ENDER'S GAME STUDY GUIDE

ANSWER KEY

1.) c
2.) d
3.) c
4.) a
5.) a
6.) b
7.) a
8.) d
9.) c
10.) b
11.) d
12.) a
13.) d
14.) d
15.) c
16.) b

ESSAY TOPIC IDEAS / BOOK REPORT IDEAS

1. What effect does the setting have on the mood of the novel? How is it significant that so much of the story takes place off of Earth?

2. Compare and contrast the ways in which the children at Battle School act like children on Earth. To what extent does the novel correctly reflect the behavior and thoughts of children?

3. How did Card draw on actual historical events in the novel and what is the overall effect of having these in the novel?

4. In what ways is EnderÂ’s Game similar to other science fiction? In what ways is it different?

5. Is isolation important for creativity and/ or leadership? Could Ender have become as good as he was through different tactics?

6. Use either LockeÂ’s or DemosthenesÂ’ reasoning to argue in favor or against one of the major topics in the book (what should be done about the political division on Earth, population restriction laws, etc).

7. Compare and contrast Ender and Peter. Is there as much a difference between them as Valentine insists there is?

8. What is the role of the games (the video games, the fantasy game, the battles) in Battle School?

9. Discuss how the traditional rites accompanying a death in a particular religion are similar or different to those of Speaker for the Dead.

10. How is point of view in the novel used to control the readerÂ’s reaction to events? How would Ender, the buggers, or other characters be seen from anotherÂ’s perspective?

COMMENT ON THE STUDY OF LITERATURE

The study of literature is not like the study of math or science, or even history. While those disciplines are based largely upon fact, the study of literature is based upon interpretation and analysis. There are no clear-cut answers in literature, outside of the factual information about an author's life and the basic information about setting and characterization in a piece of literature. The rest is a highly subjective reading of what an author has written; each person brings a different set of values and a different background to the reading. As a result, no two people see the piece of literature in exactly the same light, and few critics agree on everything about a book or an author.

In this study guide, we have tried to give an objective literary analysis based upon the information actually found in the novel, book, or play. In the end, however, it is an individual interpretation, but one that we feel can be readily supported by the information that is presented in the guide. In your course of literature study, you or your professor/teacher may come up with a different interpretation of the mood or the theme or the conflict. Your interpretation, if it can be logically supported with information contained within the piece of literature, is just as correct as ours. So is the interpretation of your teacher or professor.

Literature is simply not a black or white situation; instead, there are many gray areas that are open to varying analyses. Your task is to come up with your own analysis that you can logically defend. Hopefully, this study guide will help you to accomplish that goal.

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