In the novel How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster, the five elements of a quest are expressed. Ender Wiggin, the protagonist in the book Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, embarks on this quest presented by Foster. Ender is a young genius but also a “third” or the third born child of a family that is unaccepted and rejected by society. His task is to defeat the Buggers, the otherworldly presence that threatens to destroy all of mankind, but in perusing this, he faces many controversies that test him both physically and mentally. Through these obstacles, Ender’s quest and journey unfolds and he discovers independence, the cruelties of society, and most importantly his identity.
One of the first objectives Ender learns based …show more content…
He is taken to battle school, an institution for teaching and disciplining the intelligent young for battle in the Bugger Wars where different armies compete with each other through games. Due to the significance of his task, Ender is constantly in isolation from others by Graff., he states that “his (Ender’s) isolation cannot be broken. He can never come to believe that anybody will help him out ever” (Card 38). From the start, Graff plans to make Ender suffer, to always be challenged. This causes Ender to become independent, and handle strenuous situations and be able to stand up for himself. Throughout his whole experience at Battle school, Ender is hated for his superiority, …show more content…
In this case, for Ender, it is that he is able to find his identity. Throughout Ender’s Game, Ender is constantly contemplating whether he is like his older brother, Peter. Ender views Peter as a sadistic and cruel killer and is terrified that he might become just like him. These fears reflect in battle school when Ender plays the electronic game called Giant’s Drink which is a simulation that displays Ender’s feelings. Near the end of the game, Ender’s character encounters a snake in a tower. Ender kills it, then looks for a way out but finds a mirror instead, in the mirror he sees “…Peter, with blood dripping down his chin and a snake’s tail protruding from a corner of his mouth” (Card 117) This symbolizes that Ender believes that he is Peter, a killer. He is shocked and distraught and instantly rebels the idea. Yet, his recurring nightmares about the Giant’s Drink and the way he has hurt people refuses to let Ender forget about his cruelty and its relation to Peter. These nightmares worsen as he is transferred to Command School and fights in the last major battle with the Buggers. Ender defeats them by getting close to the enemy’s home planet and letting the computer attack it with two weapons that obliterated most of the Buggers. Before Ender wins he has no knowledge that he is actually killing the Buggers, he believes that it is just another game
One of the first objectives Ender learns based …show more content…
He is taken to battle school, an institution for teaching and disciplining the intelligent young for battle in the Bugger Wars where different armies compete with each other through games. Due to the significance of his task, Ender is constantly in isolation from others by Graff., he states that “his (Ender’s) isolation cannot be broken. He can never come to believe that anybody will help him out ever” (Card 38). From the start, Graff plans to make Ender suffer, to always be challenged. This causes Ender to become independent, and handle strenuous situations and be able to stand up for himself. Throughout his whole experience at Battle school, Ender is hated for his superiority, …show more content…
In this case, for Ender, it is that he is able to find his identity. Throughout Ender’s Game, Ender is constantly contemplating whether he is like his older brother, Peter. Ender views Peter as a sadistic and cruel killer and is terrified that he might become just like him. These fears reflect in battle school when Ender plays the electronic game called Giant’s Drink which is a simulation that displays Ender’s feelings. Near the end of the game, Ender’s character encounters a snake in a tower. Ender kills it, then looks for a way out but finds a mirror instead, in the mirror he sees “…Peter, with blood dripping down his chin and a snake’s tail protruding from a corner of his mouth” (Card 117) This symbolizes that Ender believes that he is Peter, a killer. He is shocked and distraught and instantly rebels the idea. Yet, his recurring nightmares about the Giant’s Drink and the way he has hurt people refuses to let Ender forget about his cruelty and its relation to Peter. These nightmares worsen as he is transferred to Command School and fights in the last major battle with the Buggers. Ender defeats them by getting close to the enemy’s home planet and letting the computer attack it with two weapons that obliterated most of the Buggers. Before Ender wins he has no knowledge that he is actually killing the Buggers, he believes that it is just another game