new World

Because the novel uses an omniscient (all-knowing) narrator, we are able to see and understand different characters’ reactions to the same event. In the table below, record how each character reacts to

Bernard

’s fame, and what it tells you about them.

1. How does Bernard’s reaction to his fame contrast with Helmholtz’s? What does this tell you about each of them?

2. Do you most closely agree with Bernard’s or Helmholtz’s perspective and why? Explain your response.

3. Think of an event in your life where you strongly disagreed with something that someone else did. What was the vent, and why did you disagree? How was the situation resolved?

4. Do you feel that Bernard or John is a more reliable narrator? Explain.

5. How do you think Huxley’s background affected the perspectives shown? Consider Huxley’s personal history, the Industrial Revolution, and World War I. (FYI: This is called Biographical, HIstorical, New HIstorical Criticism.)

Pt 1 – Directions: For each passage, underline the words that convey the most emotion, and label the tone. Be sure to use sophisticated levels of vocabulary for your answers.

1. At the sound of his voice the Director started into a guilty realization of where he was; shot a glance and Bernard, and averting his eyes, blushed darkly; looked at him again with sudden suspicion and, angrily on his dignity, “Don’t imagine,” he said, “that I had any indecorous relation with the girl. Nothing emotional, nothing long-drawn…Furious with himself for having given away a discreditable secreted, he vented his rage on Bernard.

Tone:

2. In the end she persuaded him to sallow four tablets of soma. Five minutes later roots and fruits were abolished; the flower of the present rosily blossomed.

Tone:

3. His heart beat wildly; for a moment he was almost faint. Then, bending over the precious box, he touched, he lifted into the light, he examined. The zippers on Lenina’s spare pair of viscose velveteen shorts were at first a puzzle, then solved, a delight.

Tone:

4. Very slowly, with hesitating gestures of one who reaches forward to stroke a shay and possibly rather dangerous bird, he put out his hand. It hung there trembling, within an inch of those limp fingers, on the verge of contact. Did he dare? Dare to profane with his unworthiest hand that…. No, he didn’t. The bird was too dangerous. His hand dropped back. How beautiful she was! How beautiful!

Tone:

5. Then suddenly he found himself reflecting that he had only to take hold of the zipper at her neck and give one long, strong pull… He shut his eyes, he shook his head with the gesture of a dog shaking its ears as it emerges from the water. Detestable thought! He was ashamed of himself. Pure and vestal modesty…

Tone:

Pt. 2: Impact of Tone on the Reader’s

Mood

Directions: Choose three passages that affected you, and record the most powerful words in the table. Identify the tone of the words, and then mood of the passage.