Ender's Game

77 pages • 2 hours read

Ender's Game

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1985

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

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Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

CHAPTERS 1-3

Reading Check

1. What is removed from Ender’s head?

2. What is Ender called after he believes he “washed out” of battle school?

3. Where does Ender agree to go to with Colonel Graff?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the purpose of the monitors in relation to world and galactic events?

2. What are the main personality differences between Ender’s siblings Valentine and Peter?

3. What is the significance of Ender’s reasoning regarding why he kept kicking Stilson?

Paired Resource

“Synopsis of Science Fiction”

This article provides background on the genre of science fiction and its history.
The article discusses elements of science fiction evident in Ender’s Game, considered a modern classic in this genre.
In what ways does Card demonstrate and introduce elements of the science fiction genre throughout this section of the novel?

“How Fiction Can Change Reality”

This 4-minute TED-Ed video discusses how reading fiction can lead to real world changes and alter societal beliefs.
This resource may be beneficial in identifying themes and other significant ideas throughout the novel.
In what ways might this novel change an individual’s perspective regarding the world in which they live?

CHAPTERS 4-6

Reading Check

1. What is a “launchy”?

2. How does Ender view the other boys’ jokes and actions?

3. What causes Bernard to initially become Ender’s enemy?

4. What is the main activity for training at Battle School?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Colonel Graff consistently praise Ender?

2. How does Ender’s revenge against Bernard reflect Ender’s strategic mindset and the theme Understanding the Enemy?

3. Why do Ender’s actions in the Giant’s Drink cause him to become distressed?

Paired Resource

“How Will Games Change the Way We Learn and Teach?”

This Forbes article details the changes that society may go through due to the development and prevalence of games.
This connects to the theme Trickery, Manipulation, and Choice and may be helpful in identifying both the different strategic choices Ender makes in his games and the purpose behind the Colonel’s choices inside and outside the war games.
Utilizing specific evidence from the article, how does the text reflect the outcomes of the games and the choices the launchies make during them?

CHAPTERS 7-9

Reading Check

1. To where is Ender promoted from the Launchies?

2. Who does Ender see in the mirror in the Giant’s Drink?

3. What do Valentine and Peter write under the names “Locke” and “Demosthenes”?

4. What does Valentine remind Ender of in her letter?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Bonzo retract his order to Ender to not work with the Launchies?

2. Why does Ender get promoted to the Rat army?

3. How does Ender demonstrate Self-Sacrifice with Petra once he is sent to the Rat army?

4. How does Dink’s refusal to be promoted relate to his opinions about the war games?

5. Why does Valentine feel conflicted about her letter to Ender, and how does it relate to the theme Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good?

Paired Resource

“6 Characteristics of an Effective Leader”

This article from the Harvard Business School details key elements of an effective leader.
Elements of effective leadership connect to the themes Understanding the Enemy and Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good.
In what ways does Ender demonstrate (or not) the characteristics detailed in this article?

CHAPTERS 10-12

Reading Check

1. How does Ender initially treat Bean?

2. What does Ender assign Bean?

3. What does Ender do when Bonzo attacks him in the showers?

4. To where is Ender promoted?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the purpose of Colonel Graff and Anderson disallowing Ender from holding “free-for-all” practices and supplying him with below-average Launchies?

2. In what ways is Carn Carby different than the other army leaders?

3. Why does Colonel Anderson give Ender back-to-back battles?

4. In what ways does Ender demonstrate the theme Understanding the Enemy when Bonzo confronts him in the showers?

Paired Resource

“A Point of View: A Time When Violence Is Normal”

This BBC opinion-editorial discusses situations when violence is acceptable versus inappropriate and cruel. (Content Warning: The article contains discussions of violence against others and terrorism; additionally, text complexity and concepts may not be appropriate for younger readers)
The ideas and opinions in this resource connect to the theme Understanding the Enemy.
Do you believe Ender’s actions against Bonzo were justified? Reference ideas in the article as you support your claim.

CHAPTERS 13-15

Reading Check

1. In what ways does Valentine see that Ender has changed?

2. What is the only trait Colonel Graff knows and shares with Ender about the buggers?

3. Who is Mazer Rackham?

4. What does Ender learn at the end of his final battle simulation?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Valentine and Ender’s conversation on the lake represent the theme Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good?

2. Why does Ender agree to personally colonize the bugger world?

3. How did the buggers use the Giant’s Drink game to communicate with Ender?

4. How does Ender’s decision regarding the queen’s pupa demonstrate the main themes of the novel?

Paired Resource

“What Happens When You Empathize with the Enemy”

This NPR 28-minute podcast and transcript interview features a past paratrooper in the Israeli army and a Palestinian professor discussing their understanding of an opposing group and how it angered the people around them. (Teacher-appropriate; not student-facing due to length, sensitive content, and descriptions of violence).
This resource discusses the topic of empathy and connects with the theme of Understanding the Enemy.

Recommended Next Reads

Dune by Frank Herbert

This science fiction novel takes place on the desert planet Arrakis (or Dune) where Pal Atreides and his family attempt to take control, sparking a power struggle with rival noble families and Indigenous peoples.
Shared themes include Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good and Understanding the Enemy.
Shared topics include politics, power, enemies, strategy, and science fiction elements.
Dune on SuperSummary

Warcross by Marie Lu

Set in the future, this young adult science fiction novel features 18-year-old Emika Chen, a bounty hunter with machine-like problem-solving skills. When a mysterious hacker attempts to overthrow the world’s most popular virtual reality game, Warcross, the game’s creator persuades Emika to help defeat the foe.
Shared themes include Trickery, Manipulation, and Choice and Understanding the Enemy.
Shared topics include futuristic technology, computer simulation, trusting one’s team, and listening to one’s conscience.
Warcross on SuperSummary

Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card

This science fiction novel parallels Ender’s Game through the viewpoint of Bean, one of the Launchies who trains beside Ender Wiggin, and gives the reader a unique viewpoint and additional insight into the world’s politics and struggles.
Shared themes include Trickery, Manipulation, and Choice; Understanding the Enemy; and Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good.
Shared topics include military training, child prodigies, alien threats, moral dilemmas, politics, strategy, and isolation.
Ender’s Shadow on SuperSummary

Reading Questions Answer Key

CHAPTERS 1-3

Reading Check

1. A monitor (Chapter 1)

2. Third (Chapter 1)

3. Battle School (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. The main purpose of the monitors is to observe children to evaluate their potential as strong recruits for Battle School, where they will train against the alien attacks. (Chapters 1-3)

2. Valentine is Ender’s sister; she is kind, smart, and empathetic. Peter is Ender’s older brother who is intelligent but cruel and possibly dangerous. (Chapters 2-3)

3. Ender continued to kick Stilson after the latter was knocked down because Ender wanted to send a message: He won this fight and would win all future fights if Stilson’s bullying continued. This is significant because it demonstrates strategic thinking, part of the reason he is recruited into Battle School. (Chapter 3)

CHAPTERS 4-6

Reading Check

1. A new recruit (Chapter 4)

2. He thinks they are immature. (Chapter 4)

3. Ender accidentally breaks his arm. (Chapter 4)

4. The war games (Chapters 5-6)

Short Answer

1. Colonel Graff constantly praises Ender in order to isolate him from the other recruits. This added tension and aggression from the other launchies is meant to make Ender stronger and more self-reliant. (Chapter 4)

2. Each time Ender takes vengeance against Bernard, he doesn’t react immediately. Instead, he bides his time to strategize, such as waiting for the right moment to grab Bernard’s arm and choosing to humiliate him through the tablet. (Chapters 4-5)

3. Ender is upset because he chose to engage in violence and murder the giant. He sees this choice as making him similar to his brother Peter whom he views as torturous and evil. (Chapter 6)

CHAPTERS 7-9

Reading Check

1. Salamander Army (Chapter 7)

2. Peter (Chapters 8-9)

3. Politically divergent news columns (Chapter 9)

4. He is not like Peter. (Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. Ender reminds Bonzo privately that the latter cannot control what Ender does during Free Play. Ender does not correct him in front of the others in order to allow Bonzo to retain authority, thus demonstrating respect to his commanders. (Chapter 7)

2. Bonzo is upset that Ender not only disobeys his orders in the war game, but Ender also receives accolades for earning a perfect efficiency score. To rid himself of Ender, Bonzo promotes him. (Chapter 7)

3. Ender tells Petra to not be involved with him anymore despite his feelings of friendship toward her. Without his association, she does not receive negative effects, but he is isolated from a friend once again. (Chapter 7)

4. Dink considers the war games to be strategies used by the adults to make the children enemies with each other; however, he views the teachers to be the true enemies, and the war games are vehicles for the school’s political beliefs. (Chapter 8)

5. Valentine is conflicted between what she wants for Ender and her loyalty to humanity; as such, she sacrifices her morals to write to Ender in order for him to continue progressing in Battle School. (Chapter 9)

CHAPTERS 10-12

Reading Check

1. With constant praise (Chapter 10)

2. An experimental task force (Chapter 11)

3. Ender kills Bonzo. (Chapter 12)

4. Command School (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. These choices work to isolate Ender and to create new challenges for him, thus progressing Ender’s training. (Chapter 10)

2. When Ender’s army defeats Carby’s, the latter treats Ender with respect, maintaining eye contact in the halls and supporting Ender’s future battles. (Chapter 11)

3. This is meant to create situations more and more against Ender’s favor, exhausting his recruits and keeping Ender in a high level of stress and critical thinking. (Chapter 11)

4. Bonzo brings multiple cronies to help kill Ender. Ender appeals to Bonzo’s pride, convincing him to fight one-on-one, thus creating a better advantage for Ender. (Chapter 12)

CHAPTERS 13-15

Reading Check

1. He’s stronger and more tense. (Chapter 13)

2. They communicate telepathically. (Chapter 13)

3. Savior of the Second Invasion; Ender’s new teacher (Chapter 14)

4. The battles weren’t simulations; he blew up a real planet. (Chapter 14)

Short Answer

1. Ender does not want to attend Command School; however, Valentine convinces him that his sacrifice would be in the best interests of humanity . (Chapter 13)

2. He wants to better understand the alien race. Ender feels guilty for destroying their species and would like to honor them by learning their past. (Chapter 15)

3. The alien species created a landscape to look like he Giant’s Drink game to catch Ender’s attention and help him to find the queen’s pupa. (Chapter 15)

4. Ender chooses against playing the government’s games anymore; instead, he wants to help in relocating the buggers’ pupa in order to regrow the population. Furthermore, he realizes that the buggers were misunderstood, thus convincing him to help revive the colonies he unintentionally destroyed. (Chapter 15)