44 pages 1 hour read

Jeanne DuPrau

The City of Ember

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2003

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Essay Topics

1.

After their long quest for egress and a swift journey out of Ember, Lina and Doon discover the outside world. How is their success a result of a combination of hard work, cleverness, and coincidence? What does DuPrau suggest about teamwork and community? Cite a variety of plot events for each of these factors in your answer.

2.

Doon is a round character with a wide array of traits. Does his temper ever benefit him in his goals or methods? What other impassioned emotions does Doon display as he searches for the truth and answers, and how does his personality impact his success in getting out of Ember? Cite details from the story to help support your answers.

3.

After Lina pulls the Pipeworks laborer assignment, she leaves the classroom and watches the activity in Harken Square: “Lina sighed. This was where she wanted to be, up here where everything happened, not down underground” (15). How is this line ironic? Consider the major events of the plot in your answer.