Bladerunner Novel and Film Comparison

Group Study Questions

Assignment: in groups, use the following guidelines to analyze the literary/dramatic elements and identify the novel and film's dominant themes. Work as a group to compile your findings into typed answers; prepare to share your findings with the class; provide enough copies of your group’s final typed findings for everyone in the group and for the teacher.  Provide quotes from the novel and cite page numbers.

Ecce Homo

What specific, standard qualities separate/characterize the androids and humans?

In what ways are these qualities the same in the text/film?  In what ways are these qualities different in the text/film?

How do these qualities lead to a definition of what it means to be “human”?

What examples in the text or film support this definition?  That is, where does the novel and/or film show this definition to be accurate or "true"?

What examples in the text or film challenge this definition? That is, where does the novel and/or film show this definition to be faulty; where does the novel and/or film seem to actually offer a critique of this definition?

In your own opinion, are these defining characteristics somewhat valid within the context of the novel and/or film?

In your own opinion, are these defining characteristics somewhat valid in the context of reality? What real-life situations, historical events or examples can you think of to support these fictional definitions, qualities, characteristics etc.? What real life situations challenge them? 

“In the course of human events. . . .”

What motivates the androids to rebel and/or murder? That is, what is the context within which the androids act?

In what ways are these motivations the same in the text/film?  In what ways are these motivations different in the text/film?

What moral or ethical assumptions either support (justify) and/or challenge (condemn) the actions of the androids?

What real-life situations, historical events or examples can you think of to support these assumptions? What real life situations etc. challenge them?

What motivates the humans to “retire” the androids? What is the context within which the humans act?

Again, compare the text and film in relation to motivation and context.

What moral or ethical assumptions either support (justify) and/or challenge (condemn) the actions of the humans?

What real-life situations, historical events or examples can you think of to support these assumptions? What real life situations etc. challenge them?

The Verdict

Based on the analysis you've presented above:

Are the androids’ actions justified? Are the androids’ actions justifiable in certain contexts; what would these contexts be? What assumptions must one make to either support or condemn your judgment of these actions?

Are the humans’ actions justified? Are the humans’ actions justifiable in certain contexts; what would these contexts be? What assumptions must one make to either support or condemn your judgment of these actions?