Henry Bemis's Struggles and Ambitions

Henry Bemis, a man with a deep desire to read, finds himself in a world where time is finally on his side after a catastrophic event. However, his joy is short-lived when his glasses break, leaving him unable to read the books he longed for. The story explores themes of ambition, isolation, and the cruel irony of fate.

What was Henry Bemis's simple ambition?

• To invent a new technology

• To travel the world

• To read a book from start to finish

• To become a bank manager

What were the two main constraints in Henry's life?

• His friends and his hobbies

• His education and his finances

• His job and his health

• His wife and his employer

What physical condition affected Henry's ability to read?

• Asthma

• Deafness

• Myopia

• Arthritis

Where was Henry when the catastrophic event occurred?

• At home

• In the park

• At a restaurant

• In the bank vault

What did Henry hear when the disaster struck?

• A phone ringing

• A siren

• Complete silence

• A loud explosion

What was Henry's first concern after the disaster?

• His car

• His job

• Finding food

• His glasses

What did Henry find in the bank lobby after the disaster?

• A pile of money

• Huddled lumps of unpleasantness

• A group of survivors

• A working telephone

What did Henry remember about Agnes during his journey?

• Her dislike for television

• Her love for reading

• Her cooking skills

• Her bridge nights with the Joneses

What was Henry's reaction to the destroyed library?

• Anger

• Despair

• Joy

• Indifference

What ultimately shattered Henry's hope to read?

• The lack of electricity

• His broken glasses

• The loss of his job

• The destruction of the library