The Day of the Triffids

Compare Bill, Coker, Miss Durrant, and Beadley. What are their objectives? How are they similar in their goals for human survival? How are they different?

Bill struggles with loneliness while searching for Josella. Explain his concept of loneliness, and why he feels sorrier for those who are alone than he does for those who are now blind?

There are several temporary settlements in The Day of the Triffids, including Tynsham and University Building. List these settlements, describe their makeup and who inhabits them, and explain their fate.

Bill’s coworker, Walter, says he would bet on a triffid over a blind human. Why does he say this? What is Walter’s—and later Bill’s—assessment about sight as it relates to humankind’s survival?

The Day of the Triffids is considered a science fiction classic and a dystopian narrative. What are some common genre tropes in the book that lend themselves to science fiction and/or dystopian narratives?

Who is Dr. Vorless? What is his view on procreation, and how does it relate to Josella, Bill, and the other survivors in Beadley’s group?

Who is the redheaded man Bill views as dangerous when they first meet, and who does he become? Do you agree with his method of restoring order at the end of the narrative?

Explain the evolution of Bill and Josella’s relationship. How are they similar, and how does Josella act as a foil to Bill and his original concept of morality?