SocraticSeminar: TheInvisibleMan,H.G.Wells2010
WorldConnectionQuestion:
1.Howwouldyoureactifyouwereinvisibletodayinourmodernworld?Whatiftherewereinvisiblepeople,
otherthanyourself?Whatwouldhappentotheworld?
2.HowwouldmoderndayEnglandbedifferentforaninvisibleman?Minneapolis?
3.Doeshavingpowermakeapersonmoreinvisible?
4.Howcananinvisiblemaneffect,andaffect,theworldeconomically?
5.Howcan"insane"worlddictatorsrelatetoTheInvisibleManregardtobeingoutͲcasted,gainingpowerand
fallingfrompower?
OpenͲEndedQuestion:
1.WhatistheultimatefateofthebooksconcerningtheInvisibleMan'sdiscoveryofinvisibility?HowdoesMr.
Marvel'sfaterelatetothebooks?
2.DoyouthinkGriffinhadtherighttobevehementlyangryattheotherpeopleinthenovel?Explain.
3.ManypeoplecallGriffin"mad."Whocallshimmad,andforwhatreasons?
4.Ifitcanbeagreeduponthatbeingemotionallyclosedofffromsocietyisequivalenttobeinginvisibleandthat
invisibilitybreedsinsanity,thendopeoplechooseinsanitywhentheychoosetoclosethemselvesofffrom
society?
5.Wouldonekillsomeoneifoneknewonecouldgetawaywithit?
6.IsinsanityinTheInvisibleMananuncontrollablestateofmind,orisitsociety'sinabilitytoacceptdifferences?
LiteraryAnalysisQuestion:
1.DoesH.G.Wellsexploretheeventsofthestorymorethroughtheviewofthesecondarycharactersthanin
Griffin?Explain.
2.Whyisthesettingofthenovelsetinthecountryandcountryside,ratherthaninanurbandwelling?How
doesthissettingimpactthenovel?
3.DoesDr.Kempfitthemodelofthesaviormotif?Explain.
4.Whydoestheauthorbreakthefourthwall?
5.WhydoesH.G.WellsdecidetowriteinadocumentalThirdPersonPointofView?
WouldTheInvisibleManhavebeenamorepowerfulstoryifwritteninFirstPerson?
6.WhydoesWellschooseasmalltownforthemajorsettinginsteadofalargecity?
UniversalThemeQuestion:
1.Isitinherentforhumanstofearthatwhichtheydonotunderstand?Howisthisideaillustratedin*The
InvisibleMan*?
2.Whydopeoplechangethemselvestomakethem"better?"HowdoestheInvisibleManrelatetothis
concept?
3.Amongotherprevalentthemesofsciencefiction,howdoesthenovel*TheInvisibleMan*fitinwithtryingto
playGod?
4.Ifonewereraisedinisolation,couldoneadapttosociety?
6.Whichissoughtafter,selfͲsufficiencyordependency?