Enders Game Author Writing Influence and Style Orson

• Ender’s Game – Author – Writing Influence and Style • Orson Scott Card – Born 1951 • Focuses on the positive impact leadership makes in lives and, more specifically, the difference in a military operation’s success.

• Ender’s Game • In debt for his college – Inspiration education, he decided to try to incorporate the Battle Room idea into a story (which ultimately became Ender’s Game) – Background Information • Originally written as a short story • Later was expanded the short story into a novel in order to set up its sequel, Speaker of the Dead

– Awards • Ender’s game was awarded both Nebula and Hugo awards. • Its sequel Speaker for the Dead duplicated the sweep the following year – Film • A movie adaptation of the novel is in development

• Overview • Ender, a 6 year old, is monitored by the government because he is thought to have the potential to be a great leader • Showing a combination of his sister Valentine’s caring nature and his brother Peter’s violent nature, he is the perfect balance to create the ultimate general

• Overview • The government comes to take him from his family and sends him into space to attend battle school • The battle school is supposed to develop leaders for the struggle against an alien nation called the “Buggers” • Being younger than his classmates, but smarter than any, Ender must battle for his place in the school

• Overview • Ender learns lessons about survival while make friends who are loyal to him • As he progresses his success, cunning and ingenuity shatter the rules of regulations of the school and make him the greatest leader in the school’s history • Ender is successful in the class, but there are still lingering doubts whether or not he will crack under pressure when facing the menace of the “Buggers”

• Ender’s Game – Published – Genre – Climax – 1975 – Science Fiction – Ender must face an impossible test at battle school—will he be able to accomplish the impossible and become the leader needed to defeat the buggers? – Protagonist – Ender Wiggin – Antagonist – Peter, School Administration, Buggers

• Literary Focus – Themes and Conflicts • Alienation • Growth through Isolation • Cruelty of Children • Survival of the Fittest • Violence versus Control • The Value of Intelligence • Leadership • The Ethics of Man • Abuse

• Point of View • Uses a limited point of view, focusing solely on Ender's character – This is useful because psychology is such an important part of the novel – The novel’s point of view will sometimes shift to allow readers insight into what the government is trying to do to Ender – The Point of View then shifts back to Ender, and the reader can see how the various games that are being played at his expense are affecting his mind.

• Setting (time) • Set on Earth sometime in the future • The future in Ender’s society has several key differences: – There are population laws that restrict the number of children in a family – space travel a – an alien civilization • Setting (place) • Earth, Battle School, Space

• Irony • Ender is a combination of two people: his brother and his sister – He is constantly in fear of becoming like his violent brother, Peter – His violent tendencies, however, are balanced by Sister’s ability to empathize with people and care for them – Ironically it is the combination of both that make him the perfect killing machine and military leader: he sees inside the minds of his enemies, knows what makes them tick, and then destroys them

• Characters – Ender • Genius level intelligence • A “third” • Highly sensitive but also possesses a violent streak that he uses throughout the novel • A combination of his two siblings: – He has his brother Peter’s ability to manipulate and destroy – He has his sister Valentine’s ability to be caring and persuasive

• Peter Wiggin • Ender’s older brother • Extremely jealous of Ender • Extremely angry at Ender because he has to have a brother who is a “third • Violent nature and fits of rage haunt Ender even after he has left for battle school

• Valentine Wiggin • Ender’s source of support and caring • Fends off Peter’s attacks on Ender • The only person that Ender truly loves • Caring and loving almost to a fault