1. Merlyn seems to have a very low opinion of the human race. He says, "People are dupes and wicked, too." Is Merlyn too critical, or do you see evidence that he is correct?

2. Merlyn also thinks that humankind is very conceited in thinking that it has progressed so much in the past two hundred years. Humankind has certainly progressed industrially, but do you think it has progressed morally? Is it possible for our species to progress morally, or is it doomed because of its "human nature?"

3. White's major theme is that people can learn to be more civilized by carefully observing the animal kingdom. Do you agree that people can learn from the animals, or is humankind essentially different from other animals? If so, what makes humans unique?

4. Merlyn makes much of the fact that humankind—homoferox, as he calls it— kills...