DUNE Book 1 Summaries Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

Gom Jabber kills only who?

Robots

Humans

Animals (correct)

Plants

What is the name of the planet?

Caladan

Who is the ruler?

Duke Leto

Duke Leto's family is known as what?

House of Atreides Signup and view all the answers

Who is the protagonist?

Paul Signup and view all the answers

Who said that Paul may be the 'Kwisatz Haerach'?

Reverend Mother Mohiam and Paul Signup and view all the answers

What test does Reverend Mother do to Paul?

He must put his hand in the small box. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if Paul passes the test?

This means that he is a human being and not an animal. Signup and view all the answers

Who else took this test?

His mother, Jessica Signup and view all the answers

What do Jessica and the Reverend Mother tell Paul?

Something bad is going to happen to the House of Atreides. Signup and view all the answers

What is Arrakis?

A desert planet ruled by the Harkonnens. Signup and view all the answers

What plan does Baron Harkonnen have?

He tells his nephew Feyd-Rautha about the plan to maneuver the emperor into giving Arrakis to the Atreides. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Mentat?

A person who thinks using logic and no emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Baron Harkonnen not like the trade of Arrakis for Caladan?

Arrakis is rich in melange. Signup and view all the answers

Melange is what?

A drug and spice that is an addiction for millions of people throughout the galaxy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the trade of planets?

Baron wants to kill Duke Leto and all his family once they are on Arrakis. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Jessica not have a girl?

Because Duke Leto wanted an heir to the 'throne' very badly. Signup and view all the answers

Why might it be bad that Jessica did not have a daughter?

Because there is no daughter to wed a Harkonnen and 'seal the breach'. Signup and view all the answers

Paul has a dream and meets who?

A girl who calls him Usul. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Thufir Hawat?

Duke's main strategist. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hawat say to Paul?

He talks about the dangers Paul will face on Arrakis. Signup and view all the answers

Fremen are the inhabitants of where?

Arrakis. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Gurney Halleck?

Duke's war master. Signup and view all the answers

What does Halleck do?

Challenges Paul to a duel. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Paul meet who gives him information?

Dr. Yueh. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dr. Yueh say?

He gives info on life-forms on Arrakis, like sandworms. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the traitor to the Atreides?

Dr. Yueh. Signup and view all the answers

What does Leto tell Paul in the training room?

They are walking into a trap but will get out okay. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important that the Harkonnens do not destroy the melange on Arrakis?

This would drive the prices high, gaining control for the Harkonnens. Signup and view all the answers

What test does Shadout Mapes give to Jessica?

Correctly identifies a strange knife. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dr. Yueh reveal to Jessica?

His wife was captured by the Harkonnens. Signup and view all the answers

What tries to kill Paul in his sleep?

A robotic probe. Signup and view all the answers

What does Jessica discover?

A greenhouse using a lot of water and a note about an assassination attempt. Signup and view all the answers

What is Duke's plan?

To infiltrate the spice smugglers' network and win their support. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Liet?

The mysterious 'godlike' leader of the Fremen. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the other leader of the Fremen?

Stilgar. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Duncan?

The swordmaster. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Baron try to fool Duke Leto?

He intercepts a note about a plot to destroy Duke Leto. Signup and view all the answers

What is Paul called?

Mahdi. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Dr. Kynes?

The ecologist of Arrakis. Signup and view all the answers

What are stillsuits?

Special outfits that contain and recycle moisture. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Kynes take Duke and Paul?

To a spice-mining operation. Signup and view all the answers

What does Duke hold that is important?

A dinner party. Signup and view all the answers

What happens with Jessica and the swordmaster?

She uses her 'voice' power to discover more information about him. Signup and view all the answers

What happens the night Duke Leto is pondering?

Yueh shuts off the shields, making the house vulnerable to attack. Signup and view all the answers

What do Harkonnens do with Jessica and Paul?

They are kidnapped. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when Yueh confronts Baron?

He learns that his wife has been killed. Signup and view all the answers

What does Duke do when he sees Baron?

He bites down on the fake tooth and kills Piter. Signup and view all the answers

Where do Paul and Jessica head off to?

In a tent from the ornithopters. Signup and view all the answers

How does Paul change?

His intelligence is now cold and calculating. Signup and view all the answers

What is Paul's vision?

He predicts many futures, including Jessica giving birth to a daughter. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Characters and Entities

Gom Jabber: A lethal tool that kills only animals.
Duke Leto: The ruler of the planet Caladan and head of House Atreides.
Paul Atreides: Protagonist and heir of Duke Leto.
Reverend Mother Mohiam: Foreboding figure who suggests Paul might be the "Kwisatz Haderach," a messianic figure.
Jessica: Paul's mother who underwent the Gom Jabber test and kept a secret about the future of House Atreides.
Baron Harkonnen: Antagonist who seeks to destroy Duke Leto and take control of Arrakis.
Dr. Yueh: A traitor among the Atreides, grieving over the capture of his wife by Harkonnens.
Liet-Kynes: Ecologist of Arrakis, torn between loyalty to Harkonnen and respect for House Atreides.
Stilgar: Leader of the Fremen, the desert-dwelling inhabitants of Arrakis.

Important Locations

Caladan: Home planet of House Atreides.
Arrakis: A desert planet rich in the spice melange, currently controlled by the Harkonnens.

Significant Concepts

Melange: A highly valuable spice that grants users extended life, heightened awareness, and is addictive to many across the galaxy.
Mentat: A human trained to think logically and analytically, devoid of emotions.
Fremen: The hardy inhabitants of Arrakis, who adapt to the planet's harsh conditions.

Critical Events and Outcomes

Paul faces a life-altering test by placing his hand in a box that inflicts pain; passing signifies his humanity.
Paul receives ominous warnings about the impending downfall of House Atreides shortly after their move to Arrakis.
A dinner party hosted by Duke Leto symbolizes the clan's precarious position in a hostile environment.
Duke Leto develops plans to forge alliances with spice smugglers and Fremen to prepare for Harkonnen treachery.
Jessica encounters a precarious situation when accused of being a spy, learning to wield her "Voice" against threats.
Betrayal strikes when Dr. Yueh sabotages Duke Leto's defenses, leading to a deadly ambush by Harkonnens.
Paul and Jessica evade captivity using skill and cunning, leading to their aimless escape into the desert.
Paul’s intelligence expands due to spice, awakening his prescient abilities and visions of potential futures, including familial revelations.

Themes and Motifs

Betrayal: Central to the plot with multiple characters, notably Dr. Yueh, charting paths of treachery.
Power and Control: Explored through political maneuvering between Houses Atreides and Harkonnen, along with the control of spice production.
Survival and Adaptation: Highlighted through the Fremen's resilience and the Atreides' strategic adaptations to threats.
Destiny and Prophecy: Paul's journey is steeped in fate and the expectations tied to his lineage.

Symbolism

Stillsuits: Represent survival and the necessity of adapting to Arrakis' harsh environment to recycle moisture.
The Gom Jabber Box: A symbol of the trials faced by Paul, denoting the theme of suffering leading to enlightenment.

Noteworthy Insights

Paul begins to resemble a messianic figure dubbed the "Mahdi," destined to lead his people.
The intricacies of political intrigue and the cost of ambition resonate throughout the plot, illustrating the dangers of power struggles.

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Test your knowledge of 'DUNE' by Frank Herbert with these flashcards summarizing key characters, places, and terms from Book 1. Perfect for fans and students alike, these flashcards cover everything from the ruler to the protagonist of the story.