The Chrysalids

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The Chrysalids

• A John Wyndham Novel
• Presented by Taryn, Alex, Jonathan

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Synopsis

• From the previous chapter David, Petra Rosalind
  held captive in Spider Mans tent until David was
  chased out, beaten and lost conscious
• Dragged into the forest by Sophie Wender
• Learns that she has been living in the Fringes
  and is in love with the Spider Man.
• Due to the banishment, she is infertile and
  cannot reproduce with the Spider Man
• Sophie is jealous of Rosalind due to this and
  hears about Spider Mans intention to breed with
  Rosalind
• Sophie decides to help David on his quest and
  takes him to her home
• David contacts Petra and Michael, Michael updates
  them on the Waknuk troops progress
• Sophie rescues Petra and Rosalind from the Spider
  Mans tent
• Chapter concludes with Sophie washing blood off
  her arms

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Sophie

• Sun-burnt, dark skin, stained clothing
• Sharp, acute, meticulous with details
• Braver, rebellious, calm, judicious and in
  control of the situation
• Lonely
• Defensive and affirmative

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David and Sophies friendship

• Aloof and distant
• Intimate
• Sophies first and only true friendship
• Treasured friendship but love may hold a bigger
  weight
• The token of friendship was gone

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Motivation for Helping David

• Returning a favor/ sheer friendship
• Wants Spider Man to herself

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Themes I

• Friendship
• May not be pure as there could be other motives
• Full of potential, but if not made used of, it
  will result in pieces
• Friendship changes as people change and time
  takes its toll
• Similarities bring friendships together while
  differences set them apart

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Themes II

• Changes
• Time and environment are major factors to
  internal and external changes
• Important, keystone, and life-altering events
  change peoples perception, attitude and habits
• People are dynamic and unpredictable

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Three Character Classic

• ??? ??? ??? ???
• Men at birth are naturally good. Their natures
  are much the same, their habits become widely
  different.
• ??? ??? ??? ???
• If there is no teaching, the nature will
  deteriorate. The right way of teaching is to
  attach the utmost importance in thoroughness.

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Criticism

• Irony
• The aspect that brings Rosalind and David
  together is different than Sophie and
  Gordonverbal irony
• Sophie is seen as absent due to the telepathic
  conversations that takes place
• The Spider Man in the leader of a community of
  abnormal people, yet he wants Rosalind, who is
  normal in the sense that she is fertile, instead
  of Sophie

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Criticism

• Point of View
• Third person omniscient narrative. Personal
  opinions and thoughts are explored through
  telepathy and non-telepathic character
  opinions/thoughts brought through dialogue
• Dialogue
• Sophie excluded from major dialogues and simple
  short exchanges are with David
• Brain activities in great detail and elaboration
• David goes off on a tangent about Rosalind

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Criticism

• Conflict
• Internal conflict David, Sophie, Petra
• Character vs Character David and Gordon, Sophie
  and Gordon, Rosalind and Petra and the guards
• Climax
• Reaches climax at Sophie leaving to help Rosalind
• Symbolism
• The lock of hair

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Criticism

• Setting
• Hostile environment
• Safeguarded yet dangerous
• Tense/suspenseful
• Sadness, disappointment

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Critical Thinking

• Examine the following poem. What do you think the
  main theme the poet is trying to convey? How is
  this relevant to the themes presented in
  Chrysalids?

Sonnet 29 Edna St. Vincent Millay Pity me not
because the light of day At close of day no
longer walks the sky Pity me for beauties passed
away From field to thicket as the year goes
by Pity me not the waning of the moon, Nor that
the ebbing tide goes out to sea, Nor that a man's
desire is hushed so soon, And you no longer look
with love on me. This have I known always Love
is no more Than the wide blossom which the wind
assails, Than the great tide that treads the
shifting shore, Strewing fresh wreckage gathered
in the gales Pity me that the heart is slow to
learn When the swift mind beholds at every turn.