Introduction & Overview of Waldo

This Study Guide consists of approximately 24 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Waldo.

Introduction & Overview of Waldo

This Study Guide consists of approximately 24 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Waldo.
This section contains 152 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy the Waldo Study Guide

Waldo Summary & Study Guide Description

Waldo Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. This study guide contains the following sections:

This detailed literature summary also contains Bibliography on Waldo by Robert A. Heinlein.

While Heinlein utilizes his favorite themes in this piece (self-reliance and independence), his warning about hidden dangers in new technology seems somewhat unusual. Heinlein, and the other authors of the "Golden Age" of science fiction (notably Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov), generally glorify technology as a kind of savior of the human race. However, in several of the main characters, Heinlein reiterates his insistence on the independence of the individual. Waldo tries to live his own life without any reliance on others; Dr. Grimes and Gramps Schneider live in their own ways and are not concerned with how other people see them. The ultimate concentration of the story, then, continues Heinlein's theme of self-reliance.

The mechanical "hands" or series of mechanical joints used today in engineering and mechanical puppetry are now called "waldoes" after this Heinlein story, demonstrating the significant impact that Heinlein's works have enjoyed over the years.

Read more from the Study Guide

This section contains 152 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy the Waldo Study Guide
Copyrights
Gale
Waldo from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.