers greatly from PTSD. He experiences depression.
Why is Algernon important?
Algernon is important because the surgery was first performed on it. Algernon's progress is a predictor of Charlie's progress.
In "WANTS," what is it that he (her ex-husband) wanted while they were married?
A sailboat.
What is life like for the suffering child in Omelas? Give at least two details.
The child lives in a dark cellar with a dirt floor, a mop and bucket, no window, and a door that is always locked. The child is naked and malnourished, with food and water only occasionally dropped off. People come by and look in the door, but then they leave.
In "HOUSE," what causes the central conflict in the story?
He is never satisfied. He lives his life planning for a house that, in the end, doesn't make him happy. And throughout his life, he doesn't focus on establishing relationships, which might have made him happy.
Identify two things the red convertible symbolizes?
It symbolizes many things: brotherly love, freedom, trauma, innocence, tragedy, youth.
How does Charlie's increased intelligence affect his relationships?
People at work don't like him any more. His landlady is afraid of him. Charlie becomes lonely.
In "WANTS," what silly reason did the husband give for why their marriage didn't work?
He said their marriage ended because she (the narrator) didn't invite the Bertrams over for dinner. The real reason, of course, is much more complicated. The marriage dissolved over time because they each wanted different things.
Why do some people walk away from Omelas?
They can't stand the inequity and injustice of a suffering child. They don't like that a child has to suffer in order for them to maintain their utopian life.
In "THUNDER," what is the significance of the butterfly?
The butterfly is what Eckels accidentally steps on, and by doing so, he changes the future. The butterfly symbolizes how small events can create enormous consequences (the butterfly effect).
Why does Lyman try to restore the car?
He restores it to heal his traumatized brother, Henry, and revive their lost bond.
Why does Charlie eventually lose his intelligence?
The surgery is not permanent. Algernon begins losing its intelligence and eventually dies. Doctors know, then, that the same things will happen to Charlie.
In "KNOWERS," how does Ellie's knowledge about her date of death affect her marriage?
She knows the exact day/year, but her husband doesn't. Thus, he lives year-to-year, not knowing which will be their last together. Plus, he feels betrayed by her becoming a "knower" when they had agreed they didn't want to know.
Why do most citizens of Omelas accept the reality of the tortured child?
They are comfortable and they don't want to do anything to upset their own happiness. They are selfish and pretend the child's suffering doesn't exist.
In "HOUSE," what might the author be suggesting about the connection be wealth and happiness?
Having wealth does not automatically ensure happiness in life.
Why does Lyman put the red convertible into the river?
Right after Henry drowns in the river, Lyman puts the car in the river as a final grieving act to accompany his brother.
What does the story suggest about intelligence and happiness?
The two are not necessarily linked. It is possible to have low intelligence or extremely high intelligence and not be happy.
In "KNOWERS," how does 'knowing' affect Ellie's behavior?
She takes chances, lives life fully, isn't afraid of getting ill, etc. because she knows the date of her death is many years away.
If "Omelas" is a story about exploitation, what does the suffering child represent in today's world?
In today's world, the suffering child can represent child labor in other countries, inequitable pay for producers of goods we buy such as cheap clothing, cell phones, shoes, etc. The suffering child represents all the times we 'look the other way' when someone suffers while we maintain our lifestyle.