Oryx & Crake: A Closer Look

Work with a partner or by yourself for this exercise. Please use TBE + page numbers to answer the following. Create a study handout that I will Xerox and pass along to your peers. Please write neatly!

1. Review 69-92.
• Describe with specifics each of the video games the boys play. What patterns do you see?
• Are there any games that appeal more to one boy over the other? How does this help us understand their mindset? What is Atwood trying to say about their times?
2. Review 69-92.
• Describe with the specifics each of the Internet sites the boys visit. What patterns do you see?
• Are there any sites that appeal more to one boy over the other? What does this tell us about them? What is Atwood trying to say about their times?
3. What makes you uncomfortable? Review what we’ve read so far and pinpoint specifics. Why would Atwood want you to feel uncomfortable about these things?
4. Genetic Engineering. There’s a lot of genetic manipulation in this novel. What has been created and why?
5. Setting. What are the problems of Jimmy and Crake’s world? Use TBE (+ page numbers) from our entire reading to paint a picture of the setting. Consider: climate, technology, exploitation, indifference, natural resources, etc.
6. How is the theme of isolation developed?
7. How is the theme of indifference developed?
8. What etiological “myths” [stories that explain why something is the way it is] or lies does Snowman create for the Children of Crake? Find the stories, paraphrase each, and then explain what each is explaining. What do these untruths reveal to the reader?
9. Create a Venn Diagram. Show how Jimmy and Crake are alike in the center, but be sure to consider how they are different.
10. How are the Crakers characterized? What is YOUR overall impression of them? For each category you identify, find the best examples that help us understand who they are and what they are like. Use direct quotes with page numbers. Examine:

· Physical description, personality traits, behaviors

· how Snowman interacts with them

11. How is Crake characterized? What is YOUR overall impression of him? For each category you identify, find the best examples that help us understand who Crake is and what he is like. Use direct quotes with page numbers. Examine:

· Crake’s personality traits

· what others say about Crake or how they react/interact with him

12. How is SNOWMAN (not Jimmy) characterized? What is YOUR overall impression of him? For each category you identify, find the best examples that help us understand who he is and what he is like. Use direct quotes with page numbers. Examine:
• Jimmy’s personality traits
• what others say about Jimmy or how they react/interact with him
13. Create a Venn Diagram. How are Jimmy and Snowman alike? Different?
14. How is Jimmy (NOT SNOWMAN) characterized? What is YOUR overall impression of him? For each category you identify, find the best examples that help us understand who Jimmy is and what he is like. Use direct quotes with page numbers. Examine:
• Jimmy’s personality traits
• what others say about Jimmy or how they react/interact with him
15. How is Oryx characterized? What is YOUR overall impression of her? For each category you identify, find the best examples that help us understand who Oryx is and what she is like. Use direct quotes with page numbers. Examine:
• Oryx’s personality traits
• what others say about Oryx or how they react/interact with her
• how Oryx reacts to her experiences and what that shows us