Ishmael Study Questions
Chapter 1 1. How are people like severed fingers from a hand?
People are like severed fingers from a hand because they cannot function alone. They need their main component (the palm) to work correctly.
2. How are people not like severed fingers from a hand?
People are not like severed fingers from a hand because they are individuals with their own ideas and personalities; they need a ruler, but they don’t necessarily have to be controlled.
3. What does it mean for a teacher to fail?
If the student fails, the teacher fails. If the teacher cannot compel the student to do something, to use his own mind to solve a problem, then he has failed because the student was not successful.
4. How is being a captive similar to being lied to?
Being captive, in the perspective of an animal taken from its habitat, is similar to being lied to in the sense that the animal would not realize he is captive. He would just think, “Oh, there’s something wrong here, but I don’t quite know what it is.” He would be in a different place that doesn’t seem right, but he must accept it because it is the only way he knows to live.
5. Why is it important that Ishmael’s student have no one he considers an appropriate teacher?
It is important that the student has no one he considers an appropriate teacher because he needs to have an open mind. His teacher is a gorilla after all, and if the student had a predisposition towards a human teacher, then he probably would not embrace the teachings of Ishmael.
Chapter 2 1. How are you held captive?
I am a captive to Mother Culture, who has been whispering myths in my ear my entire life. Ever since I was born, I have been told the story of Mother Culture and am now held captive by this story.
2. What vocabulary, maps, and definitions would you pack in a bag to tell this story?
I would pack a map of the ancient world (Mesopotamia), my AP World vocabulary (plus Mother Culture) and Ishmael’s definitions of Takers
People are like severed fingers from a hand because they cannot function alone. They need their main component (the palm) to work correctly.
2. How are people not like severed fingers from a hand?
People are not like severed fingers from a hand because they are individuals with their own ideas and personalities; they need a ruler, but they don’t necessarily have to be controlled.
3. What does it mean for a teacher to fail?
If the student fails, the teacher fails. If the teacher cannot compel the student to do something, to use his own mind to solve a problem, then he has failed because the student was not successful.
4. How is being a captive similar to being lied to?
Being captive, in the perspective of an animal taken from its habitat, is similar to being lied to in the sense that the animal would not realize he is captive. He would just think, “Oh, there’s something wrong here, but I don’t quite know what it is.” He would be in a different place that doesn’t seem right, but he must accept it because it is the only way he knows to live.
5. Why is it important that Ishmael’s student have no one he considers an appropriate teacher?
It is important that the student has no one he considers an appropriate teacher because he needs to have an open mind. His teacher is a gorilla after all, and if the student had a predisposition towards a human teacher, then he probably would not embrace the teachings of Ishmael.
Chapter 2 1. How are you held captive?
I am a captive to Mother Culture, who has been whispering myths in my ear my entire life. Ever since I was born, I have been told the story of Mother Culture and am now held captive by this story.
2. What vocabulary, maps, and definitions would you pack in a bag to tell this story?
I would pack a map of the ancient world (Mesopotamia), my AP World vocabulary (plus Mother Culture) and Ishmael’s definitions of Takers