(1) In what [format] is Equality writing?
in a journal; first person; narrative format
(1) Describe Equality's physical appearance.
over 6 feet
... [Show More] tall, 21 years old, wears an iron bracelet on his left wrist
(1) What is Equality's curse?
Equality's curse is that he learns faster than his brothers. He thinks the forbidden thoughts and wishes for forbidden things (page 18).
(1) Compare the Home of the Infants, the Home of the Students, and the Home of the Street Sweepers.
Home of the Infants: All the children of the City that were born in a certain year live in a home until they are 5 years old.
Home of the Students: The children go here after the Home of the Infants, and they stay until they are 15 years old. They have a specific routine (page 21)
Home of the Street Sweepers: Equality goes here after receiving his life mandate. It's a home where the street sweepers live. They have a specific routine including eating and working.
(1) Why was Equality pleased with his Life Mandate?
He had a way to erase/atone for his curse.
(1) Describe a typical day in Equality's life.
-wake up
-get dressed & eat breakfast
-sweep the streets for 5 hours
-eat lunch
-work for another 5 hours
-eat dinner
-attend the Social Meeting at City Hall and sing hymns
-return to the Home of the Street Sweepers
-go to the City Theatre for 3 hours of Social Recreation
-return to the Home of the Street Sweepers
-go to sleep
(1) What is ironic about the Social Meeting?
They aren't social- they have to stay in specific groups, and they can't talk to other people.
(1) Why are friends forbidden?
They must love all men the same.
(1) What is Equality's crime?
He found a tunnel at Social Recreation. Instead of reporting it to the Council, Equality spends time there in secret.
(1) Why does Equality feel no shame in committing his crime?
He feels like he hasn't done anything wrong.
(1) Describe the government and institutions where Equality lives.
Very strict; the council makes all of the decisions (no voting); No freedom among the people.
(2) What does Equality mean when he says "They"?
Liberty 5-3000
(2) Who is Liberty, and what does she do?
Liberty is one of the women who work in the fields.
(2) What is a Transgression of Preference? How did Equality commit such a transgression(s)?
A Transgression of Preference is to prefer one person over another. Equality has a friend, International 4-8818, and he favors Liberty.
(2) What is the Time of Mating? Why does Equality think being sent to the Palace of Mating as being a "shameful matter"?
At the age of 18 or older, assigned men and women go to the Palace of Mating to make children. He thinks it's shameful because it's organized and unnatural.
(2) How are children raised in Equality's society?
In the Home of the Infants; The children don't know who their parents are.
(2) Why doesn't Liberty want Equality to be one of her brothers?
Liberty favors Equality too.
(2) Why does Equality care about Liberty's age?
Liberty is 17; He doesn't want her to be sent to the Palace of Mating next year.
(2) What is wrong with Equality's brothers?
They all have a sense of fear.
(2) Why is Equality afraid of the Uncharted Forest?
He heard that if anyone went to the Uncharted Forest, they would die.
(2) What are the Unmentionable Times?
When there was a fight between people and the Evil Ones. The Evil Ones lost, so they, and all their possesions, were burned. This caused the Great Rebirth.
(2) What is the punishment for speaking the Unspeakable Word?
Death
(3) What has Equality discovered and what has he learned from it?
He discovered electricity; He learned lightning is attracted to metal, and that a magnet can change the direction of a needle on a compass.
(3) Why does Equality think the Council of Scholars are blind?
Equality has learned a lot of things from being in the tunnel. The Scholars think it's useless.
(4) What name has Equality given to Liberty? Why?
The Golden One, because she is not like the others.
(4) What name has Liberty given Equality? Do you think the name is appropriate? Why or why not?
The Unconquerer; Yes, because he is taking on new things.
(4) What is Liberty's Life Mandate?
Working in the Labor Fields.
(5) What did Equality intend to do with his discovery (page 61)?
Show the World Council of Scholars and make new things with it.
(5) What are the World Council of Scholars, and why is it significant?
A group of the wisest people from all the Cities; Equality wants to be a Scholar.
(5) Why does Equality now feel the need to guard his tunnel?
He doesn't want his brothers to find out ,and destroy him and his light.
(5) Why does Equality want, for the first time, to know what he looks like?
He wants to see his individuality.
(6) Why was Equality put in the Palace of Corrective Detention?
He didn't tell the Council of the Home where he had been (the tunnel).
(6) How was Equality treated in the Palace?
Poorly; He was beaten many times.
(6)Why was he able to escape to from the Palace, and why was it suddenly necessary to escape?
There were old locks and no one guarding the Palace; the World Council of Scholars were in the City that day.
(6) Why did Equality not try to escape earlier?
He was hurt from the lashes of the whip, and he needed time to heal.
(6) How does Equality refer to the pages that he has been writing?
as a confession [Show Less]