English 4 Semester 2

Unit 1 – Exploring Shortcomings of Humanity through

Dystopian Literature

“Repent, Harlequin! Said the TickTockMan”Reading Questions

(28 points)

Directions: Answer seven (7) of the following ten (10) study questions thoroughly and
in complete sentences (4 points each). Include textual evidence for at least one (1)
of your responses, and highlight or underline the textual evidence in your response.
1. Harlan Ellison begins his short story with a quotation from Henry David Thoreau’s
“Civil Disobedience.” Explain the main idea expressed in this quotation.
The quotation from Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" expresses the idea that
individuals have a responsibility to disobey unjust laws and authority when it
conflicts with their own sense of morality and conscience. The quote emphasizes the
importance of standing up for one's beliefs, even in the face of societal pressure to
conform.
2. At the top of page two, the narrator compares the rebel Harlequin to “a Bolivar; A
Napoleon; A Robin Hood; a Dick Bong (Ace of Aces); a Jesus; a Jomo Kenyatta.”
Using your knowledge of these people and/or the internet, explain why the
Harlequin is compared to these people.
The narrator compares the rebel Harlequin to historical and fictional figures who are known
for their rebellious actions and their defiance against established authority. Bolivar and
Napoleon were revolutionary leaders who fought against oppressive regimes, Robin Hood
was a legendary outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor, Dick Bong was an
American fighter pilot who set a record for aerial victories during World War II, Jesus was a
religious figure who challenged the authority of the established religious order, and Jomo
Kenyatta was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist who fought against British colonial rule. All of
these figures share a similar theme of challenging authority and standing up for what they
believed was right, which is also what the Harlequin does in the story.

3. Who is the Ticktockman? What is his role in this story?

The Ticktockman is a government official who serves as the ultimate enforcer of the
strict time-management system in a futuristic society where time is the primary
measure of productivity and social conformity. He is the antagonist in the story, and
his role is to maintain order and conformity by punishing those who deviate from the
 rigid schedule and expectations of the society. The Harlequin's rebellion against the
Ticktockman's authority is the central conflict of the story.
4. In the first sentence at the top of page five, Ellison writes for the first time, “So it
goes.” He repeats “so it goes” eight times on page five of the story. Reread the
entire page, and then explain why you think he continues to repeat this phrase?
What is he trying to tell us about the people in this story? (Hint, read the entire
paragraph at the bottom of the page that begins, “And so it goes. And so it goes.
And so it goes. And so it goes, goes, goes...”)
Ellison repeats the phrase "so it goes" to emphasize the routine and monotonous
nature of the society depicted in the story, and to convey a sense of resignation and
hopelessness among the people. The repetition suggests that people have become
accustomed to the oppressive time-management system and have lost the will to
resist or rebel against it. The paragraph at the bottom of page five reinforces this
idea by showing that people are willing to accept even the most extreme
punishments for nonconformity because they have been conditioned to believe that
the Ticktockman's authority is absolute and unchallengeable.
5. At the bottom of page seven and continuing on page eight, the narrator digresses
from the story of the Harlequin to tell you what is happening to another citizen -
Marshall Delahanty. Why do you think Ellison chooses to tell you about this man?
How could this connect to the Harlequin?
Ellison includes the story of Marshall Delahanty to demonstrate the severity of the
consequences for even the smallest deviation from the strict time-management
system in the society depicted in the story. As the narrator states, "the office of the
Ticktockman blanked his cardioplate, and Marshall Delahanty keeled over, running,
and his heart stopped, and the blood dried up on its way to his brain, and he was
dead that's all". This emphasis on the unforgiving nature of the society's system
connects to the story of the Harlequin by highlighting the risks he faces for his
rebellion against the Ticktockman's authority, which could result in a similar fate.
6. When the Harlequin (aka Everett C. Marm) is finally caught, how does the
Ticktockman threaten him? How does the Harlequin react?
When the Harlequin is finally caught, the Ticktockman threatens him with
"everlasting death" and promises to make an example of him for daring to challenge
the established order. The Harlequin responds defiantly, proclaiming that he has
achieved his goal of disrupting the society's rigid schedule and urging others to
continue his rebellion. He accepts his fate, confident that his actions have already
inspired others to resist and challenge the Ticktockman's authority.
7. Does the Harlequin fail or succeed? Be sure to defend your answer with textual
evidence from the story.
The Harlequin both succeeds and fails in his rebellion. He achieves his goal of
disrupting the society's strict schedule and challenging the Ticktockman's authority,
but ultimately fails in that he is caught and executed, and the Ticktockman's
authority remains intact. While the rebellion inspires others to resist, the oppressive
society remains in place, and the people continue to conform to the strict schedule.