Reader's Analysis of Plot and Characters in The Time Machine

Chapter 1:

Narrative hook – A narrative hook is a part, typically at the beginning, of the story that interests the reader, making them want to continue to read on.

How does the Time Traveler's explanation of time as a 4th dimension sound?

The time traveler explains the Fourth Dimension as time. He says “There are really four dimensions, three which we call the three planes of space, and a fourth, time,” (page 2, The Time Machine). In the presence of this statement, I believe he claims of the fourth dimension as strange because that declaration has never been shown to me. I would like to read on and find out what he means and where this thought originated.

Why do you believe Wells chose to give most of his characters jobs to show them instead of names?

In the time of Wells’ writing, often authors did not name the characters. I believe Wells gave job titles to the characters, rather than names because they were not important and did not need an identity. I think job titles as names was a way of saying they are just like the rest of the phycologists, etc. Whereas Wella needed an identity to make her unique and different.

What is the effect of not naming the characters?

Not naming characters is subjective. I think not naming some characters is a good thing because it can help me focus on the main ones. Yet, the job titles paint an imaginary picture in the readers mind. Such as that person’s day and family, or even their name.

What does the Time Traveler do to convince his guests that his demonstration is no trick?

The time traveler decides one of the people should do something to prove he wasn’t crazy. He told the psychologist to pull the lever. The other people were still dubious, so the time traveler discovered what he needed to do to prove his claim of time travel. He showed a bigger portion of the time machine to them.

How does Wells hook the reader into turning to the next chapter?

Wells hooks the reader by creating suspense and making the reader want to read more about how the time traveler’s adventures to the future progressed. In my opinion, I did not want to read the chapter because his book is boring, but I read it anyway.

Chapter 2:

Characterize – Used to highlight and describe characters in the story.

1. How does Wells characterize the Time Traveler to make his audience doubt him?

Wells characterizes the time traveler as too clever to be believable (Chapter 2, page 15). People felt as if they couldn’t see him all the way through, such as him acting as if he knows something others do not. Over all the time traveler gives a sense of mystery and suspense in being built in the reader.

2. Why does Wells wait so long to have the Time Traveler tell his story after he staggers into the room?

Wells has the time traveler wait to tell his story because he is building suspense. Wells is withholding information about the traveler’s findings which is making the reader want to continue reading. Wells could be trying to actively engage the reader and grasp attention.

3. How does Wells create a sense of suspense?

Wells creates suspense by holing in valuable information. The time traveler enters through the door and the Medical worker states that he is injured and needs tending. He also states that he needs to change his clothes. Wells creates more suspense by having the time traveler tell everyone he needs to eat. The traveler says they need to be in the smoking room in order for him to tell the story. Wells creates multiple scenarios to push off the story telling.

Chapter 3:

Character Traits – A personality characteristic.

1. How does the Time Traveler describe the sensations of time travel?

The time traveler describes the sensation of time Travel as many things. The time traveler says it feels as if he is in a nightmare where he is continuously falling (page 18 on Kindle). He compares it to a suicide because of the ongoing anticipation of what will happen next. On page 19 (on The Time Machine), the time traveler says he cannot fully express the sensations of time traveler. What he can say is the time travel sensations were overly vexatious. As you can see the time travel experience could be considered as disoriented and a never-ending torture.

2. What new fear occurs to him while he is traveling?

The new fears that occurs in the time traveler as he time travels is stopping. He is afraid that if he stops, he will explode into nothingness (page 20 on The Time Machine). He also doesn’t want any new sensations from time travel to happen because it might be threatening to his life. To me, time travel seems to come with a set of fears that might not be avoidable. In the end, the time traveler says it all eventually goes away and new set of fears begin.

3. What are the Time Traveler's first impressions of the future?

The tine traveler’s first impression of the future is amazed. While he is traveling in the machine, he sees buildings being made and torn down, trees growing and changing. He mentions how strange humans' development have become. He says they are astonishing to look upon as well. The time traveler compares the architecture to his own. When the time traveler stops, he is blown away from the plants and left-over buildings. In conclusion, he is astonished.

4. How would you respond if you were him?

If I were the time traveler, I would not be as brave. A part of my mind would tell me to explore but the other side would try to find a way to get out of there because I wouldn’t know what is beyond the time machine. In summary, I would do whatever was humanly possible to get back to my time.

5. What character traits have you noticed about the Time Traveler?

The traits I have noticed about the time traveler is his bravery and cleverness. Of course, his intellectual level was high from the beginning, but it is still a reoccurring trait that I have noticed. When I say the traveler is brave, I am specifically outlining his willingness to exit the time machine into an unknown world. I, myself, would not do this, but I suppose the time traveler’s want to explore is in his nature. Above all, the time traveler can be categorized as many things, and these are the few that stood out to me.

6. What kind of person is he?

The time traveler is a very intelligent man. He is a great inventor, which considers him to be patient as well. The time traveler is a man with a lot of discipline and probably didn’t have many friends in high school. Many could say he loved to learn because of his exploration in time travel and science. In general, he is smart and wants to get things done.

Chapter 4:

Academic vocabulary: civilization – Large communities of people.

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1. How do the people he meets respond to the Time Traveler?

When the people met the Time Traveler, they wanted to make sure he was real. As a result, they started to touch him (Page 24, The Time Machine). After they checked to see if he was real, they gave him some food. They were curious creatures that might not have trusted their minds enough. In the end, they checked him out, then feed him.

2. What conclusions can you make about these people because they show no fear?

The conclusion I can make about these people because they show no fear is that they are not the smartest people. They could have been killed if it weren’t the time traveler. I think they don’t know what to fear because they haven’t been taught or surrounding by people who are fearful. They also had no conflict in this world. In conclusion, these people might want to take different approaches and think about the outcome more.

3. What is different about the people from what he expected to find in the future?

The time traveler expected their intelligence to be more advanced since he was in the future (Page 26, The Time Machine). He compared talking to them as talking to a five-year-old child because one of the people asked him if he came from the sun in a thunderstorm (Page 26, The Time Machine). Later, the time traveler stated that he felt like he made the time machine in vain. In summary, the intelligence of the people was not of expectance and a disappointment to the time traveler.

4. What does the general age and poor state of the buildings indicate about the civilization?

The age and state of the buildings indicated they have not been restored or tended through the years. New buildings were not a priority to these people. However, it seems these people take care of the gardens (Page 27, The Time Machine). They did not trim them but removed weeds, which prevented root blockage making the plants and flowers grow. In short, the people seemed to care more about the plants and flowers rather than building restoration.

5. What do you think of the Time Traveler's statements about the role of men and women in a family? How do they reflect the thinking of his time?

The time traveler says that men have strength and women have softness (Page 31, The Time Machine). I agree with this statement because men are stronger than women, whereas women are gentler than men. Their qualities work in concert to provide for their offspring and create a balance. Back in his time, women would clean, cook, reproduce, and take care of the children. Women have jobs around the house, but they did not have jobs like men. They were enlisted to the military, hunted, etc. As can be seen, women are more of a gentle being, and men are the tough ones.

6. What does the Time Traveler feel is an unexpected consequence of a civilization that has conquered all want?

The time traveler feels that laziness and lack of interest is an unexpected consequence of a civilization that has conquered all of its wants (Page 32-33, The Time Machine). Meaning people being lazy and not showing interest has ruined their civilization because all they conquered was theirs wants, and not their needs. He also says that no competition in that world leads to no strength. To sum up, these people could have been lazy and indifferent because there was no competition.

7. What possible bad consequences can you think of that would result from what looks like good technology (eliminating disease, lengthening the life span, eliminating poverty, etc.)?

A bad consequence I can think of that would result from what looks like good technology can be causing a distraction. For example, a phone can cause a distraction to students while they are working from home during this pandemic. Because technologies advancement, kids have become addicted to phones, tablets, and laptops. This addiction can ruin their focus in school causing bad grades in the future, and possibly resulting in low paying jobs when they exit school or drop out. If you have a low paying job, bills could be a problem and cause the former student to become homeless. In the end, all technology has a downside because of what they do to people, but some can be very beneficial.

8. Would you like to live in this future?

I would not like to live in that future because I don’t want to be as gentle as an Eloi or rough as a Morlock. I like where I am today and keeping it that would be sufficient. Not to mention I would want to learn and strive to be smart. If I did not speak English, reading books and learning would be a challenge. In the long run, I like where I am, and don’t want it to change that drastically.

9. Why does Wells have the Time Traveler tell the readers that his ideas at this time about the future were wrong?

Wells has the time traveler tell the reader his ideas are wrong because it hooks the reader to read the next chapter. The reason the reader might get hooked is because they would want to find out why he is wrong. Some would read on to clarify if he really stated he was wrong. As a result, people get hooked and continue reading the next chapter.

Chapter 5:

Academic vocabulary: foreshadow - The writer gives a hint as to what will happen next.

1. How does the Time Traveler respond to the loss of his time ship?

The time traveler responds to losing the machine by running and jumping because he didn’t want the truth to be real. While he ran and leaped, he fell and scratched his face but continued running. He cursed as he ran, and he cried aloud but no response was given. The time traveler released his angry by punching a bush until he bled (Page 39, The Time Machine). He sobbed. Without any awareness to his surroundings, the time traveler tripped and nearly hurt himself again. The time traveler accused the people of taking his machine. He shook them and bawled when he received no answer. Given these points, the time traveler was acting irrational as a result of losing his way home.

2. What does the discovery of the wells with mechanical noises coming from them indicate about this world?

The discovery of the wells with mechanical noises coming from them indicated there was a system that the people created (Page 44, The Time Machine). As a result, the people were smarter than they led to be. The time traveler denied that theory. In brief, the time traveler realized they were smart, but misleading.

3. Why does the Time Traveler go to some lengths to tell the readers he knew very little about this world?

I think the time traveler goes to some lengths to tell the readers he knows very little about that world because his theories are proven wrong. He was offering an explanation as to why he was wrong about many things. For the most part, the time traveler was explaining why his theories were wrong.

4. What is the character of Weena like? What is her relationship with the Time Traveler?

Weena is a friendly creature who affected the time traveler like “a child would,” (Page 47, The Time Machine). The time traveler says Weena was like a child because the Behavorial alignment of always wanted to be with someone and in this case Weena always wanted to be with the time traveler. The nature of Weena’s relationship with the time traveler was a friendship base. Although, the time traveler says he was carrying on with a miniature amount of flirtation (Page 47, The Time Machine). Overall, they became very close and Wenna’s sweet, angelic nature drew the time traveler into her.

5. What new elements of conflict are introduced in this chapter?

The new elements of conflict are introduced is this chapter consist of the traveler starting to see the Morlocks (Page 49, The Time Machine). That is a conflict because he thinks he will get eaten which is erupting fear in him. Fear opens the door to sloppy decisions. Another conflict in this chapter is the time machine missing. Now he has no way to go back home. For the most part, he has lost his way home and encountered beings that have proven to be life threatening.

6. How does Wells foreshadow upcoming events and create a sense of foreboding?

Wells foreshadows upcoming events by stated information that will create the obvious outcome. For example, the time traveler comes across creatures who only come out at night. Before that, the traveler discovered the wells with noises coming out of the which proved there were more living creatures. The wells were dark as well. Altogether, those points connect creating a foreshadow because when you read about the wells and noises you know more people made the mechanical engines in there. Proving the “night creatures” most likely live in there.

7. What new theory about the people does the Time Traveler make to explain what he's seen?

The new theory the time traveler creates about the people to explain what he witnessed was that they had sensitive eyes causing them only to come out at night (Page 53-54, The Time Machine). That would explain their habitat which was a dark deep tunnel. He claimed that this was also a new species, other than the Eloi.

8. Do you think the gulf between the rich and the poor the Time Traveler talks about exists today?

Sadly, I think the gulf between the rich and the poor still exist today. I think it exists in multiple ways. One being housing, jobs, stuff that satisfies your want. The most important on to me, is God. The people who accept him are the richest people alive whereas the people who deny him are poor. Overall, people can be rich in money and housing, but poor in the acceptance of God, and vis versa for people with no money or housing.