55 pages • 1 hour read
John WyndhamThe Chrysalids
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1955A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
What makes David different from everyone else around him? How do his worldview and self-perception change as he grows up and learns of the true nature of the society he lives in?
How does the fact that The Chrysalids was written after World War II and during the Cold War influence its themes, setting, and plot? What evidence is presented in the novel to suggest a nuclear attack against the United States?
What do David’s dreams suggest about his abilities? Is he more than just a telepath? Explain.
How can the treatment of “Deviations” in The Chrysalids be interpreted in a real-world context? Which major events in history might this story be commentating on? How does it serve as a warning for the future?
Why are the people of Waknuk so desperate to remain pure? What is it about Deviations that they find threatening, and what is their end goal?
Unity can be either true or false, depending on the intentions of the people involved and how they treat each other. Explore how unity is falsely demonstrated by the people of Waknuk and the Old People, and how this contrasts with the true unification of the telepaths and people of Sealand.
In what ways are the characters and conflicts shaped by the fact that they are Living Among the Wreckage of a Fallen World?
How is the treatment of “Deviations” in The Chrysalids similar to a real-life human rights issue, either currently or historically? Can the story act as an allegory of any particular events?
Although Joseph and the Sealand woman appear to be complete opposites in terms of good and evil, they also share similarities. How are Joseph’s and the Sealand woman’s views alike, and how do their actions reflect this parallel?
Most of the novel’s later events are foreshadowed by previous events, reflections by David, or conversations with others, creating a circular pattern. Examine the story arc and how the exposition and rising action predict everything that occurs in the story’s climax and conclusion.
