52 pages • 1 hour read
Dan SimmonsHyperion
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1989A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
In an interview with Writers Write, Simmons denied that Hyperion is an attack on organized religions (White, Claire E. “A Conversation With Dan Simmons.” Writerswrite.com). Does the book support this? How does Hyperion portray organized religion? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
The tales within the novel feature different genres and styles, all within a science fiction framework. How is character development impacted by having the pilgrims tell separate tales? How does character development work alongside the novel’s worldbuilding?
Which characters are less developed than others, and how so? What purpose do these lesser-developed characters serve? Cite examples from the text.
What does the Shrike represent to each of the pilgrims? To the Ousters? The Hegemony? Why do these different interpretations exist? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Research the life and poems of John Keats, especially Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion. How do his poems illuminate the novel, its characters, and conflict? How do his poems illuminate the character of Johnny?
How does the novel present the impact of colonialism on indigenous life?
What are some of the novel’s allusions to Greek mythology and Shakespeare? How do they add to the story?
Brawne Lamia says: “None of us except maybe the Colonel there is exactly a leading citizen. We’ve all been kicked around by forces beyond our control” (473). Does the novel support that none but the Colonel are “leading citizens?” Which of the pilgrims has or had more control over the forces at play? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Throughout the text, Simmons hints at the Consul’s background and demeanor. We also see the other pilgrims largely through his eyes. Identify these clues and others’ perceptions and explain what they suggest about the Consul. How do these characteristics match up with his story?
What do the novel’s events suggest will happen when the pilgrims go to the Time Tombs and face the Shrike? Base your answer on evidence from the text.
