“Allegory of the Cave” Response Questions (Exercising the Brain)

Please write out your answers to the questions that follow and/or take notes on the relevant areas in the textand in a notebook (something that can be checked for completion). You should complete this exercise after you have read and highlighted, or noted, areas of the text that you think are important. The purpose of this exercise is to help you follow the author’s intent and to think critically about his arguments and how the text may (or may not) fall within the genre of SF. Below are a list of questions that, once answered, will ensure that you have a good outline of the text’s purpose and an in-depth understanding of its historical importance.

  1. Partner up and read through the allegory one time through making notes along the way…try to wrap your mind around it.
  2. On the back of the handout, draw what you think the cave looks like. Try to be as specific as possible and label if need be.
  3. Based on McKitterick’s definition/s of SF (speculative/philosophical/literature of change), does Plato’s allegory fit within the genre of SF? Why or why not? Why (or why not) would it be important to read Plato’s “Allegory” in a science fiction class?
  4. What does Plato speculate about in the Allegory?
  5. What philosophical ideas does Plato concern himself with in the allegory? Explain.
  6. How does “The Allegory of the Cave” illustrate Plato’s view of the physical world versus the non-physical world (the world of forms)? According to Plato, which world is more real and more important? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  7. If you were in this allegory, where would you be? Why? Why not? Explain.
  8. In the end, what is Plato’s controlling idea—that is, what is his primary message?
  9. Where do you see the cave in today’s world? Explain.

“Allegory of the Cave” Response Questions (Exercising the Brain)

Please write out your answers to the questions that follow and/or take notes on the relevant areas in the text and in a notebook (something that can be checked for completion). You should complete this exercise after you have read and highlighted, or noted, areas of the text that you think are important. The purpose of this exercise is to help you follow the author’s intent and to think critically about his arguments and how the text may (or may not) fall within the genre of SF. Below are a list of questions that, once answered, will ensure that you have a good outline of the text’s purpose and an in-depth understanding of its historical importance.

  1. Partner up read through the allegory one time through making notes along the way…try to wrap your mind around it.
  2. On the back of the handout, draw what you think the cave looks like. Try to be as specific as possible and label if need be.
  3. Based on McKitterick’s definition/s of SF (speculative/philosophical/literature of change), does Plato’s allegory fit within the genre of SF? Why or why not? Why (or why not) would it be important to read Plato’s “Allegory” in a science fiction class?
  4. What does Plato speculate about in the Allegory?
  5. What philosophical ideas does Plato concern himself with in the allegory? Explain.
  6. How does “The Allegory of the Cave” illustrate Plato’s view of the physical world versus the non-physical world (the world of forms)? According to Plato, which world is more real and more important? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  7. If you were in this allegory, where would you be? Why? Why not? Explain.
  8. In the end, what is Plato’s controlling idea—that is, what is his primary message?
  9. Where do you see the cave in today’s world? Explain.

“Allegory of the Cave” Response Questions (Exercising the Brain)

Please write out your answers to the questions that follow and/or take notes on the relevant areas in the text and in a notebook (something that can be checked for completion). You should complete this exercise after you have read and highlighted, or noted, areas of the text that you think are important. The purpose of this exercise is to help you follow the author’s intent and to think critically about his arguments and how the text may (or may not) fall within the genre of SF. Below are a list of questions that, once answered, will ensure that you have a good outline of the text’s purpose and an in-depth understanding of its historical importance.

  1. Read through the allegory one time through making notes along the way…try to wrap your mind around it.
  2. On the back of the handout, draw what you think the cave looks like. Try to be as specific as possible and label if need be.
  3. Based on McKitterick’s definition/s of SF (speculative/philosophical/literature of change), does Plato’s allegory fit within the genre of SF? Why or why not? Why (or why not) would it be important to read Plato’s “Allegory” in a science fiction class?
  4. What does Plato speculate about in the Allegory?
  5. What philosophical ideas does Plato concern himself with in the allegory? Explain.
  6. How does “The Allegory of the Cave” illustrate Plato’s view of the physical world versus the non-physical world (the world of forms)? According to Plato, which world is more real and more important? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  7. If you were in this allegory, where would you be? Why? Why not? Explain.
  8. In the end, what is Plato’s controlling idea—that is, what is his primary message?
  9. Where do you see the cave in today’s world? Explain.