Show:
Characters
The airborne toxic event
Postmodernism
Themes
Miscellaneous
100
This character is described as "coming out his shell" when the toxic cloud appears.
Who is Heinrich?
100
The airborne toxic event was initially described as this.
What is a feathery plume?
100
College professors, Jack and Murray lecture on the aura of these two well-known men.
Who are Elvis and Hitler?
100
Jack and Babette spend a lot of time discussing and thinking about this fear.
What is death?
100
Murray and Jack visited this tourist attraction together.
What is the most photographed barn in America?
200
This character is suspicious of her mother and believes she is taking pills.
Who is Denise?
200
In addition to nausea and sweaty palms, this was another symptom of the toxic cloud that was later disproved.
What is deja vu?
200
Jack and Heinrich debate over whether it is raining. Heinrich refuses to say that it is raining even though Jack claims "you see it is raining." Heinrich's refusal demonstrates this big idea of postmodernism.
What is "There isn't one single truth or reality"?
200
The supermarket brings Jack a sense of "replenishment, well-being...a security and contentment" thanks to his purchases. His contentment demonstrates this theme.
What is consumerism? (or materialism, capitalism)
200
Jack invented Hitler Studies but he feels ashamed that he does not know this.
What is the German language?
300
This character considers the supermarket as a spiritual and symbolic place.
Who is Murray?
300
To keep some of the older people company at the evacuation center, Babette did this.
What is reading tabloids?
300
Several characters try to find meaning in their lives. Babette finds meaning when she does this.
What is volunteer and offer help to older people? (also running)
300
Murray believes "the medium is the primal force in the American home. Sealed-off, timeless...It's like a myth being born right there in the living room." Murray is referring to this object.
What is the television? (media)
300
When Murray was visiting the Gladney household, this person's presence on television surprised the family.
Who is Babette?
400
These two members of the Gladney family experience deja vu during the airborne toxic event.
Who are Steffie and Babette?
400
In the middle of the toxic event, this character questions how much humans have actually progressed since the stone age.
Who is Heinrich?
400
Jack witnesses his family's reaction to a catastrophe on television and reflects later with colleagues. His colleague insists that people need a catastrophe to get their attention because they suffer from this condition.
What is brain fade?
400
According to Jack, the center of misinformation is this.
What is family?
400
The abbreviation, SIMUVAC, stand for this.
What is simulated evacuation?
500
This character found a sense of peace and security in meteorology (weather).
Who is Jack's German teacher.
500
Murray reveals his theory about deja vu to Jack, insisting that people are able to experience deja vu because they are closer to this than ever before.
What is death?
500
At the end of the lecture about Hitler and Elvis, Jack has a realization that death can be resisted if this is present.
What is a crowd?
500
Wilder cries for seven hours straight. In the middle of the episode, Jack's thinking about the crying changes. He narrates, "It might not be so terrible...I entered it, fell into it, letting it enfold over me." In this moment, Wilder's cries could be considered this.
What is White Noise?
500
Nearing the end of the toxic event, a man lectures the crowd. He cries, "Isn't fear news?" As he lectures, he is holding this in the air.
What is a television?