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Honors English II - Summer Reading

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Study Guide: Ender’s Game

Why are you reading this book?

This book is a strong example of the science fiction genre in a dystopian future world. It covers many themes including technology and morality, bullying and violence, family discord, gaming with computers and virtual reality, leadership, as well as government control and manipulation.

You will examine this novel using the archetype of the Hero’s Journey. Your answers need not be in complete sentences unless it specifically states that.

Students who complete this study guide will be permitted to use the study guide during parts of the Summer Reading Test given in class the first week of school. The test format will be a combination of multiple choice questions and written-response questions.

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The Hero's Journey Archetype

Background: Joseph Campbell was an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer. In his study of the myth of the hero, Campbell posited the existence of a monomyth (a word he borrowed from James Joyce): a universal pattern that is the essence of, and common to, heroic tales in every culture. Below is an outline of the basic stages of this mythic cycle.

SEPARATION/DEPARTURE

1 . The Call to Adventure - Something happens to send the hero in a new direction 2. Refusal of the Call - Sometimes s/he refuses to go (might be afraid, feel like s/he can’t leave responsibilities, or might not feel strong enough or smart enough to start an adventure) 3. Supernatural Aid - A guide/magical helper/special “other being” appears to provide help 4. The Crossing of the First Threshold - The hero leaves his/her familiar life and goes into places with new, unknown rules

INITIATION

5. The Belly of the Whale- represents the final separation from the hero’s known world, the person shows a willingness to undergo a metamorphosis 6. The Road of Trials – The hero undergoes a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals 7. The Meeting with the Goddess - A great love (romantic, divine, friendly, or familial) provides strength and well-being 8. Woman as Temptress - The hero loses focus and/or is tempted to quit the journey 9. Atonement with the Father - The hero must face whatever holds ultimate control and power in his/her life (center point of the journey) 10. Apotheosis - The hero enters a god-like state; a period of rest and reflection 11. The Ultimate Boon – The hero achieves the goal of the quest

RETURN

12.Refusal of the Return - Sometimes the hero refuses to return to normal life (maybe the adventure has been satisfying or s/he is concerned that his/her message will not be heard) 13. Magical Flight - Sometimes the hero must steal the boon and make a daring escape 14. Rescue from Without - A guide/magical helper/special “other being” appears to provide help (maybe s/he is wounded or weakened; maybe s/he doesn’t realize it is time to return, that s/he can return, or that others need the boon) 15. The Crossing of the Return Threshold – The hero’s task at this point is to remember what was learned during the quest, and to use it to make life better for him/her and others 16. Master of the Two Worlds - The hero has learned how to be comfortable with the external world and the spiritual, internal world (s/he may be ready to be a guide for someone else) 17. Freedom to Live – The hero has learned to accept him/herself, to “live in the moment,” and neither to anticipate the future nor to regret the past

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Ender and His Hero’s Journey

Directions: As you read, outline the hero’s journey for Ender on this graphic organizer. Use the questions provided to determine which moments in the text apply to each of the seventeen stages.

As you complete the chart, keep in mind the following turning points in Ender’s Game : ● "...he no longer had the panicked feeling that he might be out of his depth, that Battle

School might be too much for him" (80). ● "Ender's isolation was over. The war was just beginning" (86). ● "He walked down the corridor smiling. He may be short, but they knew his name" (115). ● "That's how they think of me, too. Teacher. Legendary soldier. Not one of them. Not

someone that you embrace and whisper Salaam in his ear. That only lasted while Ender still seemed a victim. Still seemed vulnerable. Now he was the master soldier, and he was completely, utterly alone" (176).

● "When I thought you were about to kill me, and I decided to kill you first. I guess I'm just a killer to the core. But I'd rather be alive than dead" (348).

SEPARATION/DEPARTURE

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1 . The Call to Adventure - Something happens to send the hero in a new direction or on a quest

2. Refusal of the Call - Sometimes s/he refuses to go (might be afraid, feel like s/he can’t leave responsibilities, or might not feel strong enough or smart enough to start an adventure)

3. Supernatural Aid - A guide/magical helper/special “other being” appears to provide help

4. The Crossing of the First Threshold - The hero leaves his/her familiar life and goes into places with new, unknown rules

INITIATION

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5. Belly of the Whale - represents the final separation from the hero’s known world, the person shows a willingness to undergo a metamorphosis

6.The Road of Trials – The hero undergoes a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals

7. The Meeting with the Goddess - A great love (romantic, divine, friendly, or familial) provides strength and well-being

8. Woman as Temptress - The hero loses focus and/or is tempted to quit the journey

9. Atonement with the Father - The hero must face whatever holds ultimate control and power in his/her life (center point of the journey)

10. Apotheosis - The hero enters a god-like state; a period of rest and reflection

11. The Ultimate Boon – The hero achieves the goal of the quest (the benefit, the asset)

RETURN

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12. Refusal of the Return - Sometimes the hero refuses to return to normal life (maybe the adventure has been satisfying or s/he is concerned that his/her message will not be heard)

13. Magical Flight - Sometimes the hero must steal the boon and make a daring escape

14. Rescue from Without - A guide/magical helper/special “other being” appears to provide help (maybe s/he is wounded or weakened; maybe s/he doesn’t realize it is time to return, that s/he can return, or that others need the boon)

15. The Crossing of the Return Threshold – The hero’s task at this point is to remember what was learned during the quest, and to use it to make life better for him/her and others

16. Master of the Two Worlds - The hero has learned how to be comfortable with the external world and the spiritual, internal world (s/he may be ready to be a guide for someone else)

17. Freedom to Live – The hero has learned to accept himself to “live in the moment,” and neither to anticipate the future nor to regret the past; achievement of legend status

Ender's Game Study Guide: Chapters 1 & 2

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Chapter 1 - “Third”

1. Why is Ender at the doctor?

2. Who is Peter? What do we learn about the way he treats Ender?

3. What does “Third” mean?

4. Why is Ender allowed to go to school with the other children?

5. How does Ender ensure that Stilson and others like him will not pick on him anymore?

Chapter 2 - “Peter”

6. What game do the children like to play?

7. Where does this game come from? Why do adults allow them to play it?

8. Why was Ender authorized to be born?

9. What are the relationships between Peter, Valentine and Ender like?

10. What surprises you the most so far in the story?

Summary/Main Ideas:


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Chapter 3 - “Graff”

1. Why is Valentine described as a “weak link?”

2. What is the only military force that means anything anymore?

3. Who is Graff? Why is he at Ender’s house?

4. What was Ender’s final test?

5. What consent was given in regard to Ender?

6. What is Ender’s real name?

7. How do Ender’s parents feel about him?

8. What was the hope when Ender was born? What was wrong with Peter and Valentine?

9. Who is Mazer Rackham? What did he do that makes him important?

10. How does Ender feel about what he has been chosen to do?

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Chapter 4 - “Launch”

11. Why would Ender be disorientated before he even leaves?

12. Why were the boys not allowed to eat 24 hours before launch?

13. How does Graff cause Ender to be picked on to test him?

14. What upsets Ender so much when he breaks the boy’s arm on the ship?

15. What surprises you the most so far in the story?

Summary/Main Ideas:


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Chapter 5 - “Games”

1. Who is Dap?

2. What does “icing out” mean?

3. How did Ender get his nickname? What does it mean?

4. What did Ender do when Peter used to make him upset?

5. What does Ender silently thank Peter for after his first night?

6. What gives Ender his first boost of confidence?

7. What nickname does Bernard give Ender? Why?

8. How does Ender secretly send messages to Shen?

9. What do the boys begin calling Bernard after Ender’s desk prank?

10. How does Ender’s isolation end?

11. Why does Card end the chapter, “The war was just beginning?” What do you predict is going to happen to Ender?

Chapter 6 - “The Giant’s Drink”

12. What important information does Ender store away for future reference?

13. What is the bridge that allows all the boys to no longer be divided?

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14. What is the one game the Giant insists on playing?

15. Why does Ender believe the game is rigged?

16. How does Ender defeat the Giant?

17. Where does Ender end up next in the game?

18. What upsets Ender even though he won the game?

Summary/Main Ideas: Write three (3) to five sentences about these sections of the story.

Ender's Game Study Guide: Chapter 7

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Chapter - “Salamander”

1. What does Alai say to Ender when they part ways and why is it so special for Ender?

2. When Ender goes back to the Giant’s Drink, what happens to the children on the playground and what does it symbolize to Ender?

3. What does Ender wish he could do that he’s never been able to do?

4. Who is the leader of Salamander army?

5. Who is Petra Arkanian and why is she important?

6. Why does Ender wish she had not spoken to him?

7. Why does she bunk in the front? What is her strength?

8. What is giria?

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9. How does Ender view Bonzo’s strategies and formations?

10.What does Ender decide to do to get more practice?

11.After Ender saves the army from a defeat, how does Bonzo repay him?

12.What is Ender’s new army?

13.To ensure that no one will be able to get the better of him in the future, what does Ender do?

Summary/Main Ideas: Write a summary of what happens in this chapter in three (3+) or more sentences. Use correct capitalization and punctuation.


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Chapter 8 - “Rat”

1. What does Graff order Anderson to do to Ender’s army?

2. Who is the commander of the Rat Army?

3. What is the myth about Jews in the army? How does this reveal prejudices in this futuristic world?

4. What is Rat Army’s nickname? Why?

5. In whose platoon is Ender placed?

6. What is different about Dink’s platoon?

7. How does the game change in the Battle Room?

8. What does Ender learn to do that makes him wise?

9. How is Ender’s small troop able to beat the older boys in the Battle Room?

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10. What is printed on the medical report for the injured boys?

11. What does Ender realize about the adult in charge from this?

12. How is Ender protected during further practices?


Wiggin Siblings Chart Directions: Find quotes from the book that tell us about each character’s thoughts or actions . Use chapters 1-8 to find details about the three siblings.

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Peter Peter Wiggin is Ender's elder brother. A sociopath, he takes sadistic pleasure in manipulating and brutalizing other children, especially Ender whom Peter loves bullying by looking into his eyes, and is rejected from Battle School because he is too violent.

Valentine Ender’s older sister, Valentine Wiggin is gentle and kind—even more so than Ender himself. She’s fiercely intelligent, even if she lacks the same drive as her brothers. For years, Valentine is Ender’s protector and teacher, and as a result, they continue to love one another even after Ender is shipped off to Battle School and forbidden from communicating with his sister. Valentine turns to writing and politics as methods of control. Writing under the pseudonym Demosthenes.

Ender Ender Wiggin is a brilliant, compassionate child who's summoned to study war at Battle School and defeat the alien Buggers. Ender has always felt like an outsider because he's a Third—a third child—in a society that almost never tolerates families with more than two children.

Detail #1:

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Detail #2:

Detail #2:

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Detail #3:

Detail #3:

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Detail #4:

Detail #4:

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Detail #4:


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Chapter 9 - “Locke and Demosthenes”

1. How does Valentine celebrate Ender’s birthday back home on Earth?

2. Why has the family moved to the country?

3. How does Valentine know that Peter has not changed?

4. What are Peter’s thoughts about Russia and their movements of cargo?

5. How long has there been at least an appearance of world peace?

6. What is Peter’s great strength when it comes to dealing with people? What is Valentine’s?

7. What is Peter’s plan for getting citizen’s access to the web?

8. How does Peter get Valentine to agree to help him?

9. A pseudonym is a false name. What are Peter and Valentine’s pseudonyms on the web?

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10. What is odd about the way they choose to write their articles? How does Peter keep Valentine close to him during this?

11. What begins to bother Valentine about her publications?

12. What changes have occurred at Battle School for the following characters?

Ender –

Petra –

Dink –

Alai –

13. Who comes to see Valentine? Why is he there?

14. Why does Valentine get upset and start to cry when questioned about Ender and Peter?

15. What does Graff ask Valentine to do?

16. What is Valentine given in return?



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Chapter 10 - “Dragon”

1. What army is Ender made commander of at Battle School? Why is this odd?

2. Graff gives Ender a small box. What does it do?

3. Who is Bean? Why does he make an impression on Ender?

4. Describe Ender’s new army. Who is in it? What is the vibe?

5. What request does Bean make of Ender?

6. What does Ender realize he is doing to Bean? Why does it bother him?

7. What rule change does Anderson inform Ender of when he arrives at the battle room for practice?

8. What does salaam mean?

9. Why is it so hard for Ender to part with Alai?

10. Why is the IF still controlling Ender’s relationships?



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Chapter 11 - “Veni Vidi Vici”

1. Who is the leader of C Toon?

2. Who is the leader of D Toon?

3. Who is Carn Carby? What does Ender learn from him?

4. After their battle with Rabbit Army, who must Ender fight next? Why does he think this is a mistake?

5. Who is the leader of A Toon?

6. What begins to happen to Ender outside of the Battle Room?

7. How does Ender increase his knowledge of how to fight the buggers?

8. Even though Ender’s army defeats Salamander, why is he so mad?

9. Ender finally gives Bean his own toon. What is different about their relationship now?

10. On earth, who is controlling the events on Earth with Russia and the U.S. drifting apart?



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Chapter 12 - “Bonzo”

1. What do we learn about Bonzo and his plans for Ender?

2. Why has Graff continuously refused to help Ender when he has been in trouble?

3. What is Bean’s “new toy?” What can it do?

4. Why does Bonzo choose to attack Ender in the shower?

5. What does Bonzo do to “equal the fight?”

6. Who tries to stop the fight?

7. Why does what Dink says make things worse for Ender?

8. Even though Peter is bad, Ender sees some truth in Peter’s views. What does he realize?

9. What is the next twist in the games?

10.After the battle, what happens to Bean and all of Ender’s toon leaders?

11.Where is Ender sent?

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12.Where are Graff and Ender going to stop on the way to Command School?

13.What do we learn about what really happened to Stilson and Bonzo?


Debate Topic: Should Colonel Graff tell Ender that he killed Stilson and Bonzo ? Explain.

Colonel Graff _________________________ (should/ should not) tell Ender that he kill

Stilson and Bonzo. He should tell Ender because …


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Chapter 13 - “Valentine”

1. What mistake does Valentine almost make at school?

2. Why does Graff want Ender to visit Earth and see Valentine?

3. What has changed between Valentine, Ender, and Peter?

4. Where are Ender and Graff headed when they leave Earth? Where is it located? What is special about it?

Where:

Location:

Special Quality:

5. What truth does Ender learn about the Third Invasion?

6. At the I.F. Command School, what do they expect Ender to do in five years?

Chapter 14 - “Ender’s Teacher”

7. How does Ender feel about Eros?

8. What is the simulator? What does Ender compare it to from his earlier training at Battle School?

9. How is Mazer Rackham still alive to be Ender’s teacher and mentor?

10.What has Ender been learning about the buggers?

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11.What is so special about Ender’s squadron at Command School?

12.What does the IF reveal to Ender after he destroys the planet in battle?

13.What has been happening on Earth that is a parallel for what has been happening in space?

14.What is the Locke Proposal and what is the significance of it?

Summary/Main Ideas: Write a summary of what happens in these chapters in six (6+) or more sentences. Use correct capitalization and punctuation.


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Chapter 15 - “Speaker for the Dead”

1. What is Graff’s new title? What will he be doing now that the bugger war is over?

2. What happens to all of Ender’s friends after the war?

3. Who is the colonist that comes to see Ender? Why is she there?

4. What has happened to Peter?

5. Why does Peter want the Hegemony to stay intact?

6. What news is broadcasted about Demosthenes and Mazer Rackham? How does Demosthenes go out with a surprise?

7. Why is Ender going to the bugger planet?

8. What happens to the people who go to the new planet? What do they become?

9. What does Ender realize about the landscape of this planet?

10.What does Ender find behind the mirror in the tower?

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11.What does Ender “see” when he holds the egg?

12.How did the buggers find Ender?

13.What is a Speaker for the Dead?

14.Why does Ender become the Speaker for the Dead?

15.What surprises you the most about the end of the story?

Summary/Main Ideas: Write a summary of what happens in these chapters in three (3+) or more sentences. Use correct capitalization and punctuation.