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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. Who is Pierre Duval?

2. Where are George Greggson and Jean Morrel from?

3. What biblical story does Jan Rodricks refer to in his farewell letter?

4. What does the American scientist see from the Pacific island?

5. Against what country do the invaders take direct action?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens during Rikki Stormgren's meeting with Karellen in Chapter 4?

2. What is the relationship between Reinhold Hoffmann and the Russian scientist Konrad Schneider?

3. Who is Alexander Wainwright, and what is his role?

4. What does Jan Rodricks ask Professor Sullivan to help him do, and what is Sullivan's response?

5. Who is Karellen, and what does he state is his intention for occupying Earth?

6. What is the difference between the Eastern media and Western media concerning the Overlords' rule?

7. Why are professional sports almost obsolete in 2050?

8. What does Alexander Wainwright believe the Overlords are waiting for before revealing themselves?

9. Why are the journalists and spectators waiting in anticipation at the beginning of Chapter 5?

10. Who is Pieter Van Ryberg, and what does he do after Rikki Stormgren's disappearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jan Rodricks decides to hide himself in a whale display that will be loaded on board the Overlords' ship and transported to their planet. Discuss the price he has to pay relative to friends and loved ones by going through with his plot. Was it "worth it"? Explain. Rodricks also refers to the story of Jonah and the whale, another one of several biblical references in the novel. Discuss what parallels to the biblical account he sees in his own life.

Essay Topic 2

Several times throughout the book, Clarke calls upon mythological imagery. Describe and discuss the role that mythology plays in the book. Why did Clarke use mythology in the fashion that he did? Is it used effectively? Does it detract from the overall impression of the story? Explain your answers in depth.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, Clarke drops subtle hints (and some not so subtle) of what is to come, employing the literary device of foreshadowing. Identify at least three major incidences of foreshadowing, in which an event in the book points toward its ultimate conclusion. With each event earlier in the book, cite the event that fulfills the foreshadowing that came earlier, and the plot elements that moved the story from the foreshadowing incident to the outcome.

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This section contains 737 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample