Characters
Who does Col encounter hiding in his cabin, prompting him to question his beliefs about the Filthies?
Riff
What does Col accidentally discover in his bedroom at the beginning of the novel?
A Filthy, Riff, hiding.
What theme is most obvious in the division between the Upper Decks and the Filthies?
Class division
Who says, "They are born filthy and die filthy"?
Sir Mormus Porpentine
What is the name of the massive moving city in which the novel takes place?
Worldshaker
Who is Col’s grandfather, a powerful figure on the juggernaut?
Sir Mormus Porpentine
Why is Riff in Col’s bedroom?
She is escaping after being brought up for execution.
The portrayal of Col’s controlled and privileged upbringing contrasts with Riff’s harsh life. What theme does this explore?
Power and inequality
Who says, "They tell lies, but we have no choice. If we go along with them, we survive"?
Riff
What powers the juggernaut?
Steam engines
Who is Col's best friend in the Upper Decks?
Gillabeth
What does Col promise Riff after their first meeting?
That he will not turn her in.
When Col starts questioning the truth about the Filthies, what theme begins to emerge in the story?
Questioning authority and challenging social norms
Who says, "I don't believe in what they say, but I still have to act as if I do"?
Col Porpentine
Which part of the juggernaut do the Filthies live in?
The lower decks/bowels
Who is the teacher that influences Col to become a future leader of the juggernaut?
Mr. Gibber
What event makes Col start questioning his education and the way the Upper Decks view the Filthies?
His secret conversations with Riff and learning about her world.
What theme is highlighted by the lies told to the Upper Deck citizens about the Filthies’ supposed inferiority?
Propaganda and manipulation of truth from leadership
Who says, "You're meant to be one of them—one of the elite—one of the ruling class"?
Gillabeth
What purpose does the juggernaut serve for the people in the Upper Decks?
It is a self-contained, moving society where they live in comfort.
Who is Col’s father, who holds high expectations for him as a future leader?
Sir Oswald Porpentine
What is Sir Mormus planning for Col’s future, as revealed in these chapters?
To make Col his successor as Supreme Commander of the juggernaut.
Col’s internal struggle between loyalty to his family and empathy for Riff reflects which theme?
Moral conflict and the journey toward self-awareness
Who says, "I always knew there was something rotten about our world"?
Col Porpentine
What role do the "Observation Windows" on the Upper Decks serve, and how do they reflect the attitudes of the ruling class?
The Observation Windows allow the ruling class to look out over the landscape as the juggernaut moves, reinforcing their sense of superiority and detachment from the Filthies below.