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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Coker escape blindness?

2. Why does Coker argue that the young woman mending in the kitchen is at fault?

3. Who does Bill not find at Tynsham?

4. Where are Susan's parents?

5. Why can Bill leave at the end of Chapter Eight?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain Bill's argument that an immediate need for harvest is not necessary.

2. Explain what Bill finds at Tynsham.

3. What was Coker's response to Miss Durrant's chastising of his brutal methods at University Tower?

4. Describe what happens to Bill at the beginning of Chapter Eight, in terms of how he is kidnapped.

5. Explain why the young woman comes to Bill in his room in Chapter Eight, and his reaction.

6. Describe Shirning Farm.

7. Explain how Coker meets with Bill again.

8. Why do you think the small groups located by helicopter in Chapter Twelve choose not to join other groups?

9. Explain what Coker wants of the new sighted captives.

10. Explain some of the mishaps that befall Bill as he journey's to find Josella.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It has been argued by some that there is a constant theme of social togetherness throughout the novel, in that all people seem to want to band together into small communities and join one another for companionship and friendship. However, in many cases, these same individuals, once they reach a certain number of people, want nothing to do with other colonies or tribes of survivors. Why do you think this is? If humans are social, why do they, in the book, limit their societies to small numbers of individuals? What does this say about humanity, in terms of their willingness to accept different ideas? Do you think this represents reality? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

What is the function of the triffid in the novel? How does the author seem to imply the triffid was created? What does this symbolize in terms of the culture of Wyndham's time? What was he trying to say about biological tampering and the creation of government-born viruses and mutations? Why was this a point at the time the novel was written? Be sure to include details from the book to explain your answers and to justify your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

There is a constant theme in the novel that even the best intentions can result in horrific results. Choose one example of this from the following list. Explain what happened in the situation, what the original intention was, why the result occurred, what could have been done to avoid the result, and whether or not the original intention was good, despite the results.

• Coker's kidnapping of sighted individuals to care for the blind.

• Miss Durrant's solid Christian foundation for her community.

• The University Tower's choice to turn away Coker and his followers.

• The Emergency Council's forced communities.

(see the answer keys)

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