Curated set · answers marked
In Station Eleven, the motto of the Traveling Symphony — which is also displayed on their lead caravan — comes from which of the following works?
Rationale
The Traveling Symphony's motto — "Survival is insufficient" — is actually a line borrowed from the TV series Star Trek: Voyager, but the group puts on Shakespeare's plays, and the caravan features this motto. Specifically, the phrase "Survival is insufficient" is credited in the novel to Star Trek. Throughout the story, the Symphony performs various works by Shakespeare, with The Tempest being one of the most symbolically significant productions highlighted.
What pandemic leads to the downfall of civilization in Station Eleven?
Rationale
The novel depicts a deadly strain of influenza called the "Georgian Flu," which spreads globally, wiping out most of the human population and resulting in the collapse of contemporary society. The narrative follows the survivors two decades later as they adapt to a world devoid of electricity, governments, and internet access.