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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 does the Time Traveler see after his meal with the Eloi, when he goes outside again to look at the White Sphinx?

2. What is the Fourth Dimension?

3. The Time Traveler recognizes the landscape of the Eloi as the valley of what river from his own time?

4. What year does the Time Traveler say the dials on his machine recorded?

5. What are the adjectives Wells uses to describe the language of the Eloi?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the Time Traveler feel instinctual hatred for and fear of the Morlocks?

2. Describe the point of view that takes over the story in Chapter 3?

3. What happens when the Psychologist pushes the lever on the model time machine and how do the observers respond?

4. What does the Time Traveler see and experience as he approaches his original time period?

5. What makes The Time Traveler push the lever again and leave the time period with the two creatures and the large, red sun?

6. What kind of humans, according to the Time Traveler, must have been the source of the Morlocks? Why did they evolve the way they did?

7. What is the Editor's reactions when the Time Traveler tells him and the other guests of his journey?

8. What does the Time Traveler see when he stops the machine in the far future in Chapter 3?

9. What does the Time Traveler find in the hall labeled Chemistry and how does it help him?

10. What do the Editor and the Journalist think about the story the guests relate about the model time machine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One example of the "devolution" is the social Darwinism that forces changes in humanity. Describe what social forces Wells was describing in this novel and how he thought they might help humans "devolve." How does Wells fictionalize these social forces in this science fiction? What are the speculative elements he uses to symbolize and explore these social forces and their effects?

Essay Topic 2

This novel relies on systems of symbols, one of which is the use of light and dark. What ideas, feelings, and conflicts are symbolized by light, and which by dark? On the language level, what are the major strategies Wells uses to convey these symbols? Be sure to consider setting, characterization, figurative language, dialogue, point of view, etc.

Essay Topic 3

Critics have argued that Wells's predictions in this novel were intended to warn Victorian England about the growing social inequities between the working poor and the wealthy elite classes and what might happen if this trajectory did not change. Describe, using textual examples, the ways Wells's text lends itself to this interpretation. Then, offer your opinion; to what extent was Wells attempting to warn his society? Are there other interpretations these critics should consider? Do you think anyone heeded these warnings? Why or why not?

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