Dystopia and TMS

Question 1

Restate the POINT for Technology and Nature

Answer 1

In The Machine Stops, the interest in nature diminishes as society devotes itself to the Machine, who supplies society with all of its desires.

Question 2

Restate the POINT for Religion

Answer 2

The deification and attitudes towards the Machine establish a religious chokehold over society.

Question 3

Restate the POINT for Social Disconnect

Answer 3

Moreover, the Machine constructs a society, where efficiency is prioritised over the intangibles, in particular human connections.

Question 4

Define humanism

Answer 4

Humanism is a philosophical stance that revolves around the individual

Question 5

Recall E.M. Forster’s beliefs and values and relate them to The Machine Stops

Answer 5

• Was a humanist hence: hates technology and religion and critiques the social disconnect
• Fundamental values: tolerance, good temper and sympathy
• Values personal relationships over patriotism

Question 6

Show how The Machine Stops is a dystopian piece

Answer 6

Kuno, the protagonist, is the only individual who sees the flaws in a utopia, which inevitably becomes a dystopia

Question 7

Examine the first evidence of Technology and Nature (good quote?)

Answer 7

Quote: “surrounded by artificial air, artificial light, artificial peace”
Techniques: Tricolon, asyndeton
Effect: Emphasis and cohesion of the phase

Question 8

Examine the second evidence of Technology and Nature (short and sweet)

Answer 8

Quote: “perfectly nature” with “perfectly mechanical”
Context: Variation in vernacular

Question 9

Examine the third evidence of Technology and Nature (not a quote)

Answer 9

Symbolism of Respirators show humanity’s inherent desire to connect with humanity; ironic that the only way to connect with nature is through technology

Question 10

Examine the fourth evidence of Technology and Nature (context)

Answer 10

Quote: “First-hand ideas”
Context: Nature provides ideas to society hence the Machine limits access

Question 11

Examine the fifth evidence of Technology and Nature (hum)

Answer 11

Quote: “ ‘The Machine hums! Did you know that? Its hum penetrates our blood, and may even guide our thoughts.”
Technique: Personification of the Machine
Effect: Makes the scene more vivid

Question 12

Examine the sixth evidence of Technology and Nature (nature)

Answer 12

Quote: “If I must die, die running towards the cloud that had been the colour of a pearl… A worm, a long white worm,… was gliding over the moonlight grass.”
Technique: Visual imagery of the Mending Apparatus
Effect: The Mending Apparatus is eerie and ghost-like

Question 13

Examine the first evidence of Religion (context)

Answer 13

Quote: “those master brains had perished”
Context: Inventors have died

Question 14

Examine the second evidence of Religion (not a quote)

Answer 14

Religious allusion of The Book of The Machine to the bible

Question 15

Examine the third evidence of Religion (Vashti’s ritual)

Answer 15

Quote: “Thrice she kissed it, thrice inclined her head, thrice she felt the delirium of acquiescence.”
Technique: Anaphora of “thrice”
Effect: Draws emphasis

Question 16

Examine the fourth evidence of Religion (chant)

Answer 16

Quote: “The Machine is the friend of ideas and the enemy of superstition: the Machine is omnipotent, eternal; blessed is the Machine.”
Technique: Asyndeton
Effect: Cohesion and maintains the rhythm of the chant

Question 17

Examine the fifth evidence of Religion (contrast)

Answer 17

Quote: “(The pleasure that it was to repeat certain numerals out of it, however little meaning those numerals conveyed to the outwards ear,) the ecstasy of touching a button, however unimportant, or of ringing an electric bell, however superfluously.”
Technique: Juxtaposition between the skepticism of the narrator and the religious zeal of society

Question 18

Examine the first evidence of Social Disconnect (familial)

Answer 18

Quote: “And if Kuno, himself, flesh of her flesh, stood close beside her at last, what profit was there in that? She was too well-bred to shake him by the hand.”
Technique: Religious allusion to Genesis 2.23 [flesh of her flesh], irony of adhering to different religious principles
Effect: It is ironic?

Question 19

Examine the second evidence of Social Disconnect (context)

Answer 19

Quote: “Blue-plate technology” and “transmit nuances of expression”
Context: Shows the capabilities or lack of

Question 20

Examine the third evidence of Social Disconnect (phsyical customs)

Answer 20

Quote: “When Vashti swerved away from the sunbeams with a cry, she [the flight attendant] behaved barbarically - she put out her hand to steady her.”
Technique: Plosive alliteration
Effect: Emphasis the disgrace of the act

Question 21

Examine the fourth evidence of Social Disconnect (Kuno rant)

Answer 21

Quote: “It [The Machine] has robbed us of the sense of space and of the sense of touch, it has blurred every human relation and narrowed down love to a carnal act, it has paralyzed our bodies and our wills.”
Technique: Personification of the Machine
Effect: Makes more vivid