Ender's Game WebQuest

Ender's Game is a 1985 millitary science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. Set at an unspecified date in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind after two conflicts with the Formics, an insectoid alien species they dub the "buggers". In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, children, including the novel's protagonist, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, are trained from a very young age by putting them through increasingly difficult games, including some in zero gravity, where Ender's tactical genius is revealed.

This Webquest is designed to introduce you to the historical figures who inspired the Wiggin children, as well as a few others who are frequently mentioned in the book.  This is also a good time to practice your online research skills. You will be reading, answering questions, making connections, and synthesizing (writing about) the information you find.  Understanding who these historical figures were is also going to help you understand the novel.  Please follow the instructions carefully. You will answer the questions on the Google Doc provided in Classroom.   Please answer all questions in complete sentences.

 

There are seven steps in the process.  The first six will be completed before we read the novel.  Step 7 cannot be completed until we have reached the end of Ender's story.

DO NOT Google for information independently. I've chosen these websites because they have reliable and relevant information for your purposes.

Step 1:  Who was John Locke?  Please use the following websites to find your information.        

Locke's views on government:  http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Locke5.htm

The extent of government power: http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Locke9.htm

John Locke - Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy:  https://www.iep.utm.edu/locke/

John Locke (1632-1704):  oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/Philosophers/Locke/locke.html

John Locke - History.com:  https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/john-locke

Step 2:  Who was Demosthenes?  Please use the following websites to find your information. 

Demosthenes:  https://quatr.us/greeks/demosthenes-ancient-greece.htm

Demosthenes - Statesman and Orator:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Demosthenes-Greek-statesman-and-orator

Step 3:  Who was Alexander the Great?  Please use the following websites to find your information.

Alexander the Great:  https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/alexander-the-great

Alexander the Great - History Heritage:  https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=abbott&book=alexander&story=_front

Alexander the Great - Soldiers:  https://www.ancient.eu/article/676/the-army-of-alexander-the-great/

Step 4:  Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?  Please use the following websites to find your information.

Napoleon - tyrant or hero?  http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/flash/n_myth/tyrant/page_1.html

Napoleon - self-made myth:  http://www.pbs.org/empires/napoleon/flash/n_myth/self/page_1.html

BBC History - Napoleon Bonaparte:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/bonaparte_napoleon.shtml?basic=1

The life of Napoleon I:  https://www.history.com/topics/france/napoleon

Step 5:  Who ws Arthur Wellesley?  Please use the following websites to find your information.

Arthur Wellesley:  http://www.napoleonguide.com/leaders_welling.htm

Arthur Wellesley - First Duke of Wellington:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arthur-Wellesley-1st-Duke-of-Wellington

Arthur Wellesley - Duke of Wellington Biography:  https://spartacus-educational.com/PRwellington.htm

Step 6:  Who was Julius Caeser?  Who was Brutus?  Please use the following websites to find your information.

BBC - Historic Figures:  Julius Caesar:  https://spartacus-educational.com/PRwellington.htm

Julius Caesar - Historical Background:  http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/caesar.html

Marcus Junius Brutus Caepio:  https://www.livius.org/articles/person/junius-brutus-caepio-marcus/

Step 7: Final Step

For this step, you will be using the information that you have gathered to compose a thorough character analysis of each Wiggin child.  You will want to refer back to your answers for each historical figure. You may want to refer back to the links provided on earlier steps, as well.  Please answer in complete sentences on your Google Doc.