Practice Questions for Thomas Mores Utopia

1. Examine structure, setting, characterisation and satire in Utopia.

What tone does this create? How does this influence the readers view
of the narrative?
2. Examine social issues in Books 1 and 2 of Utopia which affect the
daily lives of individuals. Judge how successful More is in creating
an impression of what life might have been like for a person in his
own world and in the imaginary world of Utopia. Issues can include
living conditions, education, sex, marriage, divorce, reproduction,
child rearing, health, religion, travel, recreation, the class system, the
law, politics, war and any others you consider relevant.
3. How does More use economic issues in Books 1 and 2 of Utopia to
help create a view of society and the daily lives of individuals? You
should examine issues such as money, wealth, poverty, possessions,
employment, training, industry, agriculture, housing, trade,
consumption, and any other you consider relevant.
4. How do the characters in Utopia help to influence your view of
Mores real and imaginary worlds? How successful in More in using
the characters to involve the reader in the narrative? Examine
how More portrays their personality, relationships, morals and
attitudes to society and social issues.
5. Examine the wider social issues in Utopia. How does More use these
issues to create an impression of what society was like in his own
world and in the imaginary world of Utopia? You should include
politics, national government, organisation of towns, religion, law,
foreign relations and war, the class system and any other relevant
issues.