55 pages 1 hour read

John Wyndham

The Chrysalids

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1955

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Essay Topics

1.

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?

2.

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?

3.

What do David’s dreams suggest about his abilities? Is he more than just a telepath? Explain.