Week 2- DiscussionWeek 2- Discussion Questions
Please try to keep your responses to the first three chapters (even if you have read more). Or put a "spoiler alert" with your comment if you have read further and feel it's necessary to add additional information from later chapters. Chapter 1: Robot Friend
In Chapter 1 Robbie becomes a companion for Gloria. a) Explain how Asimov humanizes the robot with specific references to the actions of both the robot and Gloria. b) If you were in Gloria’s position describe how you would react if your parents denied you seeing your friend or pet. Chapter 2: 3 Rules of Robotics In Chapter 2 Powell and Donovan need Speedy’s help to survive. However, the robot faces a problem with the logic of the 3 rules of robotics. a) In what way is the conflict in this chapter representative of a moral dilemma? b) Describe a situation in your life where you have been confronted with a similar moral or ethical problem (to help or not to help). Chapters 1-3: Connections a) Describe some connections you can make to Civics based on the first three chapters. b) Explain how the human and robot relationship begins to change in Chapter 3. c) Can you make any predications of events that may start to happen? |
Week 2- OrganizationCharacter Chart
Main characters throughout the book
Chapters 1-5 Susan Calvin- Robo-Psychologist/ Narrator 1- Robbie Note: Little girl loses her robot friend Robbie (robot), Gloria (little girl) Mr & Mrs. Weston (Gloria's parents) 2- Runaround Note: Speedy introduces 3 robot law Speedy (robot) Gregory Powell & Mike Donovan (testers Mercury mining) 3- Reason Note: Replace humans & work for master Cutie (QT model robot/ with photo electric cells for eyes) Powell & Donovan (testers on space station) 4- Catch the Rabbit Note: Subordinate robots/ asteroid mining/ strange dancing Dave (DV-5, master robot, 7 feet tall with 6 subs) Powell & Donovan (testers for 5 years) 5- Liar Note: Herbie lies to help people's feelings Herbie (RB 34 robot, interested in human motives & emotions) Susan Calvin (older) Alfred Lanning (white hair, cigar, grey eyebrows) Peter Bogart (Black hair, mathematician) Milton Ashe (Youngest office in US Robot inc) Main characters throughout the book
Chapters 6-9 6- Little Lost Robot Note: 63/62 Robots, unbreakable first law Nestor 10 (NS-2 robot who vanishes) Susan Calvin, Peter Bogart (Bogie) Major General Kallner Gerald Black (half rebellious, stocky, told robot "go lose yourself") 7- Escape! Note: Interstellar travel (death & re-birth) The Brain (thinking machine/ robot) Alfred Lanning (75 years old, now director emeritus) Powell & Donovan (trapped in a ship) New characters: Abe Levver, Robertson 8- Evidence Note: Robot mayor(?) Civic law Stephen Byerley (district attorney/ mayor 2032/ possible robot ?) Francis Quinn (Politician of the New School, investigates Byerley, tells Lanning Byerley is a robot) Susan Calvin (thinks a robot would eat and sleep as a humaniod) 9- The Evitable Conflict Note: Economics/ Final War Stephen Byerley (now World Co-ordinator) Vincent Silver (Director of US Robots) Lanning & Bogie are now dead |