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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. Which scientist is leashed by a female baboon at the beginning of the screenplay?

2. What is the subject of the song the female baboon sings?

3. Near which major city do the scientists finally land?

4. On which deity do the primitives blame their problems?

5. How are the books incinerated in the Chief's book-burning ceremony?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bob Briggs help Rosie?

2. Why are the gravediggers robbing graves?

3. Describe the scene in which baboons are gathered at a palace.

4. Set the scene for the opening of the novel. What is happening? When?

5. What is the New Zealand Rediscovery Expedition, and what is its mission?

6. What is the importance of where Tallis preferred to be buried?

7. List the allusions/references found in this section of the text.

8. What background information is the narrator able to learn about William Tallis?

9. Describe the Chief's conception of "Democracy."

10. What is Bob Briggs appraisal of Gandhi?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the fictionalized world history put forth by Ape and Essence. How was the majority of mankind destroyed? Why was New Zealand spared? How does fear of war relate to the time period Huxley was writing in?

Essay Topic 2

How is organized religion depicted in Ape and Essence? Do you believe Huxley intends the Arch Vicar's religion to provide a characterization of all of organized religion? How might the Belial religion compare to modern Christian religion? Is organized religion another of society's ills in Huxley's view?

Essay Topic 3

Similar to Huxley's own Brave New World, Ape and Essence is concerned with the danger of totalitarian states. Explain how Huxley makes this fear manifest and how world events in Huxley's life encouraged Huxley to pursue cautionary tales about totalitarianism.

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This section contains 906 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample