Order & Chaos

Like night and day or winter and summer, there is a rigid division between the states of order and chaos that seems immutable. Nevertheless, these opposing forces also depend on one another. In this study guide collection, we've put together texts that explore themes related to the diametrically opposed yet inextricably linked forces of order and chaos.

Nights at the Circus

by Angela Carter

Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies, Appearance & Reality

Tags Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Gender & Feminism, World History, Classic Fiction

Nights at the Circus is an adult fantasy novel by British author Angela Carter first published in 1984. It takes place in 1899 and follows protagonist Jack Walser, a journalist investigating the mystery of Sophie Fevvers, a part-woman, part-swan who performs as an aeraliste at the popular Colonel Kearney’s circus. The book was critically acclaimed upon publication and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction in 1984, as well as a nomination for... Read Nights at the Circus Summary

Noises Off

by Michael Frayn

Publication year 1982

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Teamwork, Art, Order & Chaos

Tags Drama, Comedy & Satire

Noises Off by Michael Frayn was originally performed and published in 1982. It ran in English theaters until 1987, was revived in 2000, and began running in the United States in 2001. Frayn’s career as a professional playwright began in 1970, and Noises Off brought him significant critical and commercial success. It was followed many other successful plays, including the Tony-award-winning Copenhagen (1998). Noises Off won the London Evening Standard Award and the Laurence Olivier... Read Noises Off Summary

Nuclear War

by Annie Jacobsen

Publication year 2024

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Science & Technology, Politics & Government, War, Order & Chaos, Safety & Danger

Tags Science Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Science & Nature, World History, Politics & Government, Military & War

... Read Nuclear War Summary

Oil and Marble

by Stephanie Storey

Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Conflict, Fear, Guilt, Hate & Anger, Hope, Joy, Love, Memory, Sexual Identity, Death, Appearance & Reality, Place, Family, Fathers, Teamwork, Self Discovery, Social Class, Community, Politics & Government, War, Beauty, Fate, Order & Chaos, Power & Greed, Safety & Danger, Science & Technology

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Historical Fiction, Arts & Culture, Renaissance

... Read Oil and Marble Summary

Oil on Water

by Helon Habila

Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Order & Chaos

Tags Politics & Government, Journalism, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Education, Education, African American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

Oil on Water is a 2010 novel by Helon Habila, who originally worked as a journalist and poet in Nigeria before becoming a professor of creative writing at George Mason. His writing has earned many accolades, including the Music Society of Nigeria national poetry award, the 2001 Caine Prize, the 2003 Commonwealth Writers Prize, the 2008 Emily Balch Prize, and the 2015 Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction. Oil on Water is his third novel and foregrounds... Read Oil on Water Summary

One Came Home

by Amy Timberlake

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Order & Chaos, Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

One Came Home (2013) by Amy Timberlake is a middle grade historical mystery set in 1871 Wisconsin. It follows a 13-year-old girl, Georgie Burkhardt, who is on a search to discover the truth about her older sister, Agatha, after their town declares she is dead. Georgie’s quest challenges her both physically and mentally as she begins to reexamine what she thought she knew about herself, her sister, and her community. One Came Home was awarded a... Read One Came Home Summary

On the Origin of Species

by Charles Darwin

Publication year 1859

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Environment, Animals, Plants, Appearance & Reality, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Climate, Food, Beauty, Order & Chaos

Tags Science & Nature, World History, Religion & Spirituality

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (published in 1859) is a seminal work in evolutionary biology of great historical and scientific importance. Darwinian thought, especially regarding evolution, is now commonly accepted as the most powerful theory in biology and the natural history of species—and the system of natural selection that this theory advanced has been applied (and misappropriated)... Read On the Origin of Species Summary

On the Soul

by Aristotle

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Appearance & Reality, Objects & Materials, Order & Chaos

Tags Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Ancient Greece, Education, Education, Classic Fiction, Philosophy

Aristotle (384-322 BC) was an important ancient Greek philosopher whose work embraced politics, ethics, and metaphysics. The title of his treatise On the Soul (sometimes known by its Latin title De Anima) suggests it is a seminal work on the process of understanding human beings. For Aristotle, “soul” denotes the life principle in plants, animals, and humans, and is thus a more biological and psychological than a spiritual concept. Some scholars believe that On the... Read On the Soul Summary

Open

by Andre Agassi

Publication year 2009

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Hate & Anger, Hope, Love, Shame & Pride, Mental Health, Childhood & Youth, Coming of Age, Midlife, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Fame, Order & Chaos, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Wins & Losses, Teamwork

Tags US History, Sports, Biography

... Read Open Summary

Orphan Island

by Laurel Snyder

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Community, Family, Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Safety & Danger, Order & Chaos, Loyalty & Betrayal, Plants, Animals, Food

Tags Fantasy, Magical Realism, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature, Animals, Food, Relationships

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Out of the Silent Planet

by C. S. Lewis

Publication year 1938

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Order & Chaos, Good & Evil, Religion & Spirituality

Tags Science Fiction, Arts & Culture, Christian, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality

Published in 1938, Out of the Silent Planet is a science fiction novel by author C. S. Lewis, best known for his bestselling fantasy children’s series, The Chronicles of Narnia. It is the first book in Lewis’s Space Trilogy, followed by Perelandra (1943) and That Hideous Strength (1945). With Out of the Silent Planet, Lewis sought to write a narrative that differed from contemporary popular science fiction, which he believed promoted harmful ideas like human... Read Out of the Silent Planet Summary

Parallel Myths

by J. F. Bierlein

Publication year 1994

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Death, Order & Chaos

Tags Mythology, Religion & Spirituality, Fairy Tale & Folklore, Education, Education, Philosophy, Philosophy, World History, Fantasy

... Read Parallel Myths Summary

Pensées

by Blaise Pascal

Publication year 1670

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Trust & Doubt, Order & Chaos, Apathy, Death

Tags Philosophy, Religion & Spirituality, Christian, French Literature, World History, Philosophy, Classic Fiction

... Read Pensées Summary