English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter One
1. What is the “Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Center”? Briefly describe it.
2. What is “Bokanovsky’s Process”? Why is it used?
3. Talk about each of the five different classes of people (Alphas, Betas, Gammas, Deltas,
and Epsilons). What purpose does each group serve?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Two
1. Describe the conditioning process the Delta babies undergo at the start of Chapter two.
Why are they subjected to such treatment?
2. What is “hypnopaedia”? Why is it used on the children in the novel?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Three
1. The Director mentions “erotic play” between children. Why would this behavior be
encouraged?
2. Why are the concepts of “home” and “family” seen as obscene to the characters in the
novel? How have they since been re-defined by the government?
3. Look at the hypnopaedic proverb “Everyone belongs to everyone else” (40). What does
it mean? Why is Fanny so concerned that Lenina seems to be dating Henry exclusively?
4. “Feeling lurks in that interval of time between desire and its consummation” (44). What
does this mean? How does it apply to the world of the novel?
5. Why is materialism so valued in this society? What are its benefits?
6. The concepts of religion and immortality of the soul are foreign to the characters in the
novel. Why have these been done away with?
7. What is “soma”? How is it used within the novel?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Four
1. Bernard Marx is described as “stunted” (46). What makes him an outsider?
2. Helmholtz Watson, on the other hand, is described as being “a little too able” (67). Why
do these characters connect with each other?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Five
1. Where do Lenina and Henry go on their date? How are these types of activities typical of
the young people in the novel?
2. Describe the Solidarity Service. What is it? What purpose does it serve? Why does
Bernard have such a difficult time genuinely participating in it?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Six
1. How is Lenina’s date with Bernard different from her date with Henry in the previous
chapter? How are Bernard and Henry different?
2. The Director describes to Bernard a sudden storm that swept away one of his lovers. He
seems irrationally angry at having revealed his reaction to Bernard. Why is he so upset?
What about his reaction is incriminating?
3. What is the Savage Reservation? Why does Bernard want to go there?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Seven
1. Describe the whipping ceremony in Chapter Seven. What is its purpose? Why does
Lenina react the way she does?
2. How do you imagine Linda came to be pregnant on the Savage Reservation?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Eight
1. Why does Linda struggle so much to fit in on the reservation? What does she do to anger
the women there?
2. Pope gives John the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Why do you think
Huxley chose this as the book John uses to relate to the world?
3. John seems to derive a sense of satisfaction from suffering physically. Why is that?
How does that contrast to the “civilized” people for whom “the mere suggestion of illness
or wounds was…not only horrifying, but even repulsive and rather disgusting” (138)?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Nine
1. How does Bernard obtain permission to bring John back to London when he and Lenina
return? Why does John want to go with them?
Chapter Ten
1. The Director says “no offence is so heinous as unorthodoxy of behavior. Murder kills
only the individual—and, after all, what is an individual?” (148). Why does the Director
think Bernard is such a danger to society?
2. Who is John’s father? Why is this revelation important?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Eleven
1. When they arrive in London, John is no longer referred to by his name, but as “the
Savage”. Why do you think that is?
2. Upon their return to London, Linda goes on “soma holiday” (154). Why is she so eager
to use the substance? Why does John think that she shouldn’t?
3. John seems horrified at everyone’s sameness. Why is this so upsetting to him?
4. What is “death conditioning” (164)? Why is it used?
5. Lenina seems surprised after her date with John that he doesn’t pursue her physically.
Why is he hesitant despite his attraction to her?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Twelve
1. John and Helmholtz share a bond over their love of language and meaning, but
Helmholtz finds John’s recitation of a line from Romeo and Juliet to be ridiculous. Why
does he struggle to identify with the play?
Chapter Thirteen
1. Lenina seems fixated on John. Why is he so fascinating to her?
2. When Lenina approaches John, he reacts in anger and calls her a “[d]amned whore!”
(194). Why does he react this way?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Fourteen
1. The children at the Hospital for the Dying are appalled at Linda’s condition. What makes
her unique?
2. Why is John so distraught over Linda’s death? Why is his distress confusing to the rest
of the “civilized” people?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Fifteen
1. John goes on a tirade against soma use. He asks those in the distribution line, “Don’t you
want to be free and men? Don’t you even understand what manhood and freedom are?”
(212-3). What does he mean here? What does he want people to do?
2. Look at the way the police subdue John: soma vapor, calming music, and an anti-riot
speech that asks, “What is the meaning of all this? Why aren’t you all being happy and
good together?” (215). Why do they use these tactics? Why might they be effective on
people in this society?
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Sixteen
1. Mustapha Mond and John have a discussion about the role of beauty and meaning in
society. How does Mond justify their way of life to John? Why is Shakespeare banned,
for example?
Chapter Seventeen
1. Why, according to Mond, is religion no longer necessary?
2. Why does John choose to leave “civilization”
English B1A
Spring 2014
Brave New World Reading Guide
Chapter Eighteen
1. Why does John choose to live in solitude? What is he hoping to accomplish in this way?
2. Why does John lash out at Lenina when she comes to see him?
3. What are your thoughts on the end of the novel?