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 –Inspiration –Background Information In debt for his college education, he decided to try to incorporate the Battle Room idea into a story (which ultimately became Ender’s Game) 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 –Film Ender’s game was awarded both Nebula and Hugo awards. Its sequel Speaker for the Dead duplicated the sweep the following year A movie adaptation of the novel is in development

OverviewEnder, 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

OverviewThe 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

OverviewEnder 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 –Protagonist –Antagonist –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? –Ender Wiggin –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 ViewUses 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) Setting (place) 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 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 WigginEnder’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 WigginEnder’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