Ishmael Assignment:
1. Ishmael Guided Reading Questions - Answer the following questions from Daniel Quinn’s novel Ishmael. It is recommended that you read the questions, read the text, then attempt to answer the questions only after completing the novel. In doing so, you will be forced to review the book and the notes/annotations you should have made within it which will be advantageous. Furthermore, though typed assignments will not always be permitted during the year, you may utilize a word processor for the completion of the summer assignment. If submitting electronically, copy and paste the question directly above your reply to each. If writing, just preface each response with the section letter and question number (ex. B4). Be sure to address and answer all parts of each prompt and do so in the best, most grammatically-correct language in which you are capable.
A. Parts One, Two, Three and Four
1. Why is the student angry when he first reads the ad? Why does he respond to it? Explain his state of mind when he first approaches the teacher and how this attitude shifts.
2. Relate Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to Ishmael’s concept of “captivity.” Look specifically at the “bars” in chap. 6 and the “lie” in chap. 7. Now consider what Ishmael says held the Germans captive during the 30’s and 40’s and relate this to our own captivity.
3. Explain the following definitions:
a. leavers and takers
b. culture, story, to enact
4. Why does the student resist the idea that his account of creation is a myth? Compare the taker story to the jellyfish’s story. Why does Ishmael tell the story?
5. Explain the premise of the taker story that “the world was made for man, and he was meant to rule and conquer it.” Why does Ishmael find this premise problematic?
B. Parts Five, Six, and Seven
1. What is human destiny according to the Taker story, and how does this destiny relate to paradise? Using this concept of “paradise” (on p. 82), explain Ishmael’s account of why taker civilizations need prophets.
2. What are the three “dirty tricks” the gods played on the takers? Why is the third one too hard to get over?
3. What is the story of the flying machine supposed to illustrate? Why do Ishmael and the student believe that after the “crash”, it’s likely that the survivors would just go back and build another craft that would not fly. What point are they trying to make?
4. What is the point of the story of the A’s, B’s and C’s? What does this have to do with the “law of how to live?”
C. Parts Eight, Nine, and Ten
1. Explain the 3 things takers do that leavers never do. How does this knowledge help us define the law of limited competition? What happens to species that violate this law?
2. Explain the value of diversity as a contribution to the survival of the community. Why is unlimited growth of any given individual dangerous to the community?
3. What is the knowledge that allows the takers to rule the world? What does this have to do with the gods’ quarrel and why is this important?
4. How does Ishmael define “culture”? Why does he say that takers are “cultural amnesiacs”?
5. What is the difference between what the leavers and the takers pass on to their offspring? Why is the difference important? How would Ishmael define wisdom given what he says about the transmission of culture?
D. Parts Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen
1. What is the student’s nightmare vision of how our ancestors lived? Where did he get such an image?
2. Explain what Ishmael was trying to teach Bwana about the control of food. What does this have to do with the fact that leavers “live in the hands of the gods”?
3. How did Man become Man according to Ishmael? Why would we not evolve if we continue to live as the takers, but evolve if we live as the leavers?
4. Explain the two sides of the poster Ishmael kept with him: With Man Gone, Will There Be Hope for Gorilla? With Gorilla Gone, Will There Be Hope for Man? How does this relate to the student’s relationship to his teacher, Ishmael?
Here are a few thoughts to consider:
What is Ishmael’s version of the story of Adam and Eve and of the story of Cain and Abel? What do these interpretations of the Old Testament Bible have to do with agriculture?
Why is it so hard for people to give up a story? Why is it that even the worst off in our society would just assume continuing to enact a story in which they are miserable?
What is Ishmael’s prescription for getting humans to see collectively that we cannot go on living as we presently do?
2. IshmaelFinal Reflection
a. Thesis - At this point, you have gathered enough information to identify the thesis of this book. A thesis is defined in the Oxford unabridged dictionary as, “1. A proposition stated or put forward for consideration, especially one to be maintained against objections. 2. A subject for a composition or essay” a thesis may often be called the “main idea” or main point. What is Quinn’s thesis? Be thorough in describing Quinn’s point of view or purpose in writing this novel and what he wants the reader to believe. How does he defend his thesis? (What evidence does he give to support his theory?) Bias is defined as, “a particular tendency or inclination, especially one that prevents unprejudiced consideration of a question.” Can you identify bias in this story? Give examples defending your position either way.
1. Contextualize the thesis of Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael in a single sentence. Then, skipping a line, expand and elaborate on the rest being sure to address all parts of the prompt.
b. Point of View - Undoubtedly, you now recognize Ishmael as an alternate view of Man’s history with asuggestion for the future. Write a response in which you defend or attack Ishmael’s point of view. Defend yourthesis and use quotes from the book to support your point of view.