Discussion Chapters 9, 11 & 10

Locke & Demosthenes

 What do we learn about the “Giant’s Drink” at the beginning of the chapter and how is it significant?

 Why did the Wiggin family move to the country? Is it working?

 What is Peter's scheme and why does Valentine agree to it?

 What is a Hegemony?

 Find some information about the following people:  Demosthenes  Pericles  Locke  Thomas Paine  Bismark  Lenin

 Why does Graff approach Valentine?

Dragon

“The Loneliness of power” (Card, p.155)

 Graff gives Ender Dragon army, but he talks about “rigged games” – why is he willing to break the rules?

Let’s talk about Bean…  How is the relationship between Ender and Bean like the relationship between Graff and Ender?

“Poor kid. Nobody’s treating him fair” (Card, p.166)

How would you describe Ender’s leadership style?  Authoritarian or authoritative?  How does he bring his group together?  Why does he question his decisions?

“That’s what I’m doing to you, Bean. I’m hurting you to make you a better soldier in every way. To sharpen your wit. To intensify your effort. To keep you off balance, never sure what’s going to happier next, so you always have to be ready for anything, ready to improvise, determined to win no matter what. I’m also making you miserable. That’s why they brought you to me, Bean. So you could be just like me. So you could grow up to be just like the old man.” (p.168)

What is the significance of the interaction between Ender and Alai at the end of the Chapter? “I am only what I remember, and Alai is my friend in a memory so intense that they can’t tear him out. Like Valentine, the strongest memory of all.” (p.171)

Veni, Vedi, Vici

Once again we learn things from the opening dialogue:  What are they planning to do to Ender's army?  What is Graff worried about?  What is the political situation back on Earth? (p.174)

“Even with less then four weeks together, the way they fought already seemed like the only intelligent way, the only possible way” (Card, p.178).

What are the main differences between Ender's strategies for the game and those used by other commanders?  Five toons with 8 soldiers each  Each toon has a leader and a sub-commander  The enemy’s gate is DOWN  They learn how to adapt, be flexible and think for themselves…not just take commands

How then is Ender’s leadership style as a commander coming through?  Is he Authoritarian or Authoritative?  How does he build morale in his troops?  How does he maintain their respect?  How does he maintain his authority without fear?  How does he manipulate insubordination?

“I will remember this…when I am defeated. To keep dignity, and give honour where it’s due, so that defeat is not a disgrace” (p.180).

Why does Ender start studying the videos of the Bugger invasions? Who does he come to respect and learn from after watching them?

What is really unusual about the battle with Salamander Army? "This had not been a fair fight, even though they had won - the teachers had intended them to lose..."

“Bean looked at him and realized that the impossible was happening. Far from baiting him, Ender Wiggin was actually confiding in him…Ender was a human being and Bean had been allowed to see” (p. 197). This is the first time Card has ever…