Rendezvous with Rama

The Hermian ambassador uses his political position to justify an act of aggression against Rama. What are some real-world parallels to this event? What connections might readers draw between the Hermian ambassador’s justification and the stated motivations for such aggression in the real world?

Comment on the significance of naming an alien object or vessel after a major Hindu deity. How does this drive Rama’s thematic symbolism? Use textual evidence to develop an argument.

Discuss the irony behind the apparent absence of the Ramans. How might Clarke be using this narrative condition to raise ideas about religion and faith?

To what extent is Jimmy’s decision to pick the Raman flower justifiable? Expand your argument to a larger discussion on “private property” in the context of “discovery.” Does finding something automatically make it yours?

Compare and contrast the simps and the biots. How do they serve their respective civilizations? Do their servile functions raise any ethical issues? If so, describe them. Include textual evidence.

Discuss the novel through a feminist lens. How does the gender bias against Laura Ernst reinforce the novel’s position on power dynamics? How else does this bias manifest throughout the novel? Incorporate textual evidence.

How does Clarke use world building to underscore the novel’s themes concerning wonder and understanding? Focus not on Rama but on the way the author envisions the future of the human world. What differences exist between today’s worldviews and those of the novel’s characters? How does setting influence these differences?

Clarke’s authorial style relies heavily on scientific realism. Do you think this approach distances readers from the story he’s trying to tell? Develop and defend an argument by considering other ways to approach the depiction of a speculative world.