| Characterize Kidder. What kind of a scientist is he? What motivates him? |
| Compare Kidder to Victor Frankenstein. How are they alike? How are they
different? Kidder avoids Frankenstein's fate. Is he thus better than Victor
or only smarter? |
| The
banker Conant personifies greediness and the quest for power. Can he be
compared to a creator? |
| Kidder trains the Neoterics by arbitrarily killing whole generations either
for experimentation or to induce fear. Are his actions moral? |
| How human are the Neoterics? What constitutes human life? When does life
become sacred? |
| Kidder takes over the creative function of God. Does his ability give him
the right to control the lives and deaths of the Neoterics? |
| This story takes place on an island. What is the significance of this setting? |
| Explain the story's title. |
Explain the first sentence of the story:
"Here is a
story about a man who had too much power, and a man who took too much,
but don't worry; I'm not going political on you."
|
React
to the last two sentences of the story:
"Some day the
Neoterics, after innumerable generations of inconceivable advancement,
will take down their shield and come forth. When I think of that I feel
frightened."
|
| Compare Kidder to Kress from "Sandkings" by George R. R. Martin. |
| Compare Kidder to Sledge from "With Folded Hands" by Jack Williamson. |
