Christine A. Cain
Martin H. Glynn Elementary
Valatie, NY
89013
AUDIENCE: Grades 5 and 6
ABSTRACT: To complement or complete a study of different government types in an upper elementary classroom, WRINKLE IN TIME and THE FORGOTTEN DOOR could be used together or independently to stimulate discussions about diverse societal structures.
WRINKLE IN TIME By Madeline L'Engle, Dell Publishing Co., Inc., New York, NY 10017, 1962, ISBN 0-440-99805-0, Available in paperback
THE FORGOTTEN DOOR By Alexander Key, Scholastic Inc., New York, NY 10003, 1964, ISBN 0-590-40398-2, Available in paperback
STORY SUMMARIES:
Life under two extreme forms of government (or lack of government) are ideas explored in the children's novels WRINKLE IN TIME and THE FORGOTTEN DOOR.
In WRINKLE IN TIME, Charles Wallace, his sister Meg and a friend Calvin, find themselves in the midst of a most unusual journey through time and space to find their lost father. Their father is a scientist for the government who had been doing secretive research when he unwittingly "tessered" himself through space to a hostile planet where he is being held captive.
In their journey they are led by three kindly beings named, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which who each possess remarkable qualities and capabilities.
As the caravan tesseract through space they land on unique planets quite different from those found in our solar system. Finally they appear on Camalot where they come in direct conflict with a monolithic ruler, IT.
IT is the ultimate mind control and rules his society so that there are no individuals, only a collage of IT like beings who are completely submissive to their totalitarian leader.
The characters reactions and defenses while trying to save their father create many classroom opportunities for "what if" discussions.
In a contrasting story, the main character, Jonathan, awakes in a strange environment of which he has no memory. He soon discovers that both his language, clothes, and ideas are equally as foreign to himself and others. In the reverse of Charles Wallace's experiences, this character discovers that he is the alien and somehow he has fallen on this strange planet Earth.
Perplexed by human callousness, Jonathan abhors the human treatment of animals and equally cruel treatment of each other. He is befuddled by their need for money and their poor communication skills.
Taken in by a kindly family his life is calm for a short while as he tries to regain his memory. However, discovery and human greed mark Jonathan's time on Earth. As he struggles to piece together his former life, the reader learns of his life in a place where everyone exists for the benefit of each other. place where laws and rules do not exist and where ones needs are quickly satisfied.
VOCABULARY AND QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
Teacher's note: Wrinkle in Time is the harder of the two
books to read. If these novels are simultaneously in the classroom the
teacher could assign Wrinkle in Time to better readers. The vocabulary
in both books is not controlled. Especially in Wrinkle in Time it can very
challenging. However the stories are so rich that individual words need
not interfere with comprehension and enjoyment of the story.
WRINKLE IN TIME
1. Describe Charles Wallace's family. What made each member unique. How do you know that this family lived with their own personal set of rules and authority?
2. In Camazotz there had not been an "aberration in three years". Explain what this means and describe Camaztoa as Charles, Meg and Calvin first see it.
3. Camazotz is an example of a perfectly planned and controlled society. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Are there any parts of Camazotz that appeal to you?
4. What is a non-conformist? How are they treated in Camazotz?
5. Describe The Men With The Red Eyes, The Black Thing, The CENTRAL Central Intelligence Agency. What was their role?
6. Who was IT? At what point do you know that Charles Wallace has lost control to IT.
7. What are some of the arguments that Charles uses to try to seduce Meg and Calvinto the ways of Camazotz?
8. Why is Meg their last hope? How does she save them all?
9. When IT yells at Meg that in Camazotz there is "complete equality,
everybodyexactly alike", Meg hurls back, "LIKE and EQUAL are not the same
thing at all", what does she mean?
POST READING ACTIVITIES:
JOURNAL WRITING: Keep a 24 hour log of your daily activities. What things were done from "free will"--what were dictated by a "law" or "social rule"?
CREATIVE WRITING: Imagine what your life would like for one day without any adults or social codes. Write a story about what you would do.
ART: Create a collage comparing/contrasting Camazotz with Jonathan's world.
RESEARCH: Look up and define the following types of government: