Your Name

Your e-mail address

1. In her first chapter, Murray historicizes the anxiety inspired today by digital/virtual representation by comparing it to fears in the past about other representational technologies that were new in their times. Name one of these old technologies and explain why the fear it once inspired is parallel to the anxiety caused by digital technologies.

2. On page 24, Murray asks, "Will the literature of cyberspace be continuous with the literary traditions of the Beowulf poet, Shakespeare, and Charlotte Bronte..., or will it be the dehumanizing and addictive sensation machine predicted by the dystopians?" In the rest of the chapter, then, how does Murray characterize these literary traditions? In other words, what do we look for in the literature of cyberspace to say whether its continuous with tradition or not?

3. At the bottom of page 29, Murray begins "our survey of the harbingers of the holodeck." Name and give the page number of the most significant or vivid example of these harbingers (pages 30-64). Briefly explain your choice and how it speaks to the issues raised in either of the questions above.

4. At the bottom page of page 28, Murray observes that "the traditions of storytelling...feed into one another." How is this true of her example of Malory's 1470 Morte d'Arthur?

5. Looking at your answer for #4, explain how the same might be true of the "harbinger" you discussed in your answer to #3.