Brave New World Questions
Chapter 1
1) Discuss how diction has created an eerie feeling in the first two paragraphs.
2) How does the group of students reflect the control that the World State has on
society?
3) In what ways has the World State ensured that social stability exists?
4) How does the hatchery control the level of intelligence of each level of the caste
system?
Chapter 3
1) Explain how leisure time is controlled and assists the World State's economy.
2) How is the promoted erotic play in children echoed in the conversation between
Lenina and Fanny?
3) What is the popular opinion of Barnard Marx? Why?
4) What seems to be the catalyst for change from a democracy to the current state?
5) How does Marx seem to differ (not physically) from those around him?
6) What is the effect of the continually changing perspective in the narration?
Chapter 4 Part 2
1) Contrast how Bernard and Helmholtz are treated by their peers or other castes.
2) Why might Helmholtz be particularly dangerous for the World State?
Chapter 5 Part 1
1) What realization do Lenina and Henry agree on concerning lower castes?
2) What is the song about? What is its importance?
3) How does Lenina prove that she is a product of her environment in this chapter?
Chapter 5 Part 2
1) Read the paragraph before the instruments are played. How does the description
of the solidarity circle echo the way in which the world state wants society to
operate?
2) Compare and contrast Bernard’s sexual experience with that of Henry.
Chapter 6, Part 1
1) Why might the people be conditioned to have an aversion to privacy?
2) How is Lenina characterized with the last lines of the chapter?
3) In this dystopia, would you prefer to be clueless and happy like Lenina, or
discontent and inquisitive, like Bernard? Explain.
Chapter 6, Part 2
1) Why does the director become so perturbed with Bernard?
Chapter 6, Part 3
1) What is ironic about the statements made concerning the animals?
2) a) What practices do they find reprehensible that we currently practice?
b) What practices or beliefs do we currently practice that stand in the way of
progress?
Chapter 7
1) How are Bernard’s shocking words mirrored by shocking observations on page
96?
2) Provide a brief summary of the ritual that takes place in this chapter. What was
the point of the ritual?
3) Who are John and Linda?
Chapter 8
1) How has Linda’s conditioning had detrimental effects on her life on the
reservation?
2) How have these effects trickled down to John?
3) How does the way John and Linda address each other indicate what their
relationship is like?
4) How are John and Bernard similar?
5) What might Bernard’s motivation be for taking John and Linda back to
civilization?
6) What effect does the introduction of Shakespeare and Shakespearean language
have?
Chapter 9
1) Given what bad news Bernard was previously given, what advantage has he
recently gained?
2) In what ways does the author make John seem to be different, in terms of values
and philosophy, from those who have been conditioned?
Chapter 10
1) What specific reasons has the director given for dismissing Bernard?
2) Identify diction which indicates the attitude felt towards Linda based on her
appearance.
3) What is the reaction of the workers? Did you expect such a reaction? Explain your
answer.
Chapter 11
1) How is Linda dealing with her reintroduction to a civilized world?
2) How has Bernard gained superficial power and respect?
3) How has Bernard proven to be a hypocrite with his new found popularity?
4) What is the definition of a savage reservation?
Chapter 12
1) What seems to have been Bernard’s motivation for letting Linda go on an
extended soma holiday?
2) How has Helmholtz proven to be both unorthodox and a product of his
environment in this chapter?
Chapter 13
1) Explain the cause of the conflict that John has with Lenina.
2) Why would Lenina be confused concerning John’s accusation that she is a
“whore”?
Chapter 14
1) Based on how Linda is treated, what is the World State’s view of death and the
dying? Provide evidence to support your answer.
Chapter 15
1) What has infuriated John to the point that he starts a riot?
2) Explain Bernard’s internal conflict that occurs in this chapter.
Chapter 16
1) For what two reasons has Shakespeare and similar literature been banned?
2) Why does Mustapha Mond view Helmholtz and Bernard’s exile as a blessing to
them?
3) What happened during the experiment in which an island of all Alphas were
meant to co-exist?
4) The dystopia in Brave New World is meant to exaggerate and criticize aspects of
our own society. What aspects are being ridiculed the most?
Chapter 17
1) Mustapha Mond states that religion exists to soothe three burdens of that the
World State no longer has. What are they?
2) What metaphor does Mustapha Mond use in order to describe the miracle of
soma?
3) What does John want in life that the society of the World State no longer
experiences?
Chapter 18
1) How’s does John’s philosophy mirror his surroundings?
2) Symbolically, why might John whip himself when tempted by Lenina? What does
she represent?
3) How has society pushed John to self-destruction?