Questions chapter by chapter:

● Chapter 1:
- Setting: City of Ember. How is the city described? Which problems are mentioned? How
do people live? Students may start realizing that although the story does not say it, they
are underground - no natural light: reference to colour of light bulbs, shadows, darkness.
- What kind of atmosphere is perceived on the Assignment day? Focus on the characters’
body language.
- Atmosphere: A world that is falling apart. Relate this to the idea of corruption (theme) that
is already presented in the Introduction (“coughing sickness”, “less honourable” mayor
who loses the box). Darkness: despair, hopelessness (through descriptions of the city and
the character of Doon). Comment on the idea of imminent danger and fear (“someday the
lights...”).
- What is the effect of the word “mysterious” mentioned while referring to the generator?

● Chapter 2:
CONTENT QUESTION: “Lina thought of the rumors she’d heard about lightbulbs.” (line18)
What does this quote tell us about the City of Ember? / What are the “Unknown regions”?
ANALYSIS QUESTION: What is the effect of the word “rumor” in the quote?

CQ: How is the City of Ember described? (page 18) / What are the Unknown Regions”?
AQ: Why do you think Lina starts making questions about light bulbs?

- DESCRIPTION OF EMBER - History (BOOK OF EMBER): “It is the only light in the dark word” - “enough is all
that a person of wisdom needs” - everything is REUSED - time-keepers (no one knew for sure which year it was)
// THE UNKNOWN REGIONS
- Believers
- LINA’S FAMILY & HOUSE (GRANNY, POPPY) - hay cosas de todos sus familiares (FORESHADOWING ELEMEnt)
- Lina’s drawings, THE OTHER CITY
- Message to the Mayor from Looper → Description of the MAYOR / his office, Lina’s great-great---- SEVENTH
MAYOR (FORESHADOWING ELEMEnt)
FE: “There were things that had belonged to Lina’s parents, her grandparents, and even their grandparents …”
(23) - “The seventh mayor, Podd Morethwart, was her great-great -she didn’t know how many greats-
grandfather.” (35)

● Chapter 3:

CONTENT QUESTION: What was it that Doon met for the first time in his life? (page 42)
ANALYSIS QUESTION: How different are Doon and the old man as regards the river? What
does this tell about both characters? (page 48)

CONTENT QUESTION: How does Doon meet the generator? describe the generator.
ANALYSIS QUESTION: What kind of relationship do Doon and his father have? Why?

- DESCRIPTION OF pipeworks/ Underground: THE RIVER, the GENERATOR / they don’t know how electricity
works
 - NO ONE ASKS QUESTIONS
- DOON’S FAMILY & HOUSE (father) → advice: it’s not what you get but what you do with it
- Doon’s bugs

● CHAPTER 4
CONTENT QUESTION: Mention two things that have changed in the City of Ember
ANALYSIS QUESTION: Can you give an example of utopia and dystopia in this chapter?
Can you tell one theme of this chapter.

- How is the atmosphere of the greenhouses different from that of the rest of the city?
- Think about Sadge’s experience and try to explain why uncertainty causes such fear to
him.
- How does Lina feel after listening to Sadge? Relate it to characterization.
- How does the author portray Clary in such a moving way?

● Chapter 5
CONTENT QUESTION: “Lina’s heart gave a few fast beats.” /Tell two moments when Lina’s
heart beats faster. (Quote analysis)
ANALYSIS QUESTION: The title of this chapter “On night street” has a double meaning. Can
you tell them?

- Explain how/why Sadge’s speech (?) changes in this chapter.

- Why are the coloured pencils compared to the greenhouse? Analyse the comparison.
- Analyse the last passage of the chapter:
“Later, in her bedroom, with Poppy asleep, she took the two coloured pencils from her
pocket. They were not quite as beautiful as they had been. When she held them, she
remembered the powerful wanting she had felt in that dusty store, and the feeling of it was
mixed up with fear and shame and darkness.”

● Chapter 6

How does tension rise during the Mayor’s speech?

● Chapter 7
ANALYSIS QUESTION: “She washed Poppy’s clothes. She sewed….” (page 106/107).
What does this quote tell about Lina’s role?
ANALYSIS QUESTION: “She didn't want to stand around…..” (page 99) How is Lina
described here?

● Chapter 8
QUOTE ANALYSIS: “But Doon didn't care about… (page 113) How is Doon described here?
Similar or different from Lina? Why?
QUOTE ANALYSIS: “He was angry at his anger.” (page114). Tell other episodes along the
novel in which Doon gets angry. Explore the consequences of its anger.
 ● Chapter 9:
- Make a list of the things we have learnt that Lina and Doon have in common. Give
examples with concrete episodes from the chapter.
- How is the theme disappointment presented in this chapter?
- There is a moment of hope and other of disappointment in this chapter. Retell both
events.

● Chapter 10:
- How does Lina's role in the family become evident in this chapter?
- What makes this chapter so moving?
- What do Lina and Doon discover in the Pipeworks? (door, mysterious man)

CONTENT QUESTION: Can you tell the memories Lina thought about while she was taking
care of her granny?
ANALYSIS QUESTION: How is Lina characterised in this chapter? Think of two adjectives
and support your answer.

● Chapter 11
1. How does Mrs. Murdo’s house make Lina feel and why?
2. Analyse the quote: “She stopped thinking alone in the world and began thinking about her
new life at Mrs. Murdo” (143)
3. Which theme can you associate to what happens in this chapter with Lizzie and the cans?
Explain and analyse.
4. What do we know about Looper? (now & before)
5. Analyse the quote: “She didn’t want to want things this way” (153)
6. Do you think it is fair? Which way would you suggest for the things to be distributed with
fairness?

● Chapter 12
How is the theme disappointment presented in this chapter?
How is the Major described in this chapter? Does it surprise us or does it make sense with
what we know about him?
What are the different reactions of the people of Ember towards what is happening in the
city?
How is the theme corruption presented in this chapter?
Why does Lina realize Doon is a very good friend? Compare to other characters (Lizzie).
Do you think that the kid’s resolution will be effective? Why/Why not?

● Chapter 13
Why is Clary so important in this chapter?
Analyse the quote, relate to the theme corruption - “There is so much darkness in Ember,
Lina. It’s not just outside, it’s inside us too. Everyone has some darkness inside. It’s like a
hungry creature. It wants and wants and wants with a terrible power. And the more you give
it, the bigger and hungrier it gets.” 168
Why doesn’t Doon want to tell his father about the Instructions?
 ● Chapter 14
Mention in order the steps Doon & Lina follow after finding the E carved in stone by the river.
Why are the kids at first disappointed with what they find in the boxes?
What are the problems the kids face with the things they find in the room?

● Chapter 15
Doon’s worm that turns into a moth (pg. 198) is a symbol. Of what? Can you explain this?
What does this quote show about Doon? “his anger turning into power for his running feet”
(p. 201)
Where do Doon and Lina hide?
What do they decide to do, after they know they are wanted?
Consider Doon’s new plan. Do you agree that it is the best way to go?
Do you think Clary is the right person to leave the message to?

● Chapter 16
Why does the Mayor think curiosity is “a dangerous quality”?
How does the writer make this chapter’s atmosphere so tense? (focus on pages 219 - 220)
Why is the Singing such an emotive event for the people of Ember?
Can you guess what Lina’s plan will be?

● Chapter 17

● Chapter 18
1. Describe Doon and Lina's experience when traveling in the boat. Sensory images,e
etc.
2. Which difficulties or obstacles did they have to sort out?
3. How is the theme uncertainty presented? Mention at least 2 moments.
4. What does Poppy find? Can you anticipate what this is and its importance?
5. Why did Lina realized she had to take Poppy with her?
6. What mistake do the kids realize they have made?

Passages to analyse.

“Goodbye to Ember, Lina thought. Goodbye to everyone, goodbye to everything. For a

second, a picture of herself arriving in the bright city of her dreams flashed into her mind,
and then it faded and was gone. She had no idea what lay ahead.” ch 17, p.236

“In complete darkness, the boat pitched and rolled, and Lina, in the bottom of it, banged from
side to side, gripping Poppy with one arm and grabbing with the other hand for anything to
hold on to. Doon slid into her, and she slid into the boxes. Poppy was shrieking wildly.
(...)
The boat hit something and shuddered, then raced on. It felt like being swallowed, this
rushing through the dark, with the river roaring like a thousand voices.” ch. 18, 238-39

“They lifted their faces to the astonishing warmth. The sky arched over them, higher than
they could have imagined, a pale, clear blue. Lina felt as though a lid that had been on her
all her life had been lifted off. Light and air rushed through her, making a song, like the songs
of Ember, only it was a song of joy. She looked at Doon and saw that he was smiling and
crying at the same time, and she realized that she was, too.” ch. 19, p 256