The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

Total Study Test and key version 1.1 by George Lamont

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Chapter I 1. What is the narrators dream? Describe it, how it was different than the authors world, and why it helps establish the setting of the book. He dreams of a modern city, complete with tall buildings, care, and aircraft. The author appears to live in a pre-industrial, agriculture based society that lacks the technology of the modern times. It sets the setting of the story in the future, yet in a state de-evolved from the present day. 2. Who does the author meet, and what does he discover about this person? He meets Sophie, a girl his own age, and finds that she has six toes on each foot. 3. What promise does David make to his friends mother? Why is this promise important? What are the consequences for breaking the promise? He promises that he will keep secret that she has 6 toes on each foot. This promise is imperative because society is very strict about normality, and terrible things will happen to Sophie if anyone finds out. 4. What special ability do we learn that David has, and what are the circumstances under which the reader learns this? Why does this fact allow David to especially appreciate his promise? David has telepathic ability, the ability to communicate with others by thought, not through normal communications. He can communica te through thought shapes, and tries to do so with Sophies mother but fails. Her mother has only a trace of this ability, and isnt aware of it. This abnormal ability Dav id has places him in the same danger of Sophie of being rooted out and expelled or killed for being a deviant. 5. What is this society afraid of? What do they believe is behind their fear? What is the religious basis of their fears, and the rules they have made to deal with them? Society fears any deviation, fearing that the Devil creates human-like bodies in which to invade humanity and corrupt them, such as the Adam and Eve story, where Satan entered Eden in the form of a snake. The rationale is that Satan doesnt have the perfect power of God, so he cant make a human without some i mperfection, or deviation. The people have taken literally the Genesis story, that describes how a person should look. 6. What doubts does David have about what he has learned about his friend, and how the laws of his society apply to this situation? David understands the laws about deviance, but only from constant training. He cannot believe that Sophie is the Devils creature, or that she is somehow hateful in the sight of God.

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

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Chapter II 1. What is the name of Davids community? Who built it? What position does his family hold because of this? Waknuk was built by Elias Strorm, who claims he left the east for its ungodly ways. He started the community; therefore, Davids fathe r is the unofficial head of the community. 2. What are the two books that are left to form the society? What kind of society have they created? How does the characterization of Davids grandfather demonstrate the authors point about this kind of living? Only The Bible and a book called Nicholsons Repentences survived, causing the surviving society to be very fundamentally Christian, and very strict about Christian laws. Elias Strorms very strict ways turned his beautiful wife into a withered, grey woman who was almost gl ad to die 1 year after Davids father was born. (It is important to note that a similar situation occurs in Dickens Dombey and Son, where Mrs. Dombey almost gladly dies after the birth of Paul Jr., having a most strict and single-minded husband.) The author is explaining that such a society stifles life. 3. Who were the Old People, and what were they like? What can you extrapolate (guess) about what happened to the Old People, and how is this relevant to our society now? The Old People were our modern day society, and they had our technology, myths of which amaze Davids society, who believe that the Old People were almost god -like but somehow were lost. (This is much like the Romantic Era notion of the Golden Age, where people were blissful and nearly perfect, soon after the Fall of Man. These golden people just disappeared in Romantic myth.) Clues in the story suggest that the Old People destroyed themselves in a nuclear holocaust, which was a serious threat to humankind in the sixties, when this book was written. 4. What is the big sign that hangs fa cing the main door to Davids house? Explain why this is an example of foreboding. Watch thou for the mutant, which warns all people, above all else, of the danger of mutants. This is foreboding because t he reader already knows that both David and Sophie are technically mutants. We know they will be caught somehow. 5. Explain why it is significant that this fear in society comes more from Nicholsons Repentences than from the Bible. Remember that Nicholsons Repentences is not a real book, but one writ ten after the Old People disappeared. It is important in Christianity to separate real Biblical text from the ideas and other books of later Christians. Many people interpret the Bible in different ways. The Bible itself does not strongly warn against mutants. Rather, Repentences is the hysterical work of a person who interprets the Biblical description of humans to be somehow very important in detecting and averting evil. The author is telling us that of the many terrible things that people do, claiming it is Gods Will, very little of it actually comes from the Bible. 6. What are some examples of Deviations? Anything from crops with strange forms, to misshapen animals, unusual plants, or even slightly deformed humans. 7. What are the differences between the livable areas, the Fringes, and the Badlands? Considering what the reader understands about the demise of the Old people, and the effects of radiation, explain the existence of these three states. The livable area is low on radiation, and has little deviation caused by it. Still, some variations occur, but are considered not normal. The fringes are areas where deviation is quite common, likely due to higher levels of radiation. The badlands, likely sites of nuclear attacks, have deadly radiation levels. However, the people believe it has to do with the influence of Satan. 8. How are the fringes people a threat? Why are the stories about fringes people eating children a comment on religious mythology? Fringes people have made small raids on the civilized areas for food due to less space and more fringes people. Parents tell their small children about repulsive fringes people who eat children, to keep them in line. This is much like scaring kids with stories of witches and devils. This is an example of how religious mythology deceives its followers about the true nature of evil, which is not found in devils and ghosts, but in people, even religious people.

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Chapter III 1. When Sophie says that she doesnt believe people will be able to fly, even though stories say that the Old People could, how does this show that Sophie is not the mutant people would think she is? Sophie shares the arrogant belief of humans that they have almost reached the limit of possible knowledge, even though humans always surprise themselves with amazing new discoveries. Her limited view about the future helps characterize Sophie as not a mutant, not so different from the rest of people, despite her physical anomaly. 2. What casual remark does David make in his home that alarms his family? What is their reaction, and why is it so extreme? As he tries to dress his wound from a wood splinter, his casually remarks that if he had another hand, he would be able to do it himself. Of course, with the family very committed to their idea of religion and normalcy, they are offended. They believe that David has insulted God, and that he has wished to be a mutant. They are so super-sensitive about mutations and religion that they are totally unreasonable. The author is suggesting that religion can be too extreme when the intended meaning is lost. 3. What is the terrible, but prophetic, dream that David has the night after his remark? Explain the symbolism and meaning of the dream. Also, explain how this dream is foreboding. He dreams that his father is going to slaughter Sophie like some mutant animal. Sophie begs for mercy and help, but receives none from the devout people who sing a hymn to God. The irony is that in the Christian faith, God is merciful and loves all creatures, yet thes e people are the opposite. Davids father then kills Sophie by cutting her throat. The symbolism is that Sophie is the innocent lamb, like Jesus, who is sacrificed by a troop of people who have missed the point about the Bible. Davids father, who believes he is doing perfect good, is actually evil, under the guise of strict religion. The dream is foreboding because it warns the reader that Sophie is in real danger.

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

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Chapter IV 1. Who is Rosalind? What does Uncle Axel find out about David and Rosalind? What is his reaction? What must David promise to Uncle Axel? Rosalind is Davids cousin who lives as a neighbor. Uncle Axel discovers David talking out loud, but really communicating telepathically to Rosalind. Uncle Axel, unlike Davids father, is very open-minded about mutancy, and is very concerned but has no intention of ever reporting the two. He warns David that no one must ever know this about them, and makes David promise never to talk out loud again. 2. During the invasion of the normal area by the fringes people, what is special about the prisoner who is brought to Davids house? What is Davids fathers reaction to the prisoner? What can you speculate about the prisoners identity? He appears normal while sitting on a horse, but has monstrously long arms and legs. He closely resembles Davids father, and turns out to be Davids fathers brother, a deviant, who was sent to the fringes at birth. Davids father appears almost ill at the sight of his own brother, a fringes person and leader of the fringes people. 3. What argument takes place between Angus Morton and Joseph Strorm? What is the inspectors position on the matter? How does the matter of the Dakers cat relate to Strorms character? What angry remark does the inspector say to Strorm that supports the authors opinion of Strorm? Angus Morton gets a legitimate pair of great-horses, who are very large, but sanctioned by the government. Of course, Strorms misguided devotion to his version of Christian faith motivates him to deman d that the horses be destroyed as Offences (deviants), even though the government has sanctioned them. He accuses the inspector and the government of being corrupt. The inspector reminds Strorm about an incident where Strorm, acting as magistrate, destroyed a neighbors tailless cat before the people could complete the appeal. The cat turned out to be legitimate, but not before Stror m killed it. It shows how misguided and ruthless Strorm and other fundamentalists can be about their faith. Finally, the inspector, who is reasonably understanding and liberal-minded, accuses Strorm of being a bigot and a fool, which, really, he is. Strorm proceeds to accuse the government and inspector of being the forces of evil. 4. What does the reader learn about the location of the story? It takes place on the island of Labrador, near Newfoundland, in Canada. 5. What is Tribulation? What Christian story does it resemble? The people in this society believe that the cause for the loss of the old people, the badlands, and the mutancy, are caused by some act of punishment by God. It resembles the story of the flood and Noahs Ark in the Bible. 6. Explain how the Ethics teacher describes the cause of tribulation, other cases of Gods punishment, and how people need to act in order to re-attain the Golden Age. A) The cause of Tribulation is guessed to be a phase of irreligious arrogance in the past; perhaps the Old People didnt worship God like they were supposed to. B) Other Christian examples of Gods punishme nt are the expulsion from Eden, the great Flood, pestilences, the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the Captivity (of the Israelites by the Egyptians). C) The Ethics man explains that the religious and government leaders must carefully think about each new thing they find about the Old People, to decide if it is a sin or a step back to Grace (God/paradise).

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

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Chapter V 1. How does Joseph Strorm explain the fact that the only field with deviations in it belongs to Angus Morton? How do you explain it? What does this tell the reader about religions linking events to causes? Joseph Strorm tells people that Morton is being punished for keeping the great-horses. However, it is likely a coincidence. It is an example of how religions explain certain causes for events, good or bad, that may in fact be random. 2. Who finds Sophie and David playing in the stream? What does he notice, and how? Why is this so serious? Alan Ervin finds them playing. Sophie starts to hide, but Alan notices a Sophies wet footprint of 6 toes on the rock, and knows sh e is a mutant. David doesnt trust Alan, and Alans menacing manner suggest that he will happily report Sophie. David attacks him so Sophie can escape, but starts to lose the fight, until Sophie knocks him unconscious with a rock. 3. What does the Wender family decide to do, and why? What does David wants to do? What does David do as his last act to help Sophie? They decide to flee at once so that Sophie will not be caught. David wants to go with them, and they want him to come because Davids father is so terrible, but they cannot take him. David agrees to sleep at their house that night to buy Sophies family more time, even though he will be in trouble the next day. 4. Contrast the differences in which the inspector and Davids father react to David when he returns. What is their common goal? Davids father is absolutely furious and angry about Sophie, a blasphemy. He is out of control, and tries to bully David into talking. He finally sends David to his room to receive a whipping from his father. The inspector, in contrast, tries to gently and reasonably get David to admit who Sophie is and where she is going. 5. What happens when Davids father takes the inspectors whip with which to beat David? Why is this important to the characterization of the inspector? When Davids father takes the inspectors whip, the inspector refuses to allow Davids father to use it against David. Davids father is a religious zealot, and violent about getting his way. The inspector, on the other demonstrates some restraint, compassion, and even distaste for his job. He believes he must find the mutant, but questions if it is worth any cost. 6. Why does David feel guilty at the end of the chapter? Is he justified in feeling guilty? David, through an extensive beating from his father, is forced to admit the information about Sophie. He is not truly responsible, considering that his is still a boy and his father was willing to beat him torturously to get the information. Davids father is out of control and has missed the po int of Christianity. He doesnt see the loving side of the religion, only the strict, ruthless side, which shows his own true charac teristics of love for power and shallow sense of the nature of evil.

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Chapter VI 1. What are the two recurring dreams that David has? How are they both foreshadowing? He dreams again of his father killing Sophie and of the silver city in the distance. Both of these things become true in a form. 2. What is ironic about the following comment by the inspector: Loyalty is a gre at virtue, but there is such a thing as misplaced loyalty. One day you will understand the importance of a greater loyalty. The Purity of the Race. (pg. 56) The inspector lectures David about how his loyalty is misplaced, and that his loyalty should be for the religion. However, the reader see that it is the people who fear mutants so greatly whose loyalties are misplaced. The people who fear the mutants like the inspector and Joseph Strorm do not understand the true nature of evil. Their belief in the De vils mutants is a misplaced belief. His words echo the words of Adolf Hitler, who vehemently tried to purify the Aryan race and eliminate the Jews. It is a sobering comparison for the reader to consider what misplaced loyalties can produce, such as the extermination of 6,000,000 Jews out of loyalty to Hitler. 3. How does the inspector relieve Davids guilty conscience? Is this consistent with the inspectors position? Is it consiste nt with his character? He tells David that Sophie and her family were not caught because David has given up his information, but by chance by a patrol. It is not consistent with the inspectors position to have compassion for those who help deviants, but it is consistent with his very humane and decent nature. 4. What does Uncle Axel discourage David from doing? What does Uncle Axel tell David about the outside world? He convinces David not to run away, else he will only be caught, and will have no where to go in any case. Uncle Axel tells of his sea travels and the stories he has heard. He explains that far away from Labrador, there are groups of people who are very different from the people in Labrador, yet they believe they are the normal people and the visitors are the deviants. Others dont worr y about Deviation at all. He explains that there is no way for the people in Labrador to know if they are the true image of God, because The Bible doesnt actually explain what that image is. Nicholsons Repentences does, but it was written after Tribulation, so he couldnt really know. 5. Suggest comparable stories in Greek Mythology that match the sailors accounts of the land ruled by women, and that these women caused sailors to get shipwrecked, then ate them. What kind of stories are these, and how do they help define what level of advancement the Labrador civilization is at? The land ruled by women is similar to the Greek myth of the amazon women tribe of warriors who mutilated and enslaved their men children, and raised their girls to be leaders and warriors. However, the Amazons did not eat their men. They had children by having sex with men from other tribes. The story of shipwrecking sailors is similar to the Greek Sirens, three bird women who could cause any man sailor to be shipwrecked on their island through their beautiful singing. These stories are myths, and show that the Labrador peoples understanding of their world is still very primitive. 6. What does Axel suggest about David and Rosalinds ability, that helps David see the short -sightedness of the religious policy against mutations? Axel believes more in Darwins theory of evolution, that the fittest creatures survive. New levels of fitness are achieved through mutation. Mutations that increase an organisms survivability select those organisms to reproduc e, and therefore become the new norm for the species. David and Rosalinds telepathic ability may be such a mutation. In addition, the myth that the Old People could communicate over great distances (of course, by radio and telephone, but Axel and David dont know that), suggests that David might be more like the Old People than the rest in Waknuk. 7. What happened to the ninth of Davids telepathic group? What do they decide happened to him? He disappeared without explanation. After asking around, Uncle Axel reassures David he must have died accidentally or moved away.

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

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Chapter VII 1. Who is Davids new sibling? Petra. 2. Why is the family so anxious until the inspector arrives? Why dont the Strorms announce the babys birth right away? How does the inspector get some revenge against Davids father during this time? They are concerned that the inspector will find a mutation in the new child, as all new parents fear in this community. They dare not announce the birth until the baby is declared normal. It is a great shame to have a mutant baby, but this occurrence is not rare. If the baby is mutated, they must get rid of it, so they dont announce the birth until the baby is cleared. The inspector gets back at Joseph Strorm by not coming rig ht away to examine the baby. Usually, Strorms high position would bring the insp ector right away, but the inspector is taking his time. 3. What does Aunt Harriet want Davids mother, Emily, to do? What is Harriets argument in favor of this? What is Emilys reaction, and what do she and Joseph tell Harriet to do? Why is this particula r incident particularly bad for Harriets marriage? What is Harriets final protest to Emily and Joseph? Harriet has had a slightly mutated baby, and wants Emily to lend Petra to her so that Harriet can get a normalcy certificate for the mutated baby by substituting Petra for the examination. Harriet argues that the baby is fine, save only for a slight mutation, and that she loves the baby all the same. Emily and Joseph, as devout as ever, are angry, and demand Harriet give the baby up for inspection, and that she pray to God for forgiveness. Harriet is especially worried because this baby is her third mutated baby, and the law allows her husband, Henry, to divorce her. Harriet herself becomes angry in the end at Emily and Joseph, and vehemently retorts, I shall pray Him (God) too, that the hearts of the self-righteous may be broken. (P. 73.) 4. Analysis: Examine the following quote from Harriet (p. 73), regarding the will of God regarding mutants. I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I shall ask Him if it is indeed his will that a child should suffer and its soul be damned for a little blemish of the body.... Question: How does Harriets comment suggest the merciful nature of Christianity, instead of Joseph Strorms harsh version? How do you compare Harriet and Joseph to the New and old Testaments of the Bible? How do these two characters show the difference between The Bible, and Nicholsons Repentences? Use a prop erly composed paragraph to explain and justify your answer. 5. Why does Davids mother change her tone when Davids father reminds her that she has also had two mutant babies (Dont look in the book for this answer - think!)? What can David and the reader guess has happened to these babies? She realizes that despite her religious devotion, she may too have a third mutant baby, which would give Joseph grounds to divorce her and turn her out. The reader and David can guess that the two mutant babies were killed or abandoned in the fringes. 6. How many mutant babies has Davids mother actually had, detected and undetected? What is ironic about this? Four David and Petra, plus the two abandoned babies. It is ironic that the most devoted anti-mutant people are producing them as much as anyone, and that some of their children have survived without them knowing. In fact, Joseph and Emily are responsible for bringing mutants into their community and keeping them there, something they would be horrified by if they knew about it. 7. What does David learn has happened to his Aunt Harriet and the baby? Aunt Harriet is found dead in the river, but the baby is missing.

The Chrysalids by John Wyndham

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Chapter VIII 1. Why does David pray to God every night - what does he ask God to do? Why does Uncle Axel think this is a bad thing to do? David asks God to make his special ability to go away, because David is so frightened. Axel tells him that this is wrong, that God gave him that gift, and he should not ask god to take it away any more than ask God to take away his vision or hearing. 2. What are the names of the 9 telepaths (including the missing one)? David, Rosalind (Davids cousin), Michael, Anne & Rachel (sisters), Mark, Sally & Katherine (neighbors), and Walter Brent (dead). 3. How is Michael always neat or at the top of his class, and the others able to learn from his school classes? They telepathically share his learning, helping each other think, and learning from what Michael learns.

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Chapter IX 1. Who is the new telepath? How do the others find out? What is different about this telepath? Petra is the newest. She falls into a pool, and telepathically calls for help, in a powerful and commanding way the others are not capable of. 2. What is different about Davids repetitive dream? What story element is this? He dreams of his father putting a mutant to death, except it is Petra, not Sophie. It is foreboding of what will happen in the future. 3. Why is the season so particularly bad? What is Jacobs explanation? In Jacobs youth, what happened to women who gave birth to mutants? Why is it unfair that the fathers dont receive the same punishment? What happened to the babies and why? Do you think these practices actually helped keep control of mutancy? If not, why not? Can you suggest other possible reasons to explain the increased rate of mutation? There is an unusually high rate of deviation this season. Jacob thinks this is because people are getting away with more deviation, and arent punished as much as they were. Women were whipped for bearing mutant children. Men were not punished, even though men contribute 50% of the genetic material to conceiving babies. Babies were burnt as other deviations were. These practices likely had no effect on the rate of mutancy, because mutancy is caused the radiation. The increased rates of mutation are more likely due to the expansion of the normal communities into previous fringe areas, which suffer more from residual radiation. Also, high winds during the year have brought more radiation than usual to the normal parts. Remember that radiation is spread by small particles, known as fallout. 4. How does Jacob justify his opinion that mutations must be destroyed? What does David learn happens to mutant babies or people once discovered? Jacob thinks that mutants arent human, so killing them isnt murder. David learns from Jacob that all mutants are sterilized (probably rather crudely because these people do not yet know modern surgical technique). Babies are abandoned in the fringes, and people are sent there. 5. Analysis outside the novel: How is Jacob similar to Old Man Warner in the short story, The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson? What comment do these characters make on tradition versus advancement? Old Man Warner and old Jacob both believe that the old, harsh way is the best way, the way that will win the favor of God (or gods). Neither or them really understand the original reasons for their traditions, yet think the younger generations are causing the destruction of society by not adhering to them. They represent the danger of ignorantly followed tradition, which can survive even after new knowledge and technology disprove the need for the tradition. Consult me for deeper analysis. 6. What warning does Axel give David? He tells David that the higher rate of deviation will motivate people to look for scapegoats, and blame any slight deviation for their troubles. That means David and the telepaths will be in greater danger than ever. 7. What event does David discover will happen? Why is this commonplace event so dangerous for David and the telepaths? Anne is getting married. Whoever marries her might find out about her ability and the other telepaths.

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Chapter X 1. Why is Annes choice so especially bad? What arguments does the group use against her decision? Is their argument a form of discrimination? She will marry Alan Ervin, who was the boy who discovered Sophie and tried to catch her. He wont be at all sympathetic to the telepaths, and will happily turn them in. Michael implored Anne that she shouldnt marry him becaus e he does not have telepathic powers. It would be like marrying a blind person. One might argue that this argument is the seed of discrimination, that telepaths shouldnt marry non -telepaths. However, it has a practical application, considering the danger. 2. What does Uncle Axel suggest they need to do to overcome the danger? What does David think of this choice? Axel suggests they need to kill Anne to keep the rest of them alive and out of danger. David cant do it because he feels it would be a violation of their friendship in the group. 3. What happens to Alan Ervin? Who does Anne suspect? He is found dead, with an arrow through the neck. Anne suspects the group of telepaths planned and carried out his murder. 4. What becomes of Anne? What important thing does Rachel find, and why is it important? What does Rachel do with it, and why? Anne is found, having hanged herself in her modest home which she shared with Alan. Rachel finds Annes suicide note, which accuses the group, including Petra, of murdering Alan. Rachel hides the note from the people at Annes house, rea ds it over later, then carefully burns it. 5. What does Michael realize about the members of the group, which could be important to their safety later in the novel? He makes a note to the others that it only takes one member to compromise the safety of all the others. This is important because if one member is somehow captured and tortured, they can compromise all the others.

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Chapter XI 1. What trouble does Petra have? Why does the groups response place them in danger? Who questions them? She rides her pony alone and is attacked by a strange beast, which kills and begins to eat the pony. She telepathically calls for help, and the whole group comes running. Once they arrive, they kill the beast, but are seen by Jerome Skinner, who wonders how they could have known to come to the scene when he could hear nothing. He checks their tags, and suspects something, but cant figure it out. The group must be careful not to let this happen again, but Petras commanding telepathic powers make it impossible for them to communicate when she is calling for help. They decide to teach her some control. 2. What is important about the others that Petra can telepathically communicate with, both in terms of Petras ability and the telepaths social status? Petra can communicate with telepaths very far away, suggesting more that her powers are much, much greater than the rest. It also suggests to the group that there really are other telepaths in the world. 3. Why is Uncle Axel concerned? A man named Joe Darley, known as an informant for the inspector, has been asking questions. 4. How did Uncle Axel figure out that Alan knew about the telepaths? He saw the expression of malicious knowledge on Alans face in church. 5. Who killed Alan, and why? Axel killed Alan because he knew Alan knew the truth about them, and was viciously happy to turn them in. 6. What resolutions does the group make in regard to the new danger? They resolve that Petra is too young to safely withstand an inquiry, so David must be responsible to escape with Petra, or even kill her, rather than allow her to be captured. 7. By this time, what is the relationship between David and Rosalind? How do their families feelings for each other affect this relationship? David and Rosalind are in love, and have a sexual relationship. This is greatly tainted by the fact that their respective families hate one another, and would never allow a marriage, even if Rosalind became pregnant.

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Chapter XII 1. Who wakens David, and with what news? Petra wakens him, and the others tell him that Sally and Katherine have been taken. Meanwhile, David and Petra must flee from the arriving squad coming to seize them. Their escape is close, and David is illprepared. 2. How did Rosalinds mother react to Rosalinds departure? What does David won der about his own mother? She helped Rosalind pack, demonstrating how parental love can and should outweigh the stringent and arbitrary rules about mutants. David wonders if his own mother will be secretly glad that they escaped. 3. How do Michael and Mark volunteer to help David, Rosalind, and Petra? Michael, unknown as a telepath to the hunting groups, volunteer to join those searching for David, Rosalind, and Petra. He will deliberately mislead them while feeding information to his friends. Mark intends to plant a rumour that they are heading in a different direction. 4. Why does Rosalind get so upset as David wakes up? How do David and the others reassure her? Rosalind uses her bow and arrow to kill a man following their tracks. The others reassure her she had no choice. 5. Why are Sally and Katherine sorry to the others? What incentive was used against them? What does Michael vow? Sally and Katherine were captured and tortured for information, which they finally had to give. The inquisitors used hot irons to torture the information out of them. Michael vows to kill the torturers for what they did to Sally and Katherine. 6. Why are the people so eager to catch and telepaths, more eager than they would be for other mutants fleeing? Because the telepaths cant be detected by examination; they could be anyone, and that scares the normals. 7. Who does Petra detect that the others cant? Where is this person from? What do David and the others learn about this place, and how is this relevant to Davids dreams? Petra communicates with a telepath woman from New Zealand, who has heard Petras cries of fear. She describes New Zealand as a very technologically advanced society, one that David has dreamt of. In fact, his dreams may only be images that he has received from the advanced telepaths in New Zealand. 8. What warning does Michael give to David, Rosalind, and Petra? The hunters have picked up their trail and are concentrating their search resources on them.

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Chapter XIII 1. Who does Davids group encounter at the outset of the chapter? What action do they take? They encounter a man on a horse. They shoot arrows at his horse, which is injured but escapes. They do not kill the man, who falls off the horse, and they ride by him. 2. What instruction does the far-away New Zealand telepath give the group? What is important about this member of the group? What encouraging news does the New Zealand woman give them? The NZ woman tells them they must protect Petra at all costs. Petra has powers of thought projection unheard of even in New Zealand, and she is a very important discovery. The New Zealand woman is coming to save them. 3. Why cant Petra understand why David must kill them if they are captured? Petra doesnt understand that they present a threat to the survival of normal people, so the normals will torture them not only to get rid of them, but all the telepaths there are. 4. What happens as the David, Rosalind, and Petra reach the edge of the fringes? What saves them from capture? The great-horses charge into the forest as the hunters shoot at them. The great horses can run farther than regular horses, and are taller and stronger, so they can go deeper into the forest that regular horses. 5. How does the chapter end? What do you suspect has happened? Someone drops upon them from the trees. The fringes people have captured them.

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Chapter XIV 1. What knowledge of Rosalinds character is presented at the beginning of the chapter? She is mentally tough, having developed an armored personality to hide her inner self. David has gotten through that, and shows the reader her fear and tenderness that longs to live in a world where she can be open about her true nature. Refer to pages 149 and 150. 2. What different version of the Christian religion does David hear from his captor? Specifically, compare and contrast references to the Devil and God to what David was taught. How does this relate to what Uncle Axel said to David about the true image? How does this support Darwins theory of evolution, and how does this benefit the telepaths? The fringe man tells David that the Devil does not run the fringes. In fact, he claims that the Devil is in charge in Davids area, because people there still are arrogant, thinking they are the true image. In contrast to Davids father, the fringe man says that God is always changing, and that the Tribulation was sent down upon Humankind to punish them for thinking they were the final stage in evolution. Uncle Axel surmised that David and the telepaths might be closer to the true image than anyone else, considering old myths about the Old Peoples ability to communicate over long distances. This, of course, relates to the telepaths because th ey really are an evolutionary advancement over normal people. I nstead of marking the telepaths ability as negative and harmful, this view gives it more credit. 3. Why is it ironic that all people caught entering the fringes are taken prisoner? Considering that no normals would want to enter the fringes, and those who do are mutants needing to flee as all members of the fringes were, it is surprising that the fringes people need to capture all new people. It shows some of the distrust and fear of others that characterize all of humanity. 4. What do the telepaths agree to tell the fringes people? What do they agree to hide from them? They agree to tell the fringes people that they are being pursued by the normals. They agree to hide the fact the New Zealand woman is coming to save them. 5. What opinions does the New Zealand woman express about normal people? How do these comments echo the very same problems in the attitudes of the normal people and the fringes people? How does she explain the causes of Tribulation? She refers to the normal people and old people as little better than savages (p. 156). She disdains them, and shows discrimination against them, as if they are animals, not deserving to live. It is true that the telepaths are superior to the normals, but she seems to lack the wisdom of understanding that it is foolish for any group to think they are the ultimate step in evolution. The NZ woman suggests that the normal people would either have caused the tribulation through nuclear war, or through overpopulation anyway. She asserts that the normal humans were doomed to failure. 6. What do David and Rosalind notice about the appearance of the fringes people they meet, and how does this compare with what they had expected? They noticed that those with visible deformities were not grotesque, and that most of them werent even noticeably deformed. They have met regular people who sometimes look a little different. 7. Who does David meet in the fringe settlement? What is the story behind this person? Why is this person so hopeful that Davids father is in the search force? He meets the spider man, who has extra - long limbs. He is Davids fathers older brother, and Davids uncle. He had too long limbs as a child; but before the authorities could take him away to be killed, his mother (Davids grandmother) and his nurse took him to the fringes and left him there for the chance that he might survive. He wants to meet his brother, Davids father, in battle for revenge, as the spider man would have been the heir to Waknuk, not Davids fa ther. 8. What is the fringe leaders ruthless intention, and why does David try to attack him? What is the leaders response, and how is this somewhat characteristically similar to Davids own father? He wants to take Rosalind and have sex with her, so that he can have children. People abandoned to the fringes are sterilized, but Rosalinds sudden escape spared her this fate. Rosalind is very pretty and attractive; the spider mans lust for her is selfish. He will have her regardless of her feelings . The implication is that he will rape her. David senses this and attacks him, but fringe guards repel him. The spider man, Davids uncle, tells him to live with it, and orders the guards to force David to leave, or kill him. This self-absorbed, ruthless nature is like Davids father: unreasonable, and self-centered. It demonstrates that human nature is filled with ruthlessness and avarice, even among those who are oppressed, such as the mutants. 9. How do the guards deal with David at the end of the chapter? As they lead him away, he tries to escape from them and head back to confront his uncle, and would be rapist of Davids love Rosalind. However, the guards anticipate his move, beat him u p, knock him unconscious, and throw him into the bushes.

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Chapter XV 1. Whom does David meet? What does he notice about this person, and why is this surprising? How does this make a comment on the idea of divine intervention? He finds that Sophie, now a grown woman, has dragged him to safety. She is wearing no cross on her dress, as all girls and women in the normal society had to do. He is at first repelled by this, showing that the effects of the indoctrination he received in Waknuk are hard to forget, despite the fact that he knows they are at least partly unfair. It suggests the idea in the New Testament that divine intervention does not come in the form of adorning ourselves with crosses. Divine influence is passive; God does not protect those who wear crosses more than those who dont. God loves all pe ople the same, regardless of their appearance or dress, of relative wealth. This idea of unconditional love by God is a fundamental aspect of the Christian religion that the normal people have forgotten. 2. What is the relationship between Sophie and the spider man? How does Sophie react to the fact that David and Rosalind are in love? The spider man takes Sophie as a sexual lover, and he cares for her, but he is not faithful to her now that he has found Rosalind. Rosalind is fertile (can have babies), and is clean (she can wash) and very beautiful. This truly hurts Sophie, who is very lonely, and makes her resent both the spider man, and Rosalind, whom Sophie distrusts. Sophie is disappointed by the love between David and Rosalind, and is skeptical of their telepathy. 3. Who among the telepaths is still alive at this point? What do the telepaths believe has happened to the others? David, Petra, Rosalind, Michael (undetected), and Rachel. Walter Brent had died of a logging accident long ago, Anne died of suicide, Sally and Katherine are likely dead from their captors, and Mark is no longer reachable, perhaps dead of an accident, or killed by hunters who didnt bother to try and capture him alive. 4. What does Sophie volunteer to do to assist Rosalind and Petra? What does she take with her for the job? What does David notice about this object when Sophie returns? Sophie volunteers to steal in and rescue Rosalind and Petra from the guard. She takes a knife with her, which is covered with blood when she returns with Rosalind and Petra.

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Chapter XVI 1. How do Sophie and Rosalind regard and react to each other? What are each of their reasons for these feelings? They warily eye each other, both jealous of each other over David. Rosalind loves David and is his lover, distrusting Sophie. Sophie might love David in some way, because he was her faithful friend and defender when they were kids. However, Sophie loves the spider man, for all his faults, and feels hurt that the spider man preferred Rosalind. Sophie is depressed that Rosalind is revulsed by the very man that Sophie has grown to love, but who cast her aside for Rosalind. 2. What is the result of the first battle between the normals and the fringes people? The fringes people prepare an ambush for the normal army, but mistake the normals scout fo rce for their main force. The fringes people use all their forces to engage the normals scouts, turning their back on the normals main force, and the fringes people totally lose the battle. Two or three hundred people die in the battle. 3. What is the black glass, and where does it come from? What explanation do the people have for its existence? It is sand melted and burned by nuclear weaponry, not by Gods punishment as the people think. 4. When Petra communicates with Rachel, what does she learn about Rachels feelings? What is important about how Petra learned this information? How does this threaten the other telepaths in the group, considering evolutionary theory? Rachel is beyond the range of the other telepaths, but Petra reaches her with the message that she must be strong and that the other telepaths love her. However, during their communication, Petra sees that Rachel is in love with Michael, but this is a behin dthink, a thought that is not visible to the other, less powerful telepaths. This is disturbing to David, who considers the danger of a telepath being able to read even the protected thoughts of others. Petra is yet a new breed of telepaths who will eventually replace telepaths like David and Rosalind. 5. Who is with the normal army? What do David and Rosalind realize this person intends to do, explaining why this normal army is pressing so far into fringe territory? What can the reader confirm has happened to Sally and Katherine based on this realization? David and Petras father is with the group. He fully believes that the faithful Christians must never allow a female mutant to have the chance to reproduce and spread pollution (p. 181) throughout the world. Davids father, the leade r of the normal army, is pressing so deeply into fringes territory to kill Petra and Rosalind, to prevent them from reproducing further mutants like themselves, who cannot be identified through the normal methods of inspection. The reader can extrapolate that Sally and Katherine were indeed killed by the normals, because as women, they were too much of a threat. 6. What is surprising about the fact that the New Zealand woman believes in tribulation? She is still religious, despite the fact that her race is very scientifically advanced. It asks the reader to consider if science and religion are compatible, if perhaps there is a God, but that humanity has repeatedly misinterpreted that God. On the other hand, the reader might decide that this opinion of the New Zealand woman indicates that her race is also subject to the same kind of pitfalls associated with religion that the Labrador people suffer from. 7. What is he New Zealand woman of what David and the telepaths should do about his father? What is her reasoning? She tells the telepaths not to bother about Davids father, because he trying to support and advance a lost cause. His race of non telepathic humans cannot survive in face of the telepaths who have superior abilities and technology. She says that the normal people are doomed; the telepaths should consider their own future. 8. Describe briefly the course and outcome of the battle between the fringe and normal armies. The fringes people set an ambush in some cliffs, but the normals see there will be an ambush and arent drawn in. Instead, the norm als draw out the fringes into battle, while the normals flank the fringes people and crush them. The result is a rout, with the remains of the fringe force fleeing back to the town and beyond. The fringes people are caught in the town, and crushed. 9. What happens to the spider-man, Sophie, and Davids father? The Spider man kills Davids father with an arrow to the chest. He had waited patiently and calmly through the battle for Joseph Strorm to appear, and killed him. The spider man then picked up Sophie and ran, but was struck down by arrows from the normal army, which had entered the town. As the spider man fell, Sophie ran, and took an arrow in the arm. She still ran, but was killed instantly by an arrow through the neck. She dies and her body slides along the ground to a stop, to the horror of David. 10. What kind of craft does the New Zealand woman arrive in? A futuristic helicopter with a conical rotor.

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11. Describe the weapon employed by the New Zealand woman. It is like a spider web, extremely sticky, which paralyzes and smothers victims. The more the people thrash and try to escape, the more they are bound, and die.

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Chapter XVII 1. How does the New Zealand woman undo the effects of her weapon? Whom does she save? She wears a shiny white suit that is immune to the sticky weapon, and a fine aerosol spray that dissolves the web. She saves the telepaths David, Petra, Rosalind, and Michael. 2. Describe the New Zealand womans appearance, and suggest some possibilities as to what she might repr esent through her appearance. She is dressed in white, with perfect, white teeth and creamy, white skin with dusty, pink cheeks. Her face is sculpted perfectly, and totally self-confident. She has blond, short hair. She might represent an angel through her appearance, though her beliefs are not perfect. On page 193, the narrator notes that she appears to have a halo above her (characteristic of angels). This subtly suggests that the flaws of religious beliefs still exist even for the advanced New Zealand telepaths. This idea that humans are imperfect is, of course, central to the Christian religion. 3. After the New Zealand woman explains that she has decided that ...it was worth while... to come, and mentions the costs of sending the ship, what can the reader extrapolate (guess) about the real reasons for the rescue? Was it altruism, or gain? While the New Zealanders likely have some compassion for other of their telepathic kind, it is clear that this is by far their furthest mission from home. Petras e xtreme powers are what justified the cost and trouble of the trip, not really the plight of David and Rosalind. The NZ people really wanted to advance themselves by acquiring Petra. 4. What very unpleasant news does the New Zealand woman have about who can go with her? How is this matter resolved? There is not enough fuel to go pick up Rachel. Michael, who is in love with Rachel (and vice versa), volunteers to back to Waknuk and stay there with her. No one knows they are telepaths, and they will await their chance to join David and Rosalind in New Zealand. They cannot risk being in Waknuk and be discovered some day. They will sail for New Zealand. (What are their chances of getting there?...) 5. How does the NZ woman justify what happens to all the fringes and normal people as she landed? What insightful observation does she make about the fate of her own race in the distant future? Does this insight support religious or scientific views on creation? She explains that the fringes people were doomed to a terrible life, and the normals got what they deserved. She doesnt enjoy killing any creature, but only the fittest survive, and in this case, the fittest are the telepat hs. This echoes Darwins theory of evolution of survival of the fittest through natural s election. She admits that someday, her race will be superseded by an even more powerful species of people or other creature, and that while the telepaths will desperately fight to preserve themselves, they will eventually lose. Nothing lasts forever; the world is always evolving: ... the essential quality of living is change; change is evolution... (p. 196) 6. As they return to New Zealand, what recurring image does David see? What is so special about this place? How is Rosalinds personality affected? What does the populations reaction to Petra confirm about Petras importance? David sees the very city he has dreamed of, with its hot sun, white beaches, flying machines and horseless carts. Most of all, he and Rosalind notice the buzz of an entire population of telepaths. Rosalind, now feeling within her own element, casts off her emotional armour and can be her own self. As Petra flashes with excitement, her extreme power actually hurts all the people, who, by their complaint, confirm Petras immense importance as the newest installment in the evolution of telepaths.

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Literary Analysis: 1. What is the setting of the story? Be specific in regards to time, geographical location, important events preceding the novel, and the kind of society and how it is generally affected by religion. The story takes place in Labrador, on the east coast of Canada, well into the future, many generations after a full-scale nuclear war. The planet has been largely radiated by nuclear weapons. In places, people have survived. Civilization starts again, and the reader finds a pre-industrial, agriculturally-based society roughly equivalent to pre-Renaissance Europe. The society has only recovered two books: The Bible, and a fundamentalist work written after the nuclear war, called Repentances. In an effort to explain their hardship and the vast (but dwindling) amounts of mutation (caused by radiation), the people fear and destroy mutants as if they were agents of the Devil. 2. What is the meaning of the title, and how does it relate to the novel? Chrysalid relates to metamorphosis and change in an organism. The telepaths are an evolutionary advancement amongst the human race, and represent the idea that evolution is always causing change and improvement, even among humans. Those humans who do not experience the new changes, will die off and the human race will evolve into a telepathic one. 3. Conflict: List all conflicts in the novel by type, giving the characters and the nature of each conflict. Internal Man vs. Himself David vs. Himself: David is a mutant as a telepath, but at first believes the doctrines of watch thou for the mutant!. At the same time, he also cannot bring himself to fear mutants when he meets them, such as Sophie. When he realizes he is a mutant too, he is forced to confront his religious beliefs, and partly discard them. Rosalind vs. Herself: Rosalind is self-reliant and hard on the outside, protecting herself from emotional harm and detection as a telepath. However, her real self is inside, ready to jump out to David and once they reach New Zealand. Emily Strorm vs. Herself: Emily (Davids mother) is a strong Christian, fears mutants, and is indignant when her sister, Harriet, approaches her asking to borrow Petra to get her own baby a normalcy certificate. However, once Emily realizes that she is not so far from Harriets position, feeling the love for her o wn baby, she must ask herself if she really can believe the rules against mutants and the ruthless adherence to these rules. The inspector vs. Himself: the inspector believes that he must root out mutations, but he has some humanity to him as well. He thinks Strorm, Davids father, is a bigot and a fool. He also sympathizes with David, refusing to let Joseph whip David with the inspectors whip, and comforting David about Sophie. Anne vs. Herself: Anne is one of the telepaths, but her fear of getting caught and desire to be normal and wanted motivates her, illfatedly, to marry Alan and reveal her knowledge of the telepaths. Uncle Axel vs. Himself: Axel is a part of the normal society, but he is open-minded and refuses to adhere to the rules about mutants. He even goes so far as to kill Alan Ervin to protect the telepaths.

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External Man vs. Man David vs. Father: Father is the most devout of Christians in the community, and dutifully and quite insanely turns to kill Petra and Rosalind. David cannot abide by his fathers extreme beliefs. As a telepath, David becomes an object of his fathers fear of evil. David vs. Alan: David is open-minded and sees Sophie as only another human being. Alan is sadistic; he wants to catch Sophie because he enjoys the hunt and has no concern for human suffering. He is the ugly product of a society based on hatred and fear. David vs. The Spider Man: David is Rosalinds true lover. The Spider Man lustfully desires Rosalind, also wanting to use her to reproduce. David loves Rosalind truly and resents the Spider Mans ruthless desires and intention to rape Rosalind. Joseph Strorm vs. Angus Morton: Joseph represents tradition and adherence to old values. Angus is progressive, but is as antagonistic as Joseph, as they battle each other. Joseph Strorm vs. Harriet (Davids aunt): Harriet can discard religion when she sees that it is ruthless and blind. Joseph rigidly adheres to religion, unable to see his situation from a detached point of view. Joseph Strorm vs. The inspector: Joseph is even more extreme than the government laws. He wants the great-horses destroyed even when the government approves. He is too harsh even for the government, whom Strorm feels is too weak and liberal. The inspector must enforce the laws about mutation, but must guard against extremism from people like Strorm. This is why he calls Strorm a bigot and a fool, and refuses to let Strorm whip David using the inspectors whip. David vs. Alan Ervin: Alan Ervin is a ruthless person, and wants to catch Sophie. David is a liberal-minded, humanitarian person, who defends Sophie from the aggressive Alan. David (and the telepaths) are in conflict with Alan later as he is ready to expose the telepaths, but Axel kills Alan first. Rosalind vs. Sophie: They are suspicious of each other. Sophie is suspicious of Rosalind because the Spider Man chose Rosalind over Sophie. Sophie resents Rosalind for her beauty and her normal, attractive appearance. Rosalind suspects Sophie loves David. The New Zealand woman vs. The normal army: She, as a superior variant of humanity, fights and quickly overcomes the normal army.

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Man vs. Circumstances/Environment David vs. Society: David is raised according to societys laws and at first believes them, but finds that societys laws are ruthless, short-sighted, and unfair, and eventually, they exclude him from society. The telepaths vs. Society: The telepaths are functional, appear normal and are superior to normal people. They are an evolutionary advancement; however, they are oppressed and sometimes killed by a fearful and primitive society. Harriet vs. Society: Harriet is a normal person, but her love and compassion cause her to reject the harsh, narrow-minded, fearmongering views of society, and decide not to submit her baby for inspection. Emily vs. Society: Emily follows societys rules, but secretly questions the societys laws after her sister flees in anger and fear. Joseph Strorm vs. Society: Davids father is more devout than the rest in his generation. He feels that deviation is the natural sign of evil, and he wants to fight it everywhere. However, he feels society is too tolerant and is letting evil spread. Sophie vs. Society: Sophie is mutated only by having a sixth toe on each foot. She is effectively normal, and is a good girl. However, she is cast out from society because of her toes, and is sentenced to a squalid, brutish life in the fringes. She comes to hate society for what has happened to her, shown by her resentment for Rosalind. Uncle Axel vs. Society: Axel is normal, but has a liberal, open-minded attitude to mutants. He doesnt agree with society, but he must appear to so that he can survive and do some good for David and the others. Anne vs. Society: As a telepath, she is part of a very limited group. She fears that society will reject her as a telepath, so she struggles to become part of society by marrying a normal person (Alan) and shutting herself off from the other telepaths. Her own feelings of guilt for doing this actually cause her to kill herself, and try to destroy the other telepaths by revealing their names in a suicide note, which Rachel luckily finds.

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Man vs. The Unknown David vs. God (Christianity): David disagrees with the laws motivated by the peoples religious beliefs. David must ask himself if it is Gods will that mutants be destroyed, or agree with the New Zealand woman that God intends change. Joseph Strorm vs. God: Joseph fears Gods tribulation, a further punishment, so he works against mutants to try to prevent another divine punishment. Joseph Strorm vs. Satan: He fears that Satan creates mutants as flawed attempts to get evil agents into humanity. Like many people, Strorm fears the evil in the world, and looks hard to find some symbol, some icon, to blame for the worlds evils. In this case, the high degree of mutation caused by the radiation gives Joseph the icon that he needs to convince himself that the Devil himself is invading their society. Uncle Axel vs. God: Axel teaches David the ideas of asking what God really wants. Axel does not believe God wants the destruction of mutants. Axel expects and demands that God be sane and reasonable. The New Zealand woman vs. The unknown future: She prophecizes that the telepath race will one day be forced to give way to yet another, newer species. In this way, she must work against the unknown future, or fate, for the survival of her race.

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4. Characterization: Describe the main characters in terms of their characterization. Include such concepts as the 3 principles of characterization (plausibility, consistency, and motivation), and character types (round/flat, stock/unique, static/dynamic). David: He is round, as the reader sees his thoughts and feelings. He is unique, being in an original situation. He is dynamic, because he learns that he does not believe the laws of his society about mutants, learns that he is a mutant by their standards, and learns that there is a world beyond what he has known. He is reasonably plausible, because he is a teenager adapting to a moral controversy about the definition of evil. His actions are not out of character throughout the book, so he maintains his consistency. He is adequately motivated by his friendship with Sophie and his own deviation as a telepath. Joseph Strorm: Strorm is a flat character. Even though the reader sees much of his religious beliefs through dramatization, the reader gains no insight into the characters inner self. As the main antagonist in the novel, Mr. Wyndham cleverly keeps this character flat so that the readers sympathy can be focused on David and his group, and on the authors message. Joseph might my stereotyped as a fundamental Christian except that he is in a unique situation, so he is not stereotyped. Strorm is completely static throughout the novel, never wavering in his ruthless practices against mutations. Strorm is totally consistent because he never changes his mind, much less act out of character. He is plausible, not because his action s are reasonable (which theyre not), but because extreme, fundamental Christians exist quite commonly. His severe faith and fear of divine punishment sufficiently motivate to the ends that he goes. Uncle Axel: He is a round character who explains his quiet but serious disagreement with the society to David. He is unique in the story, having traveled as far as anyone in that society, offering a uniquely experienced point of view to David. He is not really dynamic, as he seems to disappear after the death of Alan Ervin. However, he is somewhat dynamic because he accepts and grows to support the telepaths even at great personal risk. His belief in reason and humanity make him a plausible character, and he is consistent in his sympathy for the telepaths and discord with the society. His love for David and hatred of bigotry and cruelty motivate him adequately to explain his actions. Sophie: She is a round character, mostly at the end, when the reader sees her upset about the Spider man wanting Rosalind. She is certainly unique, as a mutant, outlawed to the fringes when it is obvious that she is not harmful to the society she has been exiled from. Sophie is dynamic, starting out as an innocent child, suffering traumatic escape and exile, then becoming tough, and learning to love a deformed and ruthless man like the spider man. Sophie is entirely plausible, as a simple child. Her transformation into a tough fringes woman is plausible because her environment forces her to adapt. Her jealousy of Rosalind is very believable considering her exile, and lover. She is consistent, remaining a good person through exile and battle. Her exile by a cruel society is acceptable motivation for her actions. Rosalind: She is a round character through the authors portrayal of Rosalinds connection with David, and her love and concern for Petra. As a telepath, Rosalind is unique like the rest. As a strong woman character who fights but has feelings, she escapes stereotypes usually found in heroines, such as weakness and melodramatism. Rosalind of dynamic, starting as a young girl and growing into an adult woman, having learned that she is a telepath and mutant. She is hunted by the normal army, knowing their intent to capture and kill her. At the very end of the book, Rosalind sheds her emotional armour and can be her true self in the new telepath society of New Zealand. Rosalind is a plausible character, as her emotional armour and hard exterior are common traits, especially in tough women who find they must prove themselves in male-dominated world. She is consistent, supporting the other telepaths and desiring to escape. She is motivated by her need to escape detection and capture, and the need to get to a new place that accepts telepaths.

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5. Does this novel appeal to the limited reader or the mature reader? Answer in a paragraph, fully justifying your answer. This book is an example of science-fiction at its finest. It appeals to the limited reader with good, likable protagonists and menacing antagonists. It has a great escape, a fierce battle, a dramatic, last-minute rescue, and a happy ending. However, the book attacks controversial topics, and has imperfections in the right/wrong schema that make it valuable reading for the mature reader. Its criticism of how humanity tries to define the nature of evil place this book in comparison with Sir William Goldings the Lord of the Flies. Its criticism of religions blind to science and fact demands the readers attention and consideration. 6. What is the point of view, and how does it assist the characterization of their protagonist? This novel is written in the narrative first person point of view. It is especially useful because it allows the reader to gain great insight into the protagonists inner feelings and thoughts.

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7. Explain the theme or themes of the novel. Nature of Evil - Human beings constantly look for ways to explain the unpleasant events of life, and often blame the intangible force of Evil for these events. Having established that unpleasant events, such as disasters, pestilences, diseases, etc., are caused by evil, humans attempt to define intangible evil in a tangible form, such as a Devil. Humans try to link this intangible concept with their own world, and deduce that the Devil exists among them, but can never prove where or when. Paranoia sets in as people suspect many possible manifestations of the Devil, such as witches, possessions, serious criminals, or in the case of The Chrysalids, simple genetic deviations. In their vain effort to locate, contain, and combat Evil, the people in this society target deviations, as if the genetic mutations were agents of Satan. Ironically, it is this attempt to combat Evil that creates Evil in this novel. It is religious devotion that allows the people to get away with murder, cruelty, and discrimination. The co-existence of Science and Religion: Science are religion are often totally opposed, being based on completely different systems of establishing ideas about the universe. Religion has the advantage of having an ultimately deliberate design to the universe, while Science lacks this ultimate design (at present), but deals in tangible evidence. In The Chrysalids, the religion of the characters is in direct contrast with the scientific knowledge of the reader. The loss of scientific knowledge by the people make them oblivious to facts the reader accepts already. People must strike a reasonable balance between religious faith scientific knowledge. This theme suggests to the reader that out own world may be primitive, and our religions may be immature. It there is a grand design to the universe related to God or some entity, we, like Joseph Strorm, may have little idea to its true nature. Darwinian evolution as the essence of the pattern of life - Life is based on change through evolution, causing even humanity to be in a state of flux, always changing, hopefully improving, and leaving behind those who cannot or will not adapt. Both the title and the resolution of this novel emphasize the importance of accepting the pattern of Darwins theory of evolution. The normal humans in Waknuk cling to their idea that they are the final, perfect form in humanity. They attempt to crush the superior variant, the telepaths. This is useless, as the reader can see that the telepaths are superior in their abilities to communi cate and cooperate. At the end of the novel, the Ne w Zealand woman echoes Darwins theory when she explains that the normal humans will simply be lost as another step in an ever-changing evolution of humanity and life. The reader must accept this truth as well, and understand how evolution applies to the readers world. 8. What is ironic about the New Zealand womans attitudes at the end of the novel? While she dislikes killing the normal and fringes people, she looks down upon them as a lower life-form, showing a little of the same discrimination and arrogance that the normal humans show. Is this a human trait? This is the question posed by her behaviour.

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Expanding on the story - Use your imagination and knowledge of the story to answer these questions. 1. What happened to Sophies parents? 2. What became of Uncle Axel? 3. Do you believe Michael and Rachel ever escaped Waknuk? 4. How did the inspector react to the hunt for Rosalind, David, and Petra? What part did he play?

Essay Questions: 1. Is The Chrysalids an anti-religious novel? Or, is the author simply making constructive observations about the balance of Christianity and Science? If there is a balance, how do we create this balance? 2. Do the normal people in the story have good reasons to destroy mutations? Do not just consider their religious beliefs; consider moral, scientific and practical reasons for or against systematic destruction of mutations. 3. You are a legal representative for Sally and Katherine after their capture. Prepare an essay in which you argue for their defense. You must try to prove that they do not deserve to be killed (or made infertile). You may also argue that they are not mutants, in order to bolster their defense. Use all arguments and evidence at your disposal. Remember that you are trying to convince a religious judge of their innocence. 4. Does the peoples belief that they must exterminate or exile human mutants have support in Christianity? You must disregar d the teachings referred to in Nicholsons Repentances. You may consult reference materials or experts, s uch as a priest, minister, nun, etc.. Be sure to cite any information you get from books, including The Bible, as well as information from people. 5. Research the phenomenon of telepathy, or ESP (Extra Sensory Perception). Write a research-based essay explaining this phenomenon, including what abilities are thought to exist, how it is believed to work, what proof there is of its existence, and how common is the claim to have this ability. 6. Research Darwins theory of evolution. Explain how he came up with the theory, some examples that support the theory, how evolution works, and why this is important for human understanding of the world.

Recommended reading: Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham Lord of the Flies by Sir William Golding Brave New World by Aldous Huxley