Nov 3rd, 2011

Themes in The Chrysalids: 

Normally, we spend about three days discussing these themes in small groups.  Each group gets a set of questions on one of the themes.  The groups respond to the questions, supporting their responses with quotes found from throughout the book.  Quotes must be written out, and page numbers noted down to share with class mates.  These will become the Concrete Details of your in class essay which you will be writing instead of a test on the novel.

Each group will share their ideas in response to the questions.  I will take notes, providing them for you on the LCD screen, and you will take notes of the areas that interest you, because you will choose one theme to write on for the in class essay.  There is much cross-over of information between the themes I have identified, so please take good notes and pay good attention to your class mates’ opinions and the CD’s they are based upon.

You will write the in class open book essay on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, depending on the length of discussion we have as a class.

Communication

Nuclear War

Religion

Rights

Tolerance

Communication:

1.      Is the author hopeful or pessimistic about humanity's future?

2.      Given time, is it possible that better powers of human communication will develop?  By evolution?  Through science? (1955)

3.      Would a universal language solve communication problems?

4.      If the problem of communication is man's greatest problem, and if no form of telepathy artificial or natural, can be developed, what other forms of understanding are available to us?

5.      Does the theme of communication suggest an explanation of the title's significance?  “Chrysalids” is a made up word.  What word is it most similar to?

Nuclear War:

1.         If nuclear war breaks out, is the picture of life afterwards as in The Chrysalids realistic?

2.         Waknuk people believe that the "Old People" brought "tribulation" down upon themselves because of sin.  As the "Old People," how do you feel about this?

3.         If the danger of war is real, and the possible consequences so terrible as to make the description of the aftermath presented in The Chrysalids reasonably valid, what conclusions should we draw from the book?

Tolerance:                                                                       

1.         Are we as a society bigoted or intolerant as the Waknuk society is?  Do we send people to the Fringes?

2.         Intolerance of any mental and physical "deviation" is a basic attitude in Waknuk.  How much real tolerance do we extend to physical and mental "deviants" today?

Rights:

1. How does the author consider the issue of rights?
2. Does everyone have the right to possess rights?
3. If everyone has rights, how do these rights co-exist?
4. How do you reconcile a criminal and a law-abiding citizen both having rights?
5. When do rights start for an individual and when do they stop?

Religion:

1.         What is Wyndham's view of religion?  What specifically does he oppose?

2.         Does the author use any Christian symbols or references in the text?

3.         Does Wyndham oppose Christianity specifically?

         Explain.