Laura Pelaez12/1/13Period 1Plot-Based Questions

1. What does being a third mean?

The government only allows two children to be born per family, unless there is a special request or granting to have a third and theyre frowned upon by everyone.

2. Why are all these amazingly smart children taken away to this Battle School?

Buggers, an alien life form, attacked Earth generations ago and to prevent this from reoccurring, they observe as well as pick out the smartest kids from a young age to train the best of them to be the commanders they need to save humanity from the buggers.

3. What is Peters plan for his elaborate writing with Valentine on the net?

Peters plan is simply to conquer the world through his words and get his voice heard through the controversy he will cause between important people.

4. Who is Dragon army?

Dragon army, mostly inexperienced Launchies and several great veterans, has been inoperative for quite a few years, and has now been placed in Enders command.

5. How did Mazer Rackham escape his suicide mission against the buggers?

He destroyed the inconspicuous mother ship, and then escaped through emergency launch just before his ship flew into the enormous bugger carrier.

Critical Thinking Questions

1. What does Valentine symbolize to Ender besides being his sister?

Valentine Wiggin is Enders beloved, protective and kind sister, and for this reason she is one of his greatest weaknesses. Given the environment where the kids are placed in, Ender cant afford to feel for his family. If he allows himself to think these thoughts he will break, which is exactly what the Battle School intends to do to him. A great example is the way the government is using Valentine as a tool against Ender by using her to tell him that their ways are right and that he needs to stay in line with them. She symbolizes all of his weaknesses and his vulnerabilities to his surroundings. Valentine was cut off from the govt search system because she was far too kind, and her being so close to Ender, must have brought some of that upon him. They know how much influence she has on him and that the only way to get to him is through her. Ender realizes this, and its a critical point since he must learn to balance himself to not be broken by the Battle School.

2. Does the title relate to the book?

The title, Enders Game was certainly relatable and a good choice because it embodies the entire concept of the book. The book is about a boy, Ender, and how his destiny as the fleet commander leads him through the virtual games that only increase in difficulty and reality. The entire novel depicts the many different ways that it is Enders own game he is playing and the struggle to find himself before the govt reaches him first. Ender begins the games almost as soon as he lands at the Battle School with the other Launchies. As he progresses through the games, always ahead of his expected skill level, the games become more challenging and soon enough, real. Once the virtual becomes reality, it truly does become Enders game because he is now commander of the entire fleet, although he may not know it, and his actions now affect everyone. The title doesnt give much of a mental visual, but is completely understandable after the book. Its intriguing as well and in the end very relatable, since indeed it is Enders game, but a game that decides the fate of humanity.

3. What are the main themes in Enders Game?

Throughout the whole book, Enders Game, there are several universal themesincluding competition, control, and trust. The first example of competition starts from the day the children are born and they hit the ground running. Every child dreams of commanding the fleet but only the intelligent few even make it into Battle School. Ender naturally rose to the top, but the things the other kids would do, such as beat him up, were clear signs that it was just a jungle up there. What caused all this was the govt wanting to find the one to lead them into battle against the buggers, even if it took breaking these young kids. The govt took complete power and control over them, even putting them against each other, all to fight an unnecessary war against the buggers. All of the governments doing leads up to the big theme: trust. This was something Ender lacked in everyone to keep himself alive. The govt couldnt be trusted and hardly anyone else to keep him alive, so he learned to rely on himself to do it. The trust issue is something we deal with in real life and is arguably the greatest theme in Enders Game because of its importance to the protagonists, Enders, life.

4. How did Ender change from the beginning to the end of the story?

Quite obviously, there was a significant change in Enders character from the beginning, as a bullied kid on Earth, to the end, as commander of the fleet leading the fight against the buggers. Ender was never an ordinary kid from the beginning, as he was the perfect balance between his two great, powerful, but opposite siblings. Although he wasnt an ordinary kid, he never stood out either, until he was miraculously chosen to go to the prestigious Battle School in space. As soon as her reached this place, one by one, the kids, as well as the instructors began to notice him. He excelled and beat kids in older armies at games theyd practice on for years, each time with new tactics. Enders superiors took notice in him and were astonished as well as convinced that he was the one. After this, Enders life took a whole new route including the govt trying to break him down to find the diamond inside him at whatever cost. Through manipulation they managed to do this to Ender, with among the only benefits being that he became the greatest commander in history. By the end, Ender was no longer an innocent person, but completely changed and not in the best way, but the way that the govt wanted to leave him.

5. What type of conflict occurred throughout the book?

Ender struggled mainly with the conflicts of man vs. self and man vs. society.We can see the first one in many different occasions when Ender is trying to find himself in the mess that has become his surroundings. Ender doesnt have anyone to lean on anymore, making him feel alone, but never helpless. Ender has to find it in himself to get through this and do the right thing regardless of what everyone, especially the govt, is saying to him. The govt played a big part in the conflict of the story and to Ender. They were supposed to be protectors, but instead turned out to be the opposite. They excessively trained and sacrificed these young kids all for a very preventable, unnecessary war. Ender truly was against the society he was brought to since the govt had actually turned on them. He had to get by in this environment while being able to decipher wrong from right, despite the governments orders. Ender struggle do get by with these internal and external conflicts biting him at every corner.

Vocabulary

1. Sequester-(v) to requisition, hold, and control (enemy property)

2. Periphery-(n) the external boundary of any surface area

3. Disingenuous-(adj) lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; insincere

4. Percolated-(v) to show activity, movement, or life; grow or spread gradually; germinate

5. Autonomy-(n) independence or freedom, as of the will or ones actions

6. Vivisecting-(v) to dissect the living body of (an animal)

7. Abrogate-to abolish, usually by authority

8. Captious-(adj) apt to notice and make much of trivial faults or defects; faultfinding;

9. Regnant-(adj) reigning; ruling; prevalent; widespread

10. Puled-(v) to cry in a thin voice; whine; whimper

11. Pother-(n) commotion; uproar; a heated discussion, debate, or argument

12. Reticence-(n) the state of being reserved, esp. with regard to speaking freely

13. Malign-(adj) evil in effect; pernicious; baleful; injurious; malevolent

14. Abate-(v) to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; to end; become null and avoid

15. Engender-(v) to produce, cause, or give rise to; procreateItemsDragon Army

Dragon Army is the army that Ender is assigned to command. The army has been inoperative for years now, but the instructors believe, that this team of completely differently skilled individuals will do outstandingly under Enders command. They are significant because this is the first time Ender gets to experience what being the leader really is.Buggers

Buggers are the reason that the military is out there in space. They attacked Earth generations ago, looking to colonize and were driven out. Now, decades later, humanity is prepared to fight off these alien creatures from ever invading again.

The Battle Room

The Battle Room is where soldiers train, in armies, against each other in an area of null gravity. The goal is to get through the opponents gate with one soldier unharmed. The tactics and placement of objects in the room make all the difference. Armies are ranked based on their Battle Room and this is where Ender began getting attention from higher-ranked officers.

The Giants Drink

The Giants Drink is a video game that Ender is so drawn to play, because its impossible to win. Officers monitor these small desk games and were surprised to see that Ender had discovered a way to beat it. The game only involved the computer and the player so this is when officers started taking interest in Enders strong mental capabilities.Valentines Letter

At some point, a couple years into Enders first arrival at the Battle School, officers begin to notice that their precious future commander is not following in line with them. Valentine, Enders beloved sister is now used as a tool by the govt to get Ender back on track. Valentine writes him a letter that includes things only she would know, but Ender knows it was also filtered by the govt and edited before it got to him. He was angry that theyd search this deep for a way to get to him, and this sparks a little rebellion inside him.

Quotes

1.) Human beings are free except when humanity needs them. (Pg. 35)

This quote is a great contribution to the book because concisely says most of what Enders life has become. The quote means that during peaceful times, all will be well, but once there is a need or threat to the many, freedom will be disrupted. The fight against the opposing force will always call for sacrifices believed to be for the greater good. Ender is the brain needed to defeat the buggers at whatever cost, and because he has these abilities, his freedom is also taken away, since everything is under strict control now. The survival of humanity called and Ender paid the price.

2.) In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very moment I also love him. I think it's impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. (Pg. 238)

This quote is the perfect example of Enders amazing mentality and capabilities as a soldier. He is the balance between his ruthless brother, Peter, and kind sister, Valentine. Ender clearly has the capability of understanding his enemy, giving him the only tools he needs to defeat them. However, he still feels all of it; others emotions and thoughts are clear to him, still keeping him good. This tornado inside of him is critical for the reason that he is the face of good, but struggles with the balance.

3.) Humanity does not ask us to be happy. It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf. Survival first, then happiness as we can manage it." (Pg. 277)

Ender has not been the happiest of kids in all his life and coming to Battle School hasnt helped. However, according to Mazer Rackham who said this to Ender, there are always priorities and the happiness of one will never be more important than the fight for survival. The quote continues to explain how much Enders life has changed now that he must make such sacrifices for the sake of humanity. He is sacrificing his mental health, being with his family, and even greater things such as the lives of all the people on the fleet, and an entire species, the buggers. None of this has made anyone happy, but its what is necessary to stay alive. I chose this quote specifically because it not only symbolizes what Ender is feeling, but what every single other brilliant mind on that fleet is going through.

4.) Sometimes lies are more dependable than the truth. (Pg. 2)

In the moment that Ender thought this, he was lied to, by an adult, about the minimal pain he was about to experience. It was a lie and Ender knew. This shows how Ender saw right through people like crystal. Ender knows he is on his own in this and that he can trust no one. The moment he learns this, it is important because he is soon off to the ruthless Battle School where he is truly no longer assisted. The quote is an early example of how he learns to understand people and his ability to deal with things on his own terms. I also chose this quote because its pretty deep and is sometimes a truth in our own lives.

5.) Dink was right, they were the enemy, they loved nothing and cared for nothing and he was not going to do what they wanted, he was damn well not going to do anything for them. (Pg. 151)

I picked this quote because its among Enders first strong realizations about the true sides of this war. At this point, Ender had received mail from Valentine, but it was very obviously filtered by the govt, which made Ender angry that theyd finally discovered a way to get to him through his beloved sister. The govt is only interested in destroying the buggers, and will do whatever it takes, including blackmail and breaking mere children to get what they want out of them. Theyd been having the children fight against each other in the video games and in the Battle Room, when the real enemies were the govt. The kids, too busy fighting eachother, made themselves individually vulnerable, but not Ender or his commander Dink. This is an important time in the book because Ender realizes, its time to set his own rules.