Childhood’s End

Chapter 1 – Pages 3-8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8avAc9LWms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8avAc9LWms

Answer in your notebooks

1. Who are the two most important characters in this section? Give specific information describing/characterizing them. Why are they the most important characters?

2. What are the two characters doing in this section? What is their goal? What is similar and different about their situations?

3. What causes them to abandon their goal? What do they realize? About themselves? Their societies/cultures? Humanity?

Read the “Sputnik and the Space Race” article.

1. Who/what is Sputnik? What is its significance?

2. How did Americans feel and react after Sputnik?

3. What elements of the Space Race do you see in pages 3-8 of Childhood’s End?

4. The novel was written in 1953. What is remarkable about it in relation to this article?

5. Science Fiction is a genre that takes what is known about science, technology, the world, etc. and develops its possibilities. Where is that evident in this section? Describe your thoughts.

Schaff, Marta. "Sputnik & The Space Race." Sputnik & The Space Race (2009): 1. Middle Search Plus. Web. 22 Jan. 2013.

Read the Article.

Schaff, Marta. "Sputnik & The Space Race." Sputnik & The Space Race (2009): 1. Middle Search Plus. Web. 22 Jan. 2013.

Pages 8-161. Which characters are we introduced to? Give as many

details possible describing them.

2. What seems to be the emerging conflict for people of the Earth in this section?

3. Describe the arrival of the Overlords. What is the mood? Describe with specific examples and quotes.

4. What do you think prompted Clarke to write a story about Overlords coming to the Earth?

5. What questions do you have about the text so far?

End of Chapter 2

1. What overwhelmingly positive benefits did the Overlords bring to Earth?

2. Weigh the benefits and costs of their coming to the Earth.

They brought ________ at the expense of _________. The pros are _______, the cons are ________.

3. What do you think Clarke is saying about humanity? Give specific examples and quotes to support your opinion.