When the Sleeper Wakes

1. Some critics categorize Wells as a utopian whose works, while idealistic, are also pessimistic. Wells's pessimism is quite evident, but what of his idealism? Can he in fact be classified as a utopian?2. Carlo Pagetti, an Italian literary critic, argues that Wells did not create a new genre but rather slightly modified traditional literary devices such as the concept of a utopia, time travel, and alien visitors. Do you agree? If yes, how doesWhen the Sleeper Wakesfit into traditional literature?3. Some have criticized Wells for his overtly religious parodies in his novels such as The Island of Dr. Moreau and The War in the Air. DoesWhen the Sleeper Wakesdiffer at all from these earlier novels? Obviously the new society Graham awakes to hails him as a messiah, but is he what modern readers would refer to as a Christlike figure?4. In Wells's previous novels his themes and outcomes are somewhat obviousThe Time Machinewas a play on the hierarchy of social class,The Island of Dr. Moreauwas a comment on the possible pitfalls of bioengineering. Some believe the theme of this book deals with Victorians' inheritance laws and the ills that Wells thought would come from such laws; others believe Wells was commenting on the division of capital and labor. Do you agree with either theory? If not, what do you think is the theme of this book?5. In his bookH. G. WellsJ. D. Beresford talks of Wells's turn from the "traditional" science fiction, such as Jules Verne wrote, to an overtly moralistic storytelling,When the Sleeper Wakesbeing the first in this experiment. Do you think Wells is overly moralistic? Do you believe none of Wells's contemporaries had overhanging themes in their own works?Wells, H. G. is the author of 'When the Sleeper Wakes ', published 2003 under ISBN 9780812970005 and ISBN 0812970004.