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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. Why did Josella move home following her success?

2. Why does Josella agree to the taking on of blind women for such a purpose?

3. How does Bill make the solution to his hunger even more acceptable?

4. What do some nations eject into space?

5. Where does Bill go in the beginning of Chapter Three?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the irony of the blind man Bill finds in Chapter Three, who was blind before the comet.

2. Explain why the Colonel and the others want to leave London?

3. Describe the scene where the narrator first learns of the blindness that plagues mankind.

4. Explain Bill's response to the argument at the gate between the sighted and the blind.

5. Explain the argument of Beadley that the world is better off after the comet than it was before.

6. What surprises Josella about her actions when she was captive?

7. Do you think the narrator is right to leave the blind group in the lobby of the hospital, knowing they cannot see to get out?

8. Explain the difference between Josella's view of triffids and Bill's. Why are they do drastically different?

9. Describe the events of the night of May 7th, in terms of what the narrator notes is said to have occurred, according to history books.

10. Describe the argument between the sighted leader of the blind at the gates of University Tower and the sighted leaders of the sighted colony at the university.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Light is used as a metaphor for hope, freedom, and security throughout the novel. In what ways does the author use this metaphor? How does he show what this symbol stands for? Choose one instance of the use of light as a symbol. Explain the situation. What are the characters doing? How is the symbol used? What is light symbolizing? Why did the author choose light as this symbol?

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

Throughout the novel, the narrator is forced to deal with figures in authority and to choose whether to believe what they say or not. Authority figures in the novel range from radio announcers to people in authoritative positions, such as the Colonel and Coker, and those who wish power over anything else, such as the Commander. Choose one situation in which Bill is forced to choose between following authority and ignoring authority. Explain the situation. What does this say about Bill's willingness to think for himself? About his willingness to blindly follow authority figures? Why is this important? In terms of authority in the novel, what is the author suggesting about military authority? How are these suggestions brought forth (i.e., which characters represent military authority). What does this say about Wyndham's own view of military authority?

(see the answer keys)

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