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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. Compared to the children the Time Traveler is used to, what does he estimate the intellectual age of the Eloi to be?

2. What does the Time Traveler describe the first Eloi he sees as?

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

4. What sound does the Time Traveler hear from deep within the shaft?

5. To which room do the men retire to hear the Time Traveler's story?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the Time Traveler glad about what happened to Weena?

2. Why does the Time Traveler think the Morlocks started eating Eloi?

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

4. According to the Time Traveler, what happened when he sat in the Time Machine and pressed the lever?

5. Why does the Time Traveler take the lever out of the time machine when he lands in the far future?

6. How does the forest fire start?

7. What kind of food does the Time Traveler particularly crave when he returns?

8. What political system is discussed in Chapter 1 as a possible future for humanity and why has Wells included it?

9. Why are the characters primarily represented by the name of their profession rather than their actual names?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A major theme of this novel is entropy and decay over time and as a result of social Darwinism, or social pressures that result in changes. Define what you think the terms entropy and decay mean in terms of this novel and contextualize your analysis with examples from the book. You should be sure to consider entropy and decay in terms of the several major fictional strategies (setting, characterization, plot, language, dialogue, etc.)

Essay Topic 2

This novel takes what some might consider a pessimistic view of the role science plays in modern life. Even though Wells's narrative takes place in the 19th century, there are many parallels one could draw between the scientific and technical progress discuused in the novel and the explosion of digital technologies in our own time. Using textual examples from Wells, analyze the effects technological developments and innovations are likely to have on humanity. Compare and contrast Wells's predictions of what technological advancement does to humanity with your opinion of the effects of the technological advancements from your own lifetime.

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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