A Wrinkle in Time / Madeleine L’Engle

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Let's talk about the wonderful book "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle. Imagine a brave girl named Meg Murry. She's smart but often feels like she doesn't fit in. One stormy night, a mysterious visitor named Mrs. Whatsit comes to her house. This strange lady tells Meg, her brilliant little brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe that Meg's missing father, a scientist, is in danger and that they can find him by traveling through wrinkles in time and space! These wrinkles are like shortcuts in the universe.

The children, guided by three kind and powerful beings called Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, travel to different and amazing planets. They see happy places, but they also face a dark and scary force called the Black Thing. This Black Thing is like a shadow that wants to cover the whole universe and make everyone the same, without any love or differences.

The most important moment in the story is when Meg has to rescue her father from a planet called Camazotz, which is completely controlled by the Black Thing, represented by a giant, unfeeling brain called IT. IT tries to control Meg too, but she realizes that her greatest strength is her ability to love – her love for her family and friends. This love is something that the Black Thing cannot understand or defeat. In a powerful moment, Meg focuses all her love, like a warm light, towards her father, and this love breaks the hold of IT, allowing them to escape and return home safely. This shows us that love is stronger than any darkness and that our differences and the love we share make us truly strong.

Talking About A Wrinkle In Time

The image shows a pivotal moment in "A Wrinkle in Time." The figure radiating light represents Meg Murry using the power of her love to combat the darkness, symbolized by the obscured face and perhaps the dark gloves. She stands between her family and friends, signifying her role as their protector in this moment. The sparkling light emanating from her head suggests the overwhelming strength of her love. Below, the depiction of a world hints at the planet Camazotz and the control of IT that she is fighting against. The starry sky in the background represents the tesseract, the wrinkle in time and space through which they travel, emphasizing the cosmic scale of their journey and the battle between light and darkness.

A Wrinkle in Time: A Study Guide

Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

1. Who are the main child protagonists in "A Wrinkle in Time"?
2. What is the primary motivation for Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin to embark on their journey?
3. Who are Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, and what is their role?
4. Describe the "wrinkles in time and space" mentioned in the story.
5. What is the "Black Thing" and what does it represent?
6. What is Camazotz, and who or what controls it?
7. What is "IT," and what is its primary characteristic?
8. What is Meg's greatest strength that helps her defeat "IT"?
9. How does Meg use her love to rescue her father?
10. What overarching message does "A Wrinkle in Time" convey about love and differences?

Answer Key

1. The main child protagonists are Meg Murry, her brilliant little brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe. They are the ones who undertake the extraordinary journey to find Meg's missing father.
2. The primary motivation for their journey is to find Meg's father, a scientist who has gone missing. They learn he is in danger and can be found by traveling through time and space.
3. Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which are three kind and powerful beings who guide the children on their cosmic journey. They possess unique abilities and offer wisdom and assistance.
4. "Wrinkles in time and space" are described as shortcuts in the universe, allowing the characters to travel vast distances instantly. This concept is central to the story's fantastical elements and the journey.
5. The "Black Thing" is a dark and scary force that wants to cover the whole universe, making everyone the same without love or differences. It symbolizes conformity, fear, and the absence of individuality and affection.
6. Camazotz is a planet that is completely controlled by the Black Thing. It is depicted as a place where individuality is suppressed and everything operates with terrifying, uniform precision.
7. "IT" is a giant, unfeeling brain that represents the Black Thing's control on Camazotz. It attempts to control Meg through its powerful, manipulative influence, symbolizing the ultimate form of oppressive conformity.
8. Meg's greatest strength is her ability to love, particularly her love for her family and friends. This profound emotion is something the Black Thing and "IT" cannot understand or defeat.
9. Meg uses her love by focusing all its warmth and light towards her father. This intense expression of love breaks "IT's" hold on him, allowing them to escape Camazotz and return home safely.
10. "A Wrinkle in Time" conveys the message that love is stronger than any darkness and that our differences and the love we share make us truly strong. It emphasizes the importance of individuality and connection over conformity.

Essay Format Questions

1. Discuss the role of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which in guiding the children. How do their individual characteristics contribute to the success of the mission?
2. Analyze the concept of the "Black Thing" and "IT." What do these entities symbolize in the broader context of the story, and what message does L'Engle convey through their defeat?
3. Examine Meg Murry's character development throughout the story. How does she evolve from feeling like she doesn't fit in to becoming the hero, and what specific moments contribute to this transformation?
4. How does "A Wrinkle in Time" use the scientific concept of "wrinkles in time and space" (tesseract) to explore deeper themes of good versus evil and individuality versus conformity?
5. Discuss the significance of love as the central theme in "A Wrinkle in Time." How does Meg's love act as the ultimate weapon against the forces of darkness, and what does this suggest about human connection?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Meg Murry: The brave and intelligent, yet often insecure, protagonist of the story. She feels like she doesn't fit in but possesses a deep capacity for love.
• Charles Wallace Murry: Meg's brilliant and unusually perceptive younger brother. He has a unique ability to understand others' thoughts and feelings.
• Calvin O'Keefe: A popular and athletic boy who accompanies Meg and Charles Wallace on their journey. He brings a sense of groundedness and loyalty to the group.
• Mrs. Whatsit: One of the three celestial beings who guide the children. She is eccentric and often transforms, revealing her ancient and powerful nature.
• Mrs. Who: Another of the three guides, known for speaking only in quotes from literature, philosophy, and scripture. She conveys wisdom through others' words.
• Mrs. Which: The most ancient and powerful of the three guides, who manifests as a shimmering, often disembodied, presence. She speaks with difficulty and is the most powerful.
• Wrinkles in time and space (Tesseract): A conceptual shortcut in the universe that allows for instantaneous travel across vast distances. This is the "wrinkle" referred to in the title.
• The Black Thing: A dark, shadow-like force that spreads across the universe, symbolizing evil, conformity, and the absence of love and individuality.
• Camazotz: A planet completely controlled by the Black Thing, where all inhabitants conform to a single, oppressive will, and individuality is suppressed.
• IT: A giant, unfeeling disembodied brain that is the central control mechanism and embodiment of the Black Thing on Camazotz. It attempts to enforce absolute conformity.
• Love: The central theme and ultimate power in the story, particularly Meg's love for her family and friends. It is presented as an irresistible force capable of defeating darkness and oppression.

( N.B. 위 콘텐츠는 Google AI Studio 로 제작한 것입니다 )