THE BOOK THAT SAVED THE EARTH
The Book That Saved The Earth Theme
The play is primarily about half-fed knowledge being dangerous. It is a story about the old book
of rhymes, Mother Goose, that managed to save the world from the Martian invasion. The play is
based in the 25th century, and the historians take the readers to the twentieth century.
The Book That Saved The Earth Character Sketch
Think-Tank is from Mars and has a large oval head. His gown is embellished with stars and
circles. He thinks of himself as the most powerful and intelligent creature in all of the universe.
He commands his team around and likes to be praised for his intelligence. He thinks that books
are sandwiches. He constantly boasts of his intelligence and wisdom, however, he does not make
any decisions. He assumes that he is Humpty and that Earthlings plan on killing him. He thinks
that the Earthlings are already familiar with him and would destroy him. He postpones the
invasion, evacuates Mars, and leaves no traces behind. In fear, he goes away as far away as
possible.
Noodle is Think-Tank’s apprentice and an intelligent creature. He is very modest. He makes all
the decisions and gives his boss the credit. He uses his wisdom and logic and identifies that
books are forms of communication. He is a great leader. Over five hundred years later, as a
commander, he manages to create a good relationship between the Martians and the people of
Earth.
The Book That Saved The Earth Analysis Key Points
Written by Claire Bioko, the play is about an imaginary world. The characters are Think-Tank,
Noodle, Omega, Oop, etc. These are Martian living beings from the twentieth century. The
characters came to the Earth with the plan of invading it. They reach a library and misinterpret
books for sandwiches. They try to understand the rhymes in a book. They assumed that they
were in danger and left instantly. Just a children’s rhyme book saved the Earth from an invasion.
Reference to Context
Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow:
I. Noodle : (bowing) O Great and Mighty Think-Tank, most powerful and intelligent creature in
the whole universe, what are your orders?
Think-Tank : (peevishly) You left out part of my salutation, Apprentice Noodle. Go over the
whole thing again.
(a) Who is Noodle?
(b) What does the extract reveal about Think-Tank?
(c) Find a word from the extract which means ‘feeling or showing nutation’.
(d) What is the opposite of ‘powerful’?
II.Iota: I can’t figure it out, Captain. (holding up a book) I’ve counted two thousand of these
peculiar items.
This place must be some sort of storage barn.
(a) What could Iota not figure out?
(b) Where was Iota?
(c) Find the antonym of the word ‘ordinary’ in the extract.
(d) What part of speech is ‘peculiar’ as used in the extract?
Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words)
1. Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How
does he manage to do that?
2. How Does Think-Tank compare the Martians with the people on Earth? What does he
call the Earth mockingly?
3. Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
Long Answer Type Questions ( 50-60 words)
1. How did the relations between the Earthlings and the Martians improve in the
twenty-fifth century?
2. Half of knowledge is dangerous. It never helps to achieve success. Discuss how
incomplete knowledge can lead to disaster in reference to the lesson “The Book That
Saved the Earth’.
3. How do the three nursery rhymes frighten Think-Tank in the play, ‘The Book That Saved
the Earth’?
HOTS (60-80 words)
Do you think books are being replaced by electronic media? Can we do away with books
altogether?
