The Chrysalids Chapter 9

SUMMARY:

6years later, after the death of Harriet and the birth of Petra, David is working and he hears a deafening cry in his head, its urgent, and persistent. It calls him and drags him to his sister who is drowning in a river bed. He saves her and quickly is joined by Rosalind, who was receiving the same call. Surrounding people, followed in wonder, and questioned how they knew of Petra. Dodging their suspicion said that her screams were loud, and easy to tell. Doubtfully the villagers agree. The group decides not to tell Petra of her powers. This year was extremely deviated. When David comes across Old Jacob he is angry and thinks it because the carelessness of the youth and the corrupt government. He believes the deviated season is a punishment from god and the beginning of another tribulation. Uncle Axel thinks his right but that Jacob is an extremist. Anne announces that she will be getting married.

Question 1: Roughly how old is David now? How do you know?

Around 16 The group was close in age, “Anne then something over thirteen, was the

eldest” pg.81 So we think David was about 10 before the chapter Chapter 9 starts 6 years later, “..lives for the next six years” pg.82 Plus, Petra who was born when he was 10, is now 6, “She’s only a little over

six remember” pg.85 So 10 years plus 6 is 16

Question 2: What danger does Petra represent?

unknown of her abilities pg.84 : “She isn’t she said something like us, but none of us could command

like that. She’s something much more than we are.” Her command and David and Rosalind's reaction created suspicion; could

reveal them pg.84: “How did you know?.. I didn’t hear a thing” She could give herself away, if they tell her she may not to able to

understand the reason of secrecy Don’t want to burden her because she's young

QUESTION TO ASK! : would you tell Petra of her powers, if not when would you?

Question 3: Why did the group postpone telling Petra about her “talent”?

The group thinks she's unknown about her “talent” Might be dangerous, she might not understand Don’t want to burden her pg.85 : “If she isn't aware of it now, she probably doesn’t know it happened,

so it might easily be an unnecessary danger to tell her all about it…I don’t think it is fair, or safe, to burden her until it’s necessary”

Question 4: Why does David feel that “the stupidest norm was happier” than he was?

He feels like his betraying, and that he’s wrong by concealing and having these powers, and if he didn’t he’d be happier and have more belonging

“The stupidest norm was happier; he could feel that he belonged. We did not, and because we did not, we had no positive – we were condemned to negatives, to not revealing ourselves, to not speaking when we would, to not using what we knew, to not being found out – to a life of perpetual deception, concealment, and lying”(pg.86).

Would you be the stupid norm or the telepath?

Question 5: What is old Jacob like?

Extreme beliefs, wants strict punishments for blasphemies (as before) killed like offences, doesn’t think they are human or can be even considered

Blames bad season on careless youth, and corrupt government Think this first step to another tribulation, and a warning from god Axel thinks: takes personal responsibility to in force the way of god (because

no inspector in his days) Old fashioned, has harsh morals believing this is the way god, ignorantly

follows traditions Quotes on pages: 87-89

Do you think Old Jacob on to something about another tribulation?

Chapter 10

SUMMARY: Anne is marrying Alan Ervin. The group disagrees with Anne’s romance and proposed marriage because they can be exposed more easily. Anne counters each objection. Anne is convinced that she will marry Anne and become a norm.

She stops sending thought-shapes to the group, and detaches them from her. David has his own problems and is in a romance with Rosalind. Their families are unknown of this, and David believes if they discover it, there would be feud between the rival families. Uncle Axel tries to solve Anne’s problem by suggesting killing her, David refuses. Anne marries Alan. Anne continued to ignore the thought shapes. Anne refuses to listen or to see her sister Rachel. Alan is found murdered. The group assumes that Anne is thinking that they murdered Alan, and are threatened to be exposed. Rachel tries to visit her later, and find Anne died from suicide. There is a note addressed to the inspector exposing all of them and blaming them for Alan’s murder. Rachel burnt the letter. The group is grieving but Michael doesn’t share their affection.

Question 1: What three objections does “the group” present to Anne regarding her proposed marriage? How does she contour each objection?

1. Same Alan who had informed on Sophie, would happily tell if he found out about the group

2. Don’t want her to marry him because he is not telepathic. “It’d be like tying yourself for a life to a cripple.”(pg.91)

3. Could be risky living with him, any slips could raise suspicion Counters: that she doesn’t have a match in the group, since they aren’t

enough men 3 vs. 5, doesn’t want to be alone waiting for someone that might not ever come, she stops sending thought shapes

Pages 91and 92

Do you think Anne is correct in her current position?

Question 2: What solution to the Alan-Anne problem does Axel offer? What objection to this solution does David offer?

Axel tell them to kill Anne Refuses since it would be wrong, and extremely difficult considering their

closeness and telepathic bond “We’re all too close together. I’m (David) much closer to her and the others

than I am to my own sisters. (p.96).”

Q: What would you do if Anne threatened to expose you?

Question 3: How does Alan’s death threaten the group?

Anne thinks that the group has killed them, she could be angry and accuse them while revealing their secret

“She’s told mother she knew who murdered Alan, but she’s not going to tell anybody…She must think one of us did it.”(p.99).

Question 4: What is Rachel’s discovery? What does she find in Anne’s room?

Rachel discovers Anne died in her room hanging from a beam (suicide) She finds a sheet of paper addressed to the inspector which denounced all of

them and accused them of murder “As they were leaving she noticed a folded sheet of paper lying on the table. 

She picked it up.”(p.101)… “It denounced all of us, including Rachel herself, and even Petra.”(p.102)

Rachel carefully burns the letter