A background and introduction for the novel The Chrysalids

1. The Chrysalids
A Background…

2. The Genre
The Genre The Setting
O Every novel has a
genre (category)
O Some well-known
genres are…
O The genre for The
Chrysalids
O Where
O When
O Society: agriculture
or industrialization?
– rigid, repressive,
cruel
O Paradox

3. Background
History World History
O WWII: Holocaust
O Armenians in
Turkey
O 1970s Cambodia
O 1994 Rwanda

4. Suspension of Disbelief
~Assumptions
O Nuclear holocaust (“The Tribulation”)
O After Effects: telepathy, physical mutations
O New World Order: God & “True Image”,
Noah= prevention

5. O What does the word mean?
O Chrysalid: the state through which larvae
of most insects pass before becoming
adults.
O Physically
O To ponder: - why is the novel titled The
Chrysalids?
O - Who are the chrysalids in the novel?
Scientific “chrysalid”

6. Geography
O Labrador: Waknuk
O Sealand: New Zealand
O Fringes: beyond Waknuk,
to the south
O Badlands: worst results
of radiation in U.S. & S. Canada

7. Atmosphere & Style
O Varies: familiar/
unfamiliar?
O society: 18th C? 20th
C?
O Fear: David,
Sophie…
O Hope: Petra
Style
- P.O.V.: First person
- Groups: Waknuk,
Fringes, Telepaths

8. Themes
O (nuclear) War
O Barbarism
O Helplessness
O Religious
oppression
O Genocide
O (lack of)
Acceptance
O Hypocrisy
O Separation
O Alienation
O Deviation

9. Bibliography
O http://survivingthechrysalids.wordpress.com/setting/
O http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/12957091
57l/925926.jpg
O http://teacherlingo.com/resources/thumbnail/setting-
poster-elements-of-literature.jpg
O http://languageartsgames.4you4free.com/genres.gif
O http://www.todayifoundout.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/10/chrysalys.jpg
O http://www.armenian-
history.com/images/phocagallery/Genocide/thumbs/p
hoca_thumb_l_armenian_genocide.jpg
O http://www.eurojewcong.org/img/articles/638x389/851
2.jpg