Science Fiction, Fantasy and Western Tradition Content Quiz

Who wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

An anonymous poet

When was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight written?

Late 14th century (c. 1375-1400)

Who is Sir Gawain?

A knight of King Arthur's Round Table and the main character

Who is the Green Knight?

A mysterious, supernatural challenger of Arthur and his knights (later reveals himself as Lord Bertilak)

Who is Lady Bertilak?

Lord Bertilak's wife who tests Gawain's virtue

Who is Morgan le Fay?

Arthur's half-sister who uses magic to set up the test

What happens in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

- The Green Knight challenges Camelot to a beheading game.

- Gawain accepts and cuts off his head; the Knight survives and demands a return blow in a year.

- Gawain journeys to find the Green Chapel, staying with Lord Bertilak.

- Lady Bertilak tempts him; he accepts a magical green girdle but hides it.

- The Green Knight spares Gawain, revealing he is Bertilak testing his honesty.

- Gawain returns to Camelot humbled, wearing the girdle as a sign of his human flaw.

What are the main themes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

Chivalry vs. human weakness

Temptation and honesty

Christian morality

Nature vs. civilization

What is the symbolism of the green girdle in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

Gawain's imperfection and his lesson in humility

What is The War of the Worlds broadcast?

A 1938 radio drama adaptation of H. G. Wells' 1898 novel, directed and narrated by Orson Welles

When and where did the The War of the Worlds broadcast air?

October 30, 1938 — on CBS Radio's Mercury Theatre on the Air

Who wrote the original novel that the The War of the Worlds broadcast was based on?

H. G. Wells. (novel of the same name)

What happens in The War of the Worlds broadcast?

- Begins as a fake live news report interrupting a regular music program.

- "Reports" describe Martians landing in New Jersey and attacking with heat rays.

- Chaos spreads across the country as the military fails to stop them.

- Later revealed that the Martians die from Earth's bacteria.

- Ends with Welles breaking character to remind listeners it was a Halloween story.

What are the main themes in The War of the Worlds broadcast?

Media power and public trust

Fear, panic, and mass hysteria

Human vulnerability in the face of the unknown

Why was the War of the Worlds broadcast so famous?

Some listeners believed it was real news, leading to widespread panic (though later exaggerated by newspapers)

Who is Carl Phillips in the War of the Worlds broadcast?

A radio news reporter who describes the Martian landing in Grover's Mill, New Jersey — he's "killed on air" during the first attack

Who is Professor Richard Pierson in the War of the Worlds broadcast?

An astronomer from Princeton University who explains the Martian invasion; voiced by Orson Welles (closest thing to a main character in the story)

Who is Captain Lansing in the War of the Worlds broadcast?

A military officer reporting on the army's failed attempt to fight the Martians

Who wrote In the Year 2889?

Michel Verne, son of Jules Verne (originally published under Jules Verne's name)

When was In the Year 2889 published?

Published in 1889, in the Forum magazine

Who is the main character in the story In the Year 2889?

Fritz Napoleon Smith, the wealthy editor and owner of the Earth Chronicle, a powerful future news organization

Who is Mrs. Smith in the story In the Year 2889

Fritz's wife, representing upper-class domestic life

What happens in In the Year 2889?

- The story takes place over a single day in the life of Fritz Napoleon Smith, head of a futuristic media empire

- The world is filled with advanced inventions — flying cars, video calls, air traffic, artificial foods, and mechanical servants

- News is transmitted through "phonotelephotic journalism" (audio-visual news), not print

- The story humorously shows Smith juggling business, politics, and science — highlighting human vanity and dependence on technology

- Ends with optimism about progress but hints at how society has become mechanical and media-dominated

What are the main themes of In the Year 2889?

Technological progress and media power

Satire of modernity and journalism

Human arrogance and overreliance on machines

Prediction of future inventions

Who wrote A Martian Odyssey?

Stanley G. Weinbaum

When was A Martian Odyssey published?

Published in 1934, in Wonder Stories magazine

Who is Dick Jarvis in A Martian Odyssey?

The protagonist; a chemist and crew member of the first Earth expedition to Mars; narrator of the story (MC)

Who is Tweel in A Martian Odyssey?

A friendly, birdlike Martian alien who helps Jarvis survive; highly intelligent but communicates in strange, logical patterns

Who are the Ares crew members in A Martian Odyssey?

Captain Harrison, Putz and Leroy

What happens in A Martian Odyssey?

- Jarvis's spacecraft crashes far from base during a Mars exploration mission

- Stranded, he begins walking back toward camp across the Martian landscape

- He encounters bizarre lifeforms, including silicon-based creatures and strange crystal plants

- Jarvis saves an alien named Tweel, and they become companions despite communication barriers

- Together, they face dangerous creatures (like the deadly "dream-beast") and discover ancient alien technology

- Tweel helps Jarvis survive until he's rescued by the human crew

- The story ends with Jarvis reflecting on Tweel's intelligence and the vast differences between species

What are the main themes in A Martian Odyssey?

First contact and communication barriers

Friendship across species

Scientific curiosity and exploration

Understanding "the truly alien"

How does A Martian Odyssey differ from earlier sci-fi stories?

It portrays aliens as complex and sympathetic — not villains or stereotypes

Who created 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Stanley Kubrick (director, co-writer) and Arthur C. Clarke (novelist, co-writer)

When was 2001: A Space Odyssey released?

The film was released in 1968 (Clarke's novel was published the same year)

What inspired the idea for 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Arthur C. Clarke's short story "The Sentinel" (1951)

Who is Dr. Dave Bowman in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Astronaut and mission commander on the spaceship Discovery One; becomes the film's main human protagonist

Who is Dr. Frank Poole in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Bowman's crewmate aboard Discovery One

Who is HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

The ship's artificial intelligence computer, highly advanced but becomes dangerously self-aware

Who is Dr. Heywood Floyd in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

The primary scientist who investigates the mysterious monolith on the Moon

What is the Monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

An alien artifact that triggers leaps in human evolution

What happens in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

- Prehistoric Earth: A black monolith appears and inspires apes to use tools which is viewed as the initial spark of human evolution

- Year 2001: Another monolith is discovered on the Moon, sending a radio signal toward Jupiter

- Jupiter Mission: Astronauts Bowman and Poole travel aboard Discovery One with the AI HAL 9000

- HAL's Breakdown: HAL malfunctions, kills Poole and the hibernating crew to protect the mission. Bowman disconnects HAL

- Final Transformation: Bowman finds a third monolith orbiting Jupiter and undergoes a surreal transformation into the Star Child, symbolizing the next stage of human evolution

What are the major themes in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Human evolution and transcendence

Artificial intelligence and consciousness

Isolation and communication

Technology as both creation and danger

The search for higher meaning in the universe

What does the monolith represent in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

A symbol of cosmic intelligence or an alien force guiding evolution

What does HAL 9000 symbolize in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

The dangers of human overreliance on technology

What makes the ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey important?

Bowman's transformation into the Star Child represents human rebirth and the next stage of evolution (this is open to interpretation)

Who wrote The Sentinel?

Arthur C. Clarke

When was The Sentinel published?

Published in 1951, originally as a short story in 10 Story Fantasy magazine

Who is the main character in The Sentinel?

Clifford "Cliff" Johnson, an astronaut/scientist exploring the Moon

What happens in The Sentinel?

- Astronauts exploring the Moon find a mysterious pyramidal object on the lunar surface

- The object appears man-made but extremely ancient and emits a signal toward a distant star

- Johnson realizes the structure is a kind of beacon left by an alien civilization

- The story ends with the implication that humanity has been discovered by extraterrestrial intelligence, signaling the start of future exploration

What are the main themes of The Sentinel?

First contact with extraterrestrial intelligence

Human curiosity and exploration

The smallness of humanity in the cosmic scale

Technology as a bridge between civilizations

What does the monolith/pyramidal object in The Sentinel symbolize?

A signal or beacon from a superior alien race, representing humanity's potential for discovery and the unknown

Who wrote The Comet?

W.E.B. Du Bois

When was The Comet published?

Published in 1920, in the collection Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil.

Who is the main character in The Comet?

Jim Davis, an African American bank messenger who survives a catastrophic comet-related disaster

Who is Julia in The Comet?

A white woman who survives alongside Jim.

What happens in The Comet?

- A comet passes near New York City, releasing toxic gas that kills most of the population.

- Jim Davis and Julia emerge as the only survivors in the city.

- The two explore the empty city and confront their racial and social assumptions.

- They begin forming a bond, imagining a new beginning for humanity after the disaster.

- The story ends with a return to society, highlighting ongoing racial hierarchies and social inequality.

What are the main themes of The Comet?

Race and social inequality

Human fragility in the face of cosmic forces

Isolation and survival

Potential for societal rebirth vs. persistence of prejudice

How does The Comet explore race?

By placing a Black and a white character as sole survivors, Du Bois examines racial equality, prejudice, and cooperation in a post-disaster world

Who wrote Nine Hundred Grandmothers?

R.A. Lafferty

When was Nine Hundred Grandmothers published?

Published in 1967, in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine

Who is the main character in Nine Hundred Grandmothers?

Unnamed human narrator — an ordinary man who encounters a strange alien phenomenon

Who are the "nine hundred grandmothers" in Nine Hundred Grandmothers?

A race of tiny, extremely intelligent alien grandmothers with cosmic powers who manipulate human evolution and reality

What happens in Nine Hundred Grandmothers?

- The narrator is unexpectedly visited by 900 tiny alien grandmothers.

- The grandmothers demonstrate vast intelligence and control over reality, showing the narrator the limits of human perception.

- They manipulate the universe for their own amusement, sometimes endangering humans.

- The story mixes cosmic scale, humor, and absurdity, leaving the narrator both amazed and terrified.

- Ends with the narrator realizing humanity is insignificant compared to these cosmic beings.

What are the main themes of Nine Hundred Grandmothers?

Cosmic insignificance of humanity

Power and intelligence beyond human comprehension

Humor and absurdity in the universe

Limits of perception and understanding

Who wrote Speech Sounds?

Octavia E. Butler

When was Speech Sounds published?

Published in 1983, in Asimov's Science Fiction magazine

Who is the main character in Speech Sounds?

Rye, a woman struggling to survive in a world where most people have lost the ability to speak and communicate

Who is Obsidian in Speech Sounds?

A man Rye meets who can communicate with gestures; he becomes a companion and potential ally

What happens in Speech Sounds?

- A mysterious disease has left most of humanity unable to speak, read, or write, causing social chaos.

- Rye navigates the post-apocalyptic city alone, facing danger from violent survivors.

- She meets Obsidian, and they attempt to trust and connect despite communication barriers.

- A conflict arises when Obsidian is threatened and he dies

- Rye sees the children at the scene of his death and learns that, like her, they can talk

- The story ends ambiguously, highlighting human resilience and the struggle to maintain connection.

What are the main themes of Speech Sounds?

Communication and its fragility

Isolation and human connection

Survival in a collapsed society

The consequences of losing knowledge and social cohesion

What does the inability to speak, hear, comprehend, etc, symbolize in Speech Sounds?

The loss of civilization, empathy, and understanding, showing how language is central to society

Who wrote We Can Remember It for You Wholesale?

Philip K. Dick

When was We Can Remember It for You Wholesale published?

Published in 1966, in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

Who is the main character in We Can Remember It for You Wholesale?

Douglas Quail, an ordinary man who desire to go on a trip to Mars throws him into an adventure through his memory

Who is McClane in We Can Remember It for You Wholesale?

A representative of Recreational Memory, Inc., the company that implants false memories.

What happens in We Can Remember It for You Wholesale?

- Douglas Quail wants a memory implant of a trip to Mars, since he cannot afford the real trip.

- During the procedure, technicians discover Quail may have actual suppressed memories of being a secret agent on Mars.

- Quail's false and real memories begin to blend, causing confusion and revelation of his true past.

- The story ends ambiguously, exploring identity, memory, and perception of reality.

What are the main themes of We Can Remember It for You Wholesale?

Memory, identity, and self-perception

Reality vs. illusion

The ethics of altering or suppressing memory

The hidden potential within ordinary lives

Who created Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

Hayao Miyazaki (both the manga and film director)

When was Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind released?

Film: 1984; Manga: 1982-1994

Who is the main character in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

Nausicaä, princess of the Valley of the Wind

Who is Lord Yupa in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

A skilled swordsman and mentor to Nausicaä.

Who is Kushana in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

A military leader of the Tolmekian army

Who is Asbel in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

A young warrior and prince from Pejite

What happens in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

- The world is recovering from a global ecological disaster; toxic forests and giant insects threaten human survival.

- Nausicaä strives to understand and protect nature, especially the Toxic Jungle and its creatures.

- Conflict arises as human armies invade for resources, causing environmental destruction.

- Nausicaä discovers the true purpose of the giant Ohmu insects and works to prevent war and restore balance.

- The story ends with Nausicaä uniting humans and nature, emphasizing coexistence and peace.

What are the main themes of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind?

Environmentalism and ecological balance

War, human conflict, and its consequences

Empathy and compassion for all life

Coexistence between humans and nature

Who wrote Take Your Choice?

Hiroshi Komatsu

When was Take Your Choice published?

Published in 1967, in a Japanese science fiction magazine

Who is the main character in Take Your Choice?

The protagonist (unnamed), an ordinary person confronted with a moral and existential dilemma.

What happens in Take Your Choice?

- The protagonist is presented with a mysterious choice by an alien or advanced intelligence.

- The choice has profound consequences for the individual and potentially humanity.

- The story explores ethical dilemmas, free will, and the consequences of decisions.

- Ends ambiguously, prompting the reader to consider what they would choose in the protagonist's situation.

What are the main themes of Take Your Choice?

Free will vs. determinism

Moral and ethical decision-making

Human responsibility in the face of power

Consequences of choice on personal and societal levels

What does the central choice symbolize in Take Your Choice?

The burden of responsibility and the moral weight of human decisions

Who wrote Standing Woman?

Yasutaka Tsutsui

When was Standing Woman published?

Published in the 1970s (exact year varies by translation)

Who is the main character in Standing Woman?

The unnamed narrator, who observes the mysterious "standing woman" and reflects on society

Who is the "standing woman" in Standing Woman?

A silent, enigmatic figure whose behavior and presence provoke reflection and unease

What happens in Standing Woman?

- The narrator encounters a woman who stands silently in public, ignoring social conventions.

- Her presence disturbs and fascinates everyone around her, including the narrator.

- The story explores how society reacts to the unusual, questioning conformity and perception.

- Ends ambiguously, leaving interpretation open about the woman's purpose and meaning.

What are the main themes of Standing Woman?

Alienation and social conformity

Observation vs. participation in society

The power of the enigmatic or unexplained

Human fascination with the unusual or disruptive

Who created The Dark Crystal?

Jim Henson and Frank Oz

When was The Dark Crystal released?

Released in 1982, as a feature film

Who is the main character in The Dark Crystal?

Jen, a young Gelfling on a quest to heal the Dark Crystal and restore balance to the world