Questions & Entries

1. Entry) What is the major theme of this novel? Why is this theme important to a teenager living in 2007?
The major theme of the book called, “Ender’s Game” is that Ender was going to Battle School and train and work to become a leader and protect other people from the 3rd invasion.The theme of the book called, “Ender’s Game” is that Albert Ender Wiggin became a world's most famous and talented kid, who was taken into "Battle School" to supply commanders for the coming Third Invasion even though he was very young. Andrew Ender Wiggin is an intelligent six-year-old main boy who was a third child which means it is very unusual and bad in the book. All family don't examine that third child is their family, but Ender's family cared him except his older brother, Peter. Peter is also brilliant, but not as Ender. Ender also had an older sister called Valentine. Valentine is as intelligent as Peter, but opposite of Peter. Another theme is that being third child. It tells us that don’t be despair and incertitude. Even though you are youngest, you are also lover to your family.

2. Entry) Are there are any current situations in the world that relate to the novel? What are they, and how do they relate? Does the novel shed any light on how current situations could be resolved or "fixed"?
Yes there were current situations in the world that relate to “Ender’s Game.” In the story of a book, Ender needed to respect to his family because they are older than him. It is similar to Korea that we need to show our respect to elders. If we don’t it means that we are acting very rude. Ender respected his older brother Peter even though he tease, kick, and annoyed Ender. To me if younger kids don’t respect me that might feel bad but I won’t kick or annoyed them. Sometimes my brother just calls my name which was okay. It didn’t made me really bad but my mom were scolded my brother. Many countries have their own countries’ respect but not an America. It made me comfortable and friendlier than Korea. The current situations could be resolved and fixed like changing their reverence.

3. Entry) Who are the main characters in the novel? Do you like them? Why or why not? What is special about them? What do they reveal about the universal human experience?
Main Characters in the novel are Ender, Peter, and Valentine. I like Valentine because she had warm, tender, and really cares Ender even though he was third child. She didn’t discriminate like Peter. I hate Peter because he always annoys and acts bad things to Ender. If I am Peter I will take care Ender because I think I am similar to Valentine. My mom said I am good at taking care of my brother. If I have a brother like Peter, I wouldn’t endure. I feel sorry that Ender has a brother like Peter. The special about them is that they are all intelligent. I think Ender is the most genius because he is smart even though he is the youngest. They are all grown up already.

4. Entry) What is the climax of this novel? what happens? how do the events of this novel make you feel?
The climax of Ender's Game starts off with meeting of Mazer Rackham, the man who had won battles against the buggers. Mazer has stayed alive by keeping in a sort of hyperspace which only lets a few years go by inside the ship while the Earth ages many years. Ender learns lots of things about the buggers and how they only have drones and a queen like a bee hive. Ender was also told about a new weapon called Dr. Device which would hit a ship and spread apart the atoms, then do the same to something that was close. Ender is put in a room where he will play a new game with ships and he is the leader. After a while, he is introduced to people: Alai, Petra, Bean, Tom, Shen, Molo and Carn Carby, that he will be playing with. They were all his friends that he had met at Battle School. During many months these children under the command of Ender fought and won every battle. When Ender woke up one day he was told that the last game. When he got there, many people were at his room where he commanded everybody. The odds like in his last game at Battle School were totally unfair. However, in Battle School, Ender used the all attack at once in a bullet shaped form. He then deployed the Dr. Device on the bugger's home planet, which caused a chain reaction which destroyed the planet and all the bugger ships around the planet. Those events of this novel made me so excited.

5. Entry) What is the mood of this novel? Do you find this novel saddens you in any way? Why?

The mood of Enders game is quiet depressing and whole life of Ender is miserable. He does fight back his pain and tears, but there are many suffering through the event. This novel did sadden me at the end. I really felt sorry for Ender and the Buggers. Ender, who learns that the Buggers' previous killings of humans had rested on the mistaken notion that humans were not sentient, and once the Buggers realized their mistake, they resolved not to attack humans again Buggers apologized to Ender for attacking the Earth. That part was really heartbreaking.

6. Entry) Please choose one passage from the novel that is significant to you. Why is this passage meaningful? Please type it into one of your entries and comment on what you think about the passage.

“Sometimes lies are more dependable than the truth.” This passage is meaningful to me because when it makes me to realize when I was young. In “Ender’s Game,” the monitor lady smiled and said, “Andrew, I suppose by now you’re just absolutely sick of having that horrid monitor. Well, I have good news for you. That monitor is going to come out today. We’re going to take it right out, and it won’t hurt a bit.” Ender knew it was a lie. When it is going to hurt, adults always said it won’t. My mom is same as the monitor lady, ling to come down me. So my opinion is same as Ender that lies are more dependable than the truth.

7. Entry) Are there any settings in this novel which you have found to be beautiful? Or disturbing? Or memorable? Describe these settings and comment on why they were meaningful to you.

The setting of a planet in Ender’s Game made me so sorrowful and memorable because it’s the place where Ender and bugger fought and realize it is their mistake. Ender finds a queen pupa, left behind for him to find a place for the buggers to live again. Ender can think to the queen, and sees that the buggers did not truly wish to fight the humans and feels their sorrow for all that happens. Ender decides to make it his mission to find a place for the buggers to live.

8. Entry) Your choice: Article
A book called, “Ender’s Game,” by Orson Scott Card, is the funniest book I ever read. Unlike many hard-core science fiction titles, this book is particularly appropriate for a younger audience, for its protagonist, Andrew Ender Wiggin, is just six years old at the novel's beginning and still a pre-teen at its end. Ender's parents have received a special dispensation to have a third child in spite of strict population control laws. His brilliant older siblings, Peter and Valentine, have each showed great promise, but each falls just short of having "the right stuff." The International Fleet (I.F.) believes that Ender may be the commander they need to lead great armies against invasion by alien "buggers." When Ender does exhibit the desired combination of compassion and cruelty, the I.F. takes him to the distant Battle School, where brilliant children are trained in military strategy and tactics. The centerpiece of their education is a simulated battle game at which Ender quickly excels, eventually becoming the youngest commander in history. Life at Battle School, especially these battle games, is richly described. Ender is portrayed as just a pawn in the larger game being played by the I.F., and readers will alternately sympathize with his exploitation and cheer when he is able to make friends in spite of the tremendous forces working to isolate and dehumanize him. The political and philosophical material at the novel's end may get too heavy for some readers, but for the most part, this novel will deservedly reach a new generation through this new edition. This book far outweighed my expectations. Not only is it a great sci-fi story, but also a disturbingly honest look at the human psyche. (by Juhie Kim)