Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences
"'I've watched through his eyes, I've listened through his ears, and I tell you he's the one. Or at least as close as we're going to get.'
'That's what you said about the brother.'
'The brother tested out impossible. For other reasons. Nothing to do with his ability.'
'Same with the sister. And there are doubts about him. He's too malleable. Too willing to submerge himself in someone else's will.'" (Ender's Game page 1)
Since I like science fiction, I was excited to read Ender's Game and decided to read it over Christmas break. My favorite parts of this book are in the beginning and in the end (especially the end). How everything was introduced in the first couple of chapters impressed me. I love it when novels begin by throwing the reader into a situation they are unaware of. Ender's Game begins with dialogue between two mysterious people. Who are these people? Why isn't the author allowing us to know their names? What are they even talking about? As the story continues, the characters mention random things in the future that are unknown to the reader. Slowly, the reader learns what those things are and what the purpose is for those things. It gives the audience a good reason to keep reading.
The next question to ask is why Card is setting his novel up this way? As Ender starts his journey, he does not know what is happening and the reasoning behind what he is doing. The reader feels a sense of confusion and ignorance as well as a desire to ask questions, just as Ender does. As he learns things, so does the reader. Card has planned his novel this way to allow the reader to continue through the story with Ender.
'That's what you said about the brother.'
'The brother tested out impossible. For other reasons. Nothing to do with his ability.'
'Same with the sister. And there are doubts about him. He's too malleable. Too willing to submerge himself in someone else's will.'" (Ender's Game page 1)
Since I like science fiction, I was excited to read Ender's Game and decided to read it over Christmas break. My favorite parts of this book are in the beginning and in the end (especially the end). How everything was introduced in the first couple of chapters impressed me. I love it when novels begin by throwing the reader into a situation they are unaware of. Ender's Game begins with dialogue between two mysterious people. Who are these people? Why isn't the author allowing us to know their names? What are they even talking about? As the story continues, the characters mention random things in the future that are unknown to the reader. Slowly, the reader learns what those things are and what the purpose is for those things. It gives the audience a good reason to keep reading.
The next question to ask is why Card is setting his novel up this way? As Ender starts his journey, he does not know what is happening and the reasoning behind what he is doing. The reader feels a sense of confusion and ignorance as well as a desire to ask questions, just as Ender does. As he learns things, so does the reader. Card has planned his novel this way to allow the reader to continue through the story with Ender.
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Recent Comments
Kaitlin Monier on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: Angela, I know what you mean.
Angela Palumbo on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: I hadn't thought about it but
Greta Carroll on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: Wow, great entry Kaitlin! And
Katie Vann on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: I agree completely with your c
Katie Vann on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: I agree completely with your c
Dennis G. Jerz on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: Yup. Card is a master of "show
Angela Palumbo on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: I hadn't thought about it but
Greta Carroll on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: Wow, great entry Kaitlin! And
Katie Vann on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: I agree completely with your c
Katie Vann on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: I agree completely with your c
Dennis G. Jerz on Ender's Experiences Are Our Experiences: Yup. Card is a master of "show
Yup. Card is a master of "showing" when it serves his story. (He actually spoke at Seton Hill a few years ago as part of the Writing Popular Fiction graduate program, just before I was hired here.)
http://www.setonhill.edu/communicator/C030113.pdf
I agree completely with your comment, especially your title. In my blog, I wrote about how Ender's story helped me to reflect on my own decisions and actions. You're right, Ender's experiences are our experiences. Not only does Card make us learn along with Ender in the book, but the emotions and thoughts he has given to Ender are very similar to ones we experience every day.
I agree completely with your comment, especially your title. In my blog, I wrote about how Ender's story helped me to reflect on my own decisions and actions. You're right, Ender's experiences are our experiences. Not only does Card make us learn along with Ender in the book, but the emotions and thoughts he has given to Ender are very similar to ones we experience every day.
Wow, great entry Kaitlin! And I agree with you completely, Card just gives us little tidbits here and there, pushing us to keep reading. I am constantly asking myself questions as I read: “They called Ender a third, what is that supposed to mean? Who are these people talking about Ender? Why is he called Ender? He’s having a monitor removed, what’s that?” Of course, as one reads, all these questioned are answered, but Card writes in such a way that you want to know these answers, so you just want to keep reading and reading to learn more.
Your explanation for why Card chose to write his book like this makes a lot of sense too. Ender is confused and disoriented, and by purposely leaving out the details till later we do feel some of the same feelings Ender is. It was a very clever move on Card’s part to write the book how he did.
I hadn't thought about it but you're right! We do learn as Ender learns. I really love this book and am so disappointed that Card was HERE and I wasn't! I love him!
Angela, I know what you mean. I wish I would've been here too when he was here. That would've been awesome to hear him speak.