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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. What language does Sabul teach him?

2. Why does Shevek find shopping such as awful experience?

3. For how long is Kadagv imprisoned?

4. What are different about the pajamas the ship provides Shevek?

5. What image does Shevek again have to confront when his mother leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Anarres the key to Urras?

2. Why it is important for Shevek and Takver not to "own each other"?

3. Why is the return of the character Bedap important?

4. How does Shevek reflect the values on Anarres?

5. What does Kvetur's imprisonment symbolize?

6. What importance does the phrase "working together" hold for Shevek?

7. What symbolizes the fact they may not be living in a truly free society?

8. What do you think the wall symbolizes in this chapter?

9. What does Shevek now represent to his world?

10. What negative aspects of Anarrasti society does the meeting highlight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The wall is an important metaphor in the story and means different things at different points.

1) What does the wall that surrounds the Port of Anarres symbolize?

2) What is the significance of the prison walls that surround Kadagv?

3) What is the link between the wall and Shevek's parents?

4) What do you think the overall meaning of the wall is?

Essay Topic 2

Le Guin often talks negatively about Urras and its materialism. How true do you think Le Guin's negative representation of materialism is? What kind of society does materialism create?

Essay Topic 3

Shevek writes two papers in the novel.

1) Principles of Simultanely

2) General Temporal Theory

Describe each paper and discuss how Shevek's ideas have matured through the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 775 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample