Lesson 12&13

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Lesson 12&13

Soldier boys - Lost Childhood

In chapter 8 Dink Meeker says the following:

"I've got a pretty good idea what children are, and we're not children. Children can lose sometimes, and nobody cares. Children aren't in armies, they aren't commanders, they don't rule over forty other kids...."

1. What does this say about children and how does it make you feel?

2. Why do you think the government chooses to use children for this purpose?

Soldier boys - Lost Childhood

Ender and the other Battle School recruits are child soldiers, moulded by the adults around them to fight the Buggers.

Sadly the phenomenon of child soldiers is not a literary creation or a dystopian element. It is a horrible reality that afflicts our world today.

Use the Internet to find more information about child soldiers.

This might be a good first website to use:

www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-child-soldiers 

(15-20 minutes, make notes in a document and add your resources)

What is the most shocking thing you have discovered?

Soldier boys - Lost Childhood

Watch this video and answer the following questions.

1. What motivated Beah to write his book?

2. What does he say the life of child soldiers is like?

3. How do adults manipulate children?

4. How did he feel when he was freed? Interpret what this means. 

5. What do you learn about the psychology of child soldiers?

How did Beah react when he was set free?

What do you learn about the psychology of child soldiers?

Soldier boys - Lost Childhood

Read this website and think back about the video. 

1. Compare and contrast what you learn about Beah's and Chikwanine's experiences with those of the children at Battle School

2. Who is responsible for protecting these children? Who is protecting Ender?

3. What do children lose in war? What does Ender lose in the novel?

Let's focus on Ender

What does Ender lose in this novel?

Who is responsible for protecting these children?

Who is responsible for protecting Ender?

If you had to leave home immediately, what would be the one thing you'd take with you?

Living in a bowl

After Chapter 13 we can work on this activity.

How is Ender confined physically?

How is Ender confined metaphorically?

How is Ender confined virtually?