ENDER’S GAME

By Orson Scott CardDiscussion – Chapters 14-15

CHAPTER 14Ender’s Teacher

Chapter 14 How is Eros different than

the Battle School? Ender's training? His social activities? Opportunities for comradeship?

Chapter 14“ What are you doing, he wanted to ask. Judging me? Determining whether or not you want to trust the fleet to me? Just remember that I didn’t ask for it.” (p.259)

Chapter 14 Describe how Ender and

Mazer first meet… What does he learn?

Chapter 14 How did they manage to keep Mazer

Rackham around for 70 years so he could be Ender's teacher?

What did it cost him? What does this tell you about sacrifice? In your opinion – is he a good or a bad

example for Ender as a commander?

Chapter 14“Humanity does not ask us to be happy. It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf.” (p. 277)

Chapter 14 What things did humanity learn from

the buggers? How did Rackham win the second

war? Why would buggers not see killing

individuals the same way humans would?

What is “Dr. Device?”

“Ender settled into the routine that was the destruction of himself.” (p. 287)

Chapter 14 What are some of the signs

that the constant pressure is wearing on Ender and his squad leaders?

Chapter 14 How does Ender “win” the war? Ender thinks he “cheated” – what

does that say about his character? Why do you think they had to lie to

him?

Chapter 14 What happens on Earth as soon as

the Bugger War is over? Were Peter and Valentine right? Why are Ender and the other “kids”

potentially in danger?

CHAPTER 15Speaker for the Dead

Chapter 15 This chapter begins with another

dialogue, only this time it's presented as a regular narrative. What is a NARRATIVE?

Why does Card change styles? What important changes are about to

take place on Earth?

Chapter 15 It's not often that a writer will

provide such a long epilogue, or conclusion, at the end of a novel. Generally there's a climax - BANG! - and just a little bit of mopping up afterwards. This is not the case here.

What are the significant developments in this chapter?

Chapter 15 Why did Val (using her Demosthenes

persona) make it so that Ender could not go back to Earth?

What is her plan? What is Ender's objection to it?

Chapter 15 Eight years after they reach

their colony world, Ender gets a big surprise.

What is it?

“He had been dreaming that the Buggers were vivisecting him. Only instead of cutting open his body, they were cutting up his memories and displaying them like holographs and trying to make sense of them. It was a very odd dream.” (Chapter 14, p. 278)

Chapter 15 The Hive Queen's communication

with Ender confirms Rackham's theories about why they invaded and takes them a little further.

What does Ender learn? What is Ender's response?

THE END