MaddAddam

Read the first two books in the trilogy, Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood. How would you characterize Glenn/Crake? Do you think any of his actions are justified? Why or why not? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

What do you think the future looks like for the characters? What do you imagine happens next? What evidence in the novel supports your response?

Do you think Toby is a reliable narrator? What do you think might bias the way she tells the story? How do you see the evidence of that in the novel? Be specific.

Imagine that Crake’s apparent intention, to wipe out all humans (except Jimmy) to make room for the Crakers had been successful. What do you think that world would have looked like? How do you think the Crakers would have evolved without non-Craker interference?

In the trial, White Sedge speaks out on behalf of the Painballers. Consider her arguments as objectively as possible. What parts of her argument are reasonable? What parts of her argument do you think would be reasonable in a pre-apocalyptic world? Craft an argument either with or against hers, without emotion and maintaining objectivity.

What do you think is the novel’s message about the environment and about humans’ relationship with animals? How do you think that message translates into the contemporary world? Use specific evidence from the text.

Research the terms “dystopia” and “utopia.” What makes the pre-plague world dystopian, and how was Crake attempting to create a utopia? Support your argument with specific details from the novel.

How does the novel approach issues of women’s rights and bodily autonomy? How do the characters’ discussions about the topic within the world of the novel demonstrate the issue?