The Time Machine Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the creatures who live above ground?

Eloi

Where is the time machine hidden?

In the pedestal of the sphinx statue.

What is the Palace of Green Porcelain?

A museum.

What is the fourth dimension?

Time Signup and view all the answers

What touches the Time Traveller with its antennae?

A giant crab. Signup and view all the answers

As time passes, what happens to the sun?

It becomes dimmer. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Time Traveller retrieve from the museum?

Camphor, a lever and matches. Signup and view all the answers

Which ecological disaster does the Time Traveller inflict on the future?

A forest fire, where Weena dies. Signup and view all the answers

What do the Morlocks fear most?

Light Signup and view all the answers

Why does the Time Traveller remove the levers from his machine?

To prevent anyone from using the machine. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Time Traveller bring back to the future?

Two flowers. Signup and view all the answers

The Eloi remind the Time Traveller of?

Victims of tuberculosis. Signup and view all the answers

When the novel appears, H.G. Wells was a?

Science Teacher Signup and view all the answers

The Eloi language contains few?

Abstract terms. Signup and view all the answers

Weena seems to love the Time Traveller why?

He saved her life. Signup and view all the answers

What is the narrator's position in relation to the Time Traveller?

The narrator believes the Time Traveller. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the underground machines?

They are the ventilators to the underworld. Signup and view all the answers

The Time Machine was first published in book form in what year?

1895 Signup and view all the answers

Before he discovers the Morlocks, the Time Traveller ascribes the weakness of humankind's descendants to what?

Communism Signup and view all the answers

Who narrated the beginning?

Melvin Burgesses. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the author of 'The Time Machine'?

H.G. Wells Signup and view all the answers

What does the Time Traveller do to the mini model of the Time Machine?

Makes it disappear into thin air. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Eloi give the Time Traveller?

Fruit Signup and view all the answers

Who is Weena?

A Eloi. Signup and view all the answers

Where does he stop after escaping from the Morlocks?

On a beach where he is attacked by crabs. Signup and view all the answers

Where does he go after the beach?

30 million years into the future where the air is very thin, and the only sign of life is a black blob with tentacles. Signup and view all the answers

What do we learn about the Time Traveller, what don't we learn?

We learn that he found his time machine and became friends with Weena. We didn't learn his name or what happened to him after he left the next day to travel someplace else. Signup and view all the answers

Why might Wells have decided not to flesh his protagonist?

To show the battle between the Morlocks and the Eloi and how prevalent that is in upper class and lower class. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Time Machine Overview

Eloi are the gentle, child-like creatures living above ground in the future.
The time machine is concealed within the pedestal of a sphinx statue, reflecting its importance.
The Palace of Green Porcelain serves as a museum, showcasing remnants of previous civilization.
Time is referred to as the fourth dimension, emphasizing its significance in the narrative.

Key Characters and Relationships

A giant crab interacts with the Time Traveller, symbolizing the bizarre wildlife of the distant future.
The sun gradually dims over time, highlighting the declining state of the environment.
The Time Traveller retrieves essential items—camphor, a lever, and matches—from the museum, excluding sulfur.
Weena, an Eloi, tragically dies in a forest fire sparked by the Time Traveller, demonstrating the consequences of his actions.

Morlocks, the underground-dwelling creatures, have a profound fear of light, which governs their behavior.
The Time Traveller removes levers from the time machine to prevent misuse, adding to the theme of control over technology.
The connection between the Time Traveller and Weena deepens as she loves him for saving her life, showcasing emotional bonds amid chaos.

Historical Context and Publication

H.G. Wells, at the time of publishing, worked as a science teacher, infusing scientific thought into the narrative.
The Eloi language is simplistic, lacking in abstract terms, indicative of their diminishing intellect.
The Time Machine was first published in book form in 1895, marking a significant moment in science fiction literature.

Philosophical Themes

The Time Traveller initially attributes humanity's decline to communism, reflecting contemporary concerns of the 19th century.
Three theories emerge regarding Eloi and Morlock dynamics: Eloi as descendants of humanity losing intelligence, Morlocks as brutal laborers, and the Morlocks evolving to prey on the Eloi.
The Morlocks live in an underground system of tunnels, interacting with the surface world primarily at night, which emphasizes their predatory nature.

Narrative Structure and Protagonist

The narrator remains unnamed and anonymous, illustrating the universality of the Time Traveller's experiences.
Understanding the Time Traveller's actions (finding his time machine and forming a bond with Weena) contrasts with the lack of knowledge about his identity and fate after his travels.

Symbolism and Allegory

Wells uses the divide between Eloi and Morlocks to comment on class struggles and the consequences of a divided society.
The absence of a traditional hero character reflects Wells’ intention to critique societal structures rather than provide simple resolutions.

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Description

Test your knowledge of H.G. Wells' classic novel, 'The Time Machine', through these flashcards. Each card contains key concepts and definitions that will enhance your understanding of the story and its characters. Perfect for students of humanities or literature enthusiasts!