Project Hail Mary

Throughout the novel, characters must make difficult choices and sacrifices for humanity’s survival. Discuss the ethical implications of key decisions and their consequences on the characters and the mission. Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• Examine the concept of utilitarianism in Project Hail Mary. How do characters grapple with sacrificing lives or deliberately harming the environment for the greater good?
• What are the key instances of sacrifice in the story? Analyze the characters and the motivations behind the sacrifices they make.
• Analyze the consequences of the sacrifices made in the novel. How do these sacrifices impact the characters’ mental and emotional well-being?
• Explore the conflicts and tensions that arise between individual desires and collective survival. What internal struggles do characters face in having to choose between them?

Teaching Suggestion: As students process the end of the book, encourage reflection and discussion on the theme of Survival, Sacrifice, and the Utilitarian Good, perhaps through a Socratic dialogue. The characters risk everything for humanity’s survival and persevere despite setbacks along the way. Students might put themselves in the characters’ place; would they have been able to set their own fears aside to sacrifice for the greater good?

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or students with anxiety, processing differences, or other learning differences, a handout or graphic organizer that includes the bulleted questions and sentence frames might be helpful in brainstorming and organizing ideas.