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Sci-Fi is A genre of literature dealing with the relationship between science and technology, and their implications on _______
Humanity
Three Primary Ingredients to Sci-Fi?
Science
“Alien” setting
Speculation
Define Bellwether
Predicts future developments
Define Allegory
A story that teaches a hidden lesson through symbolism
Why Sci-fi? (3 main reasons)
Sci-fi carries weight because science is based in fact
We live in an age of technology, science holds very real implications for good or bad
It is easier to accept criticism of our society if its disguised as criticism of another world or time (allegory)
First and Second Wave of the Industrial Revolution
*CREATED CONFLICT: ANXIETY VS ENTHUSIASM for SCIENCE
Who are the 2 fathers of sci-fi?
Jules Verne
H.G. Wells
Wrote stories full of inventions, romance, and adventure
ENTHUSIASTIC Father of Sci-Fi
a. Jules Verne
b. Orson Welles
c. H.G Wells
a. Jules Verne
H.G. Wells
Used science as a way to deliver his social criticism
ANXIOUS Father of Sci-Fi
Fill in the blank question for Fritz Lang
The dehumanization of society / portrays anxiety of the “modern” age
Answer on test: Metropolis; Dehumanization
Who was the prodigy that created the “War of The Worlds” broadcast?
Orson Welles
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, although written during the ________ era, it often is considered to fit into the ______ revolution.
Gothic-Romantic; Scientific
Which is NOT an element of sci-fi?
a. Adventure
b. Advanced Science
c. Technology
d. The supernatural
d. The supernatural
The Golden Age: Which form of sci-fi enhanced the accessibility and popularity of the genre?
a. Pulps
b. Magazines
c. Novels
a. Pulps
___ sci-fi focuses on technology and scientific accuracy, whilst ___ sci-fi focuses on societal implications and morality
hard; soft
Isaac Asimov
A prolific science fiction author known for his I, Robot stories, he emphasized logical reasoning and ethics in his works.
Central computer for a robot that provides it with a form of consciousness recognizable to humans.
Positronic Brain
(McEvilly gives you the answer for this question and the Robbie robot stories)
Three Laws of Robotics (Isaac Asimov)
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, expect where such orders would conflict with the 1st law (cannot cause harm to a human)
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the 1st or 2nd law
Montag - F451
a friendly but unreflective fireman whose civic duty demands he start, rather than stop, fires
Mildred - F451
Montag’s wife, she is a sickly, small-minded woman absorbed by a world of mind-numbing media
Clarisse - F451
a teenager, whose curiosity appeals to Montag and throws his world view into question
Beatty - F451
the fire chief, and Montag’s foil, he is a man whose values Montag once defended but now resists
Faber - F451
a former professor and old acquaintance who agrees to guide Montag down a new path of knowledge and light
Though curious, why does Montage feel anxious, even annoyed, by Clarisse during their first interaction?
Clarisse challenges Montag's beliefs and way of life. Meaningful and thoughtful conversation makes him uncomfortable.
"You laugh when I haven’t been funny and you answer right off. You never stop to think what I’ve asked you." (Clarisse)
Which theme does this explore?
*I answered Conformity because Montag is exercising the same behavior that this society expects
When Clarisse tells Montag that “people don’t talk about anything,” what does she mean?
Conversations lack depth, meaningful ideas, personal experiences, or emotions. People in this society no longer discuss important or thought provoking subjects. They avoid uncomfortable truths and only engage in shallow or scripted interactions.
Faber says “I don’t talk about things, I _______”
“talk the meaning of things”
Which symbolizes knowledge?
a. Sieve
b. Sand
c. Hearth
d. Salamander
b. Sand
What are the three things Faber says are missing from people’s lives, and why are they each important?
1. Quality of Information
2. Leisure to Digest It
3. The Right to Carry Out Actions Based on What We Learn From the Information of the First Two
What was the paradoxical (contradictory) symbol in F451?
Fire
Why:
Destruction: Erases Knowledge
Renewal: Source of warmth and hope (rebirth and change)
Who is Granger?
Granger is a hobo, and the leader of a group Montag meets after escaping the city. They are former scholars, teachers, and writers who have dedicated themselves to memorizing books to preserve their content for future generations. (multiple choice question)
What serves as a symbol in the way that society destroys itself and has the ability to rebuild again?
The Phoenix
Contemporary: Genre Busting (1960s)
Sci-fi meets the needs of the world in civil, political and cultural unrest (ex: Vietnam War, Space Race, Civil Rights, etc.…)
Sci-fi now a popular and prestigious genre
*Hard Sci-Fi: Natural sciences (physics, genetics, chemistry, engineering) often with accuracy and technical detail
*Soft Sci-Fi: Social sciences (anthropology, psychology, sociology, poli-sci) often with character studies and speculative societies
"teams that do God's Will without ever discovering what they are doing"
Karass
"All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies." My Bokononist warning is this: Anyone unable to understand how a useful religion can be founded on lies will not understand this book. (Chapter 4)
Religion and Comfort
addresses how Bokononism is based on lies that provide comfort and meaning to its followers, illustrating the paradox of finding comfort in lies.
Interpretative Meaning: Bokononism may be based off of lies but it provides comfort for its followers. It suggests that the value of religion can lie in its ability to provide comfort, even if its foundations are not based on truth.
What is unusual about Dr. Hoenikkers office at General Forge and Foundry?
a. empty
b. unlocked
c. filthy
d. full of toys
a. empty
What are the Hundred Martyrs to Democracy, Daughters of Destiny (San Lorenzo groups) in Cat’s Cradle) examples of?
a. Karass
b. Wampeter
c. Sinooka
d. Granfalloons
d. Granfallon - false or meaningless group of people who claim a shared identity or purpose
bicycle manufacturer attracted to San Lorenzo because he believes it offers a cheap and compliant labor force
H. Lowe Crosby
"Christ, back in Chicago, we don't make bicycles anymore. It's all human relations now...." "And you think things will be better in San Lorenzo?" "I know damn well they will be. The people down there are poor enough and scared enough and ignorant enough to have some common sense!" (Chapter 42)
Nation and Identity
*Crosby's comments reveal his perception of the people of San Lorenz and his belief that their poverty and fear make them ideal workers for his business since they will be vulnerable and easy to control.
Interpretative Meaning: It shows Crosby's abusive mindset, believing that the poor and scared people in San Lorenzo will be easier to control (manipulate) and more compliant as workers compared to those in Chicago.
Example of "dynamic tension."
Papa Manzano & Bokonon
(the idea that tension is what gives life its meaning and keeps people motivated. It is about maintaining a balance between conflicting elements to create a sense of purpose and drive)
(Reason why Bokononism is banned)
Who are the Hundred Martyrs to Democracy?
(Karass) A group of San Lorenzans who were sent to fight in World War II. Their plane was shot down by a German submarine before they even reached the battlefield. The event is commemorated annually on the island, highlighting the tragic and somewhat absurd nature of their sacrifice
What does Bokonon say about the end?
“If I were a younger man, I would write a history of human stupidity; and I would climb to the top of Mount McCabe and lie down on my back with my history for a pillow; and I would take from the ground some of the blue-white poison that makes statues of men; and I would make a statue of myself, lying on my back, grinning horribly, and thumbing my nose at You Know Who.”
Satire
Using humor to point out the flaws and hypocrises of humanity
Dark Humor
Comedy that makes light of taboo or typically serious subjects
Irony
When the opposite happens of what one can naturally expect
Horlick Minton
American Ambassador to San Lorenzo
Handmaid’s Tale - from which POV is the novel narrated?
First-person by Offred
How does envy contribute to the subjugation of women in the Republic of Gilead?
In Gilead, women are encouraged to be envious of one another—whether it’s the Commander's wife envying the handmaids for their fertility, or the handmaids envying each other for status or favor.
After returning from shopping, whom does Offred find peeking into her room?
The Commander
What “forbidden” word does Offred’s doctor use? Why is the word forbidden? How does this fit into the theme of patriarchy?
Sterile; it is forbidden because men cannot be the problem in a society of patriarchy.
Who is Luke?
Offred’s lover
What is the purpose of “Testifying,” and how does it relate to control?
"Testifying" is the ritual where women, especially the handmaids, talk about their past lives. They are shamed and made to self-blame
What offer does Serena Joy make Offred and how does it address the themes of caste/class and rebellion?
Serena tells Offred that the commander may be sterile and offers that she engages in a sexual relationship with Nick so she can become pregnant. If Serena has a child, she will hold higher status.
*Quote referring to this on test
Answer for theme: Caste and Class
At the Pravaganza, Offred witnesses the twenty young girls who are about to be arranged in marriage and thinks: "Start them soon is the policy, there’s not a moment to be lost—still they’ll remember. And the ones after them will, for three or four or five years; but after that they won’t. They’ll always have been in white; they’ll always have been silent.
Answer: Memory, Storytelling Theme *Question on Test
How does the following passage relate to the theme of freedom?
"We’ve given them more than we’ve taken away, said the Commander. Think of the trouble they had before. Don’t you remember the singles’ bars, the indignity of high school blind dates? The meat market. Don’t you remember the terrible gap between the ones who could get a man easily and the ones who couldn’t […] Think of the human misery […] This way they’re protected."
This passage highlights the Commander’s justification for the totalitarian system in Gilead as a form of protection, framing the oppression of women as a solution to the "freedom" of pre-Gilead society. The Commander minimizes the loss of freedom by romanticizing the hardships women faced before, such as dating or societal expectations, and claiming that Gilead offers security and stability instead. However, this perspective ignores the true cost of freedom: the ability to make choices and control one’s own life. The Commander’s comments reflect the theme of how authoritarian regimes manipulate the idea of freedom to justify the loss of personal agency and choice.
When asked by the Commander if they overlooked anything in designing this new society, what does Offred reply?
Love
After informing Offred that they are aware she’s been seeing the Commander alone, Ofglen asks what the Commander wants. Why does Ofglen lie and tell her “kinky sex?”
Ofglen lies and tells Offred “kinky sex” because it is a form of protection. In Gilead, any deviation from the prescribed roles or behavior of the Commanders and Handmaids is punishable and she does not fully trust Ofglen.
In trying to help us understand how her relationship with both Nick and the Commander changed her mindset, Offred recalls something her mother once said: “Humanity is so adaptable […] Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few ________.”
a. connections
b. compensations
compensations
While waiting calmly in her room, who arrives suddenly for Offred?
Nick
Throughout the novel, how best might Offred be described? Rebellious, passive, assertive, complacent, heroic, etc.?
Offred is best described as passive
What is Offred’s fate at the end of the novel?
She is taken away by the vans, but it is unknown what happens to her.
What do the “Historical Notes” suggest about the rarity of cultures like Gilead and the originality of their practices?
The “Historical Notes” suggest that cultures like Gilead are not as rare or unique as they might seem. The scholars remark that Gilead’s practices, including its treatment of women, were not entirely unprecedented and that similar forms of oppression have occurred throughout history. This insight challenges the idea that Gilead was an isolated aberration and instead connects it to broader historical patterns of gender and social inequality. It also highlights the persistence of these oppressive systems and the ease with which societies can slide into similar regimes.
Science and Technology
Explores the impact of science, technology, and future innovations on humanity. (new technology to extraterrestrial life)
“Alien’ Setting
Sci-fi often takes place in settings beyond the known world—whether in space, on distant planets, or in alternate universes. These settings provide a canvas for examining human nature, social structures, and technological progress.
Speculation
asking "What if?" It imagines possible futures, alternative histories, or scenarios based on scientific and technological advancements or societal changes.
Epic Sci-Fi (you’ll be asked to identify on test)
Grand, sweeping narratives that explore vast universes, intricate civilizations, and complex social systems. ex: Isaac Asimov 2001 Space Odyssey
Space Western
Combining elements of the classic Western genre with space exploration, often with a rugged hero, frontier justice, and a lawless setting. ex: Star Wars
Sci-fi Noir
A darker, more cynical form of sci-fi, often set in dystopian futures or urban settings with a focus on crime, corruption, and moral ambiguity. Examples: Blade Runner
Utopia
an idealized, perfect society where everything works harmoniously.
Dystopia
A dystopia is a fictional or hypothetical society characterized by oppressive, unpleasant, or undesirable conditions, often presented as a cautionary tale about societal, political, or technological developments (fill in the blank on the test)
Which film is considered one of the most influential/first sci-fi films in cinematic history?
A Trip To the Moon (1902) by George Melles*
(2001: Space Odyssey) Why did they not make the new aware of the discovered monolith?
A. To prevent potential backlash or fear among religious communities regarding the artifact’s implications.
B. To avoid cultural disruption or unrest within Western societies.
C. To suppress revelations about the possible extraterrestrial origins of humanity.
D. Both A and C.
D (my answer)
The War of the Worlds
First “alien invasion of earth”
What film had a great visual influence on sci-fi films produced later on?
Metropolis by Fritz Lang
Refers to German Expressionist
Metropolis
Radical Feminism ______ Radical Fundamentalism
Contradicts
In Gilead, gender roles are rigidly constructed and enforced, and emotions or relationships are often shaped by these roles. Offred’s observation that the Commander’s sadness "that is a reconstruction" (quoted on test) Which theme does this represent?
a. love
b. caste and class
c. gender roles
d. rebellion
b. gender roles (my answer)
The Time Machine (be able to identify the elements and compare to films we have watched)
criticism of class system
first “dying earth
by HG Wells
2001: Space Odyssey
Journey of great danger, spans decades or more
Elements of mystery
Grand in scale and scope (Genre: Space Epic)
What theme does HAL9000 computer best represent?
The Nature of Consciousness
Space Opera
Romanticized tone
Space Western
Clear good and evil
Heroic Ideal
Who is an example of an outlaw cowboy?
Han Solo
Example of Heroic Ideal?
Luke Skywalker
Example of a Space Western/Space Opera?
Star Wars
What genre is bladerunner?
Sci-fi Noir
In bladerunner, the Voight-Kampf test measures _____.
a. empathy
b. sympathy
c. brain waves
a. empathy
Which film/genre includes a detective?
Bladerunner; sci-fi noir
The Matrix is an example of what genre?
Cyberpunk
Which film has an anti-hero protagonist?
The Matrix
What theme does Frankenstein represent?
Knowledge and Wisdom
What event after World War II significantly impacted the themes and direction of science fiction literature and media?
The detonation of the first atomic bomb
Which genre’s setting typically takes place on earth?
Sci-fi Noir
During the ceremony, Offred explains, “Serena Joy is standing beside the chair, holding my arms, firmly but not unkindly. Her hands are heavy, with rings on the fingers, and she grips my upper arms with a sort of possessiveness, as if I am something she owns. I want to pull away, but I don't."
What does she mean to convey?
a. she is in control
b. she is a sacrificial lamb
c. the commander cannot touch her
b (my answer)
Be able to identify the link/similarities between these films by their genres and characteristics (Multiple Test Questions)
Choices:
War of the Worlds
Metropolis,
A Trip to the Moon
Time Machine
Link to:
Blade Runner
Matrix
Space Odyssey
Star Wars
Historical Notes and what they implied about the Gileadean Regime (Multiple questions on test)
Gilead’s rule was brief and unusual
Gilead was a kind of historical blip, a return to authoritarian and patriarchal systems seen in various forms throughout history
Religiously Justified Patriarchy
Not to pass judgement, but to learn from Gileadean regime mistakes
The full truth is still unknown (speculated)
Handmaid’s Tale; What was an allusion to Nazi Germany?
The identification number on Offred’s ankle is a direct reference to the Nazi practice of tattooing numbers on Jews and other groups sent to concentration camps
Note 
Flashcard (73)