Why does Bonzo not change his mind about Ender after he turns defeat into a draw?

Why do you think they chose Bonzo as a commander? Do you think he deserved this position? Why or why not? -Kristin

Does Ender's name have any to do with the way he fights in battles or in future battles? -Matthew

Do any of you want to comment on the connections between ENDER'S GAME and THE ODYSSEY that you noticed on Thursday? -nelly

I noticed that Ender and Odysseus both are taken from their home for a long time. Also, they both have to fight in battles, and save their home from the effects of the war. I believe that Odyessus and Ender are very alike, excluding their age. Both are to be the greatest soliders from their homeland, and both are to help others along the way.

Do you think that Petra gets any special treatment for being a girl, even though all of the soliders are supposed to be treated equally?

Do you feel that when Ender got traded from the Salamander Army to the Rat Army this affected him? What about his emotions? Why? - Keri!

I believe that Bonzo didn't change his maind about Ender because he wants authority. When Ender disobeyed Bonzo he was angry even though it helped his team. Bonzo was probably happy that Ender helped his team but he was mad that Ender didn't listen to him. Bonzo wants to be the "king" of the army. When Ender helped the team Bonzo felt that Ender was getting some authority, and he did NOT like it.

Being traded to the Rat army has affected Ender alot , because he now plays a role in the battles. His emotions are tested when he realizes how much he hurts people, when he has to defend himself against the bigger boys who make fun of him and the launchies. He also realizes he is becoming more like Peter.

In your opinion is Ender more like Peter or Valentine? Use examples from the book.

I feel that Ender is much more like Peter, even though he might not want to be. He realizes he is growing to be more like Peter each time he hurts someone. Just like when he hurt Stilson and he broke Bernard's arm. Also, when he was playing the giant game on his desk, during the game there was a mirror that the character looked into and saw the face of Peter and Ender did not want to face the fact Peter was growing on him.


Do you think Petra was Ender's real friend, or was she pretending to be friends with him? Why or why not? What about Alai?

I personally think that Bonzo doesn't deserve to be commander. He claims he has "Spanish" Honor, but he has no honor, the way he pushed Ender around and smacked Petra in the face, he's not a commander, he's a coward. He knows that Ender is an amazing solider, but is afraid that Ender will upstage and maybe even replace him.

How to you think Bonzo's actions against Petra (the smack across the face) affects how the rest of Salamander Army looks at her? Does it demean her personally or make her spirit stronger?

I think that Bonzo is a coward for slapping Petra. This earns her some respect in the Salamander Arm, she took it like a real soldier. In my opinion this made her spirits stronger because, as of that point Bonzo was scum and she would do what ever she could to ice him.

How do you feel about the way Graff has been pushing Ender? Do you think Graff will break Ender or will Ender move on to greater and better things?

In response to Andrew, I think Graff believes what he does to Ender will make him a better soldier and that may be true, but it might also have the opposite effect. I don't believe Graff will break Ender; Ender is "destined" for great things.

Do you think Ender will turn into Peter? Why? Is Peter really the bad guy or is it all a facade? -Megan

I think that Petra was Ender's real friend because I think that she knew he was different than the others. I also think that she knew that they are similar because they are both seen as a threat to any army that they are in because the commander will be afraid that they will start a revolution. Ender and Petra are treated as underdogs also because Petra is a girl and Ender is the youngest but this is ironic because they are also the smartest. I also think that Alai was Ender's real friend because Alai made their friendship sacred by actually showing emotion in front of Ender which is a sign of weakness no matter who does it in Battle School.


How do you feel about the way Ender thinks when he is in battle or when he is playing the game on his desk? Is his thinking sadistic or is he doing what needs to be done in order to succeed?

Do you think Ender has enough potential to become a commander?


I do believe Ender has enough potential to become a commander. He has the brains and the ability to teach others. Ender needs to learn more about the games and all the rules about them to become a commander. Before he teaches others he will need to teach himself.

Why does Bonzo not change his mind about Ender after he turns defeat into a draw?

He doesn't change his mind because that he feels like he would embarrass himself and he would lose his "Spanish Honor". He knows that a good commander must stick to what he says and only change it in a dire situation. Furthermore, he didn't change his mind because that Ender disobeyed orders and Bonzo says "No good solider ever disobeys".

Why do you think they chose Bonzo as a commander? Do you think he deserved this position? Why or why not? -Kristin

I think they chose to place Bonzo as a commander because he is a strict leader, but this doesn't mean he is an excellent one. As Dink said in Chapter 8, being in that higher position will make you crazy. Bonzo's cruel and supercilious ways could have came from the adults putting him in this position. Another trait I do not like about Bonzo is that he enjoys power and being superior to others. Even though he is in control of others, he cannot control his own emotions. Bonzo's anger is intensified through his jealousy of Ender and arrogance towards everyone around him.

Why do you think they chose Bonzo as a commander? Do you think he deserved this position? Why or why not?

I think that they chose Bonzo because of his "Spanish Honor". I think that they knew that he would do whatever it takes to win. I believe that before we meet him he had done great as a toon leader and he had done some good things. Although he seems like a cruel person he had to have been very good to advance to the Commander position. I think that is why he deserved his position.

Does Ender's name have any to do with the way he fights in battles or in future battles?

I believe that it does because every time that a person comes along that makes Ender feel imminently threatened he ends up severely injuring them and doing what he calculates as necessary to stop this from ever happening again.

What do you think would've happened if Ender had known he caused the deaths of Stilson and Bonzo? How would it have changed him?

How is Ender being treated in Battle schooland what is the reason for it?

Ender is being seperated from everybody so he won't have any friends. He has everybody against him and when he starts to make friends he is seperated from them. They are doing this so he will really bring out the genius in him and see if he can handle the pressure in the battles and such.

In my opinion, Ender is becoming more like Peter, because he is continuing to be brutal, and savage. He ends us killing Stilson, and Bonzo. However, he does show signs of remorse, which shows that he has aspects of Valentine. Valentine is a very intelligent and caring person, and Ender does have the same degree of intelligence that Valentine has. I think that Ender has signs of both Peter and Valentine; but Peter mostly.

How does Bean remind you of Ender? What do they have in common; differences?

Why do you think Valentine agreed to talk to Ender and help Graff the second time? Would you have made the same decision?

In response to Laiken, I don't think Ender is trying to be sadistic when he plays; I think Ender is just doing what he knows has to be done to succeed.

How is Ender taking in the fight between him and bonzo? How does he feel?

Ender is being treated very awful he has hardly any friends from the older boys and he is not allowed to have teaching lessons with his launchies. The reason for this is to make Ender keep a clear mind not adapt to the system, and not ice out.

In response to Megan, I feel that Val talks to Ender because she understands that Ender will make a big diference in the world. She knows that Ender might save the world and that it depends on him. Val made a great decision in talked to Ender and I would of done the same. If I was put in that situation I would of talked to Ender and tried to convince him to go to school.

I think if Ender would have known he caused the deaths of Stilson and Bonzo he wouldn't have been too upset about it. Although it would have made him feel like he had turned into Peter he did it for a good reason. He just showed those boys not to pick on him anymore, and if they wouldn't of ever messed with him in the first place and made fun of him he wouldn't have had to hurt them. Basically, they did it to themselves.

Katie

The connection between Ender's Game and the Odyssey is suprisingly great. There are many different simularities between Ender and Odysseus. Both are great and intelligent leaders. As both incounter a giant they use their own sly and cunning way to defeat the giant in their story. Both were most defenently destined for greatness and the way they handle their "soldiers" or "followers". When faced with a challenge they overcome it in their own creative yet successfull way. So how is that for a comment?

Describe the simularities between Bean and Ender. How are they alike? How are they different?

Ok I may not be the first but im going to answer kristins. I think they chose Bonzo for his ruthelessness as a commander, because they knew that he would demand respect and full power under any circumstances. Yes i think he deserved this post, because he has proven to be an okay commander, most will say he is a cruel person and has flaws but everyone must have them, and sometimes they can come in handy.

My question is as follows
It will come later but here it is

Do you think Enders dreams in the Command School about the buggers were dreams or do you think they were really there? If so do you think this is how they found out about the Giants Drink.

I believe today I learned a lot about my character Bernard especially, that he occured in the later scene where Bonzo corners Ender in the showers. Also, I realized how much of a dynamic character Bernard is from being a friend to an enemy one moment to the next.

I think that some of the names in this novel reflect the character's attitude, especially Ender because when he fights with someone he fights to end all of the rest of the fights that they could ever have. Ender is also depended on to end the Bugger wars. Other characters with names that reflect their attitude are Alai, Dink Meeker, and Graff. Alai sounds like ally. Meeker could reflect Dink's acting meek and kind toward Ender. Also, graff means overseer which is what Graff is to Ender.

Do you think that the I.F. officers let Bonzo die on purpose or do you think that he died on his own?

Do you think that Bonzo knew that he lost some of his authority by hitting Ender? If not, do you think that he would have hit Ender if he did know?

My comment is in response to Michael’s question, “Why does Bonzo not change his mind about Ender after he turns defeat into a draw?”

He did not change is mind, because if he did he would have to vocally admit that he was wrong. This would be embarrassing to him and he thought that it would lower his status as the leader of the army.

Would you still consider Ender a good person even though some of his actions (mind game and reality) were rether ruthless?

In response to Laikens question, "Do you think that the I.F. officers let Bonzo die on purpose or do you think that he died on his own?"

I think that Bonzo caused his own death but the I.F. officers were not going to stop Ender. I think Ender is the only one they truly care about and anyone that gets in Enders way only slows down what is trying to be accomplished.

yea i still consider Ender to be a good person. When he had killed the Cyclops he felt guilty and hated what he had done but it was the only way to get to the next level. When he and Bonzo got in a fight he new one of them would die and didn't want to fight but there was no way out.

I think the officers didnt let Bonzo die on purpose but they did know that his death was a possibilty.
How do you feel about Ender planning to start the bugger race all over again? Explain.

I would still call Ender a good person.He works hard and helps other learn how to play the battle games. Even though he has taken some rather bad actions inside he is still good. He shows lots of good things he can do. I agree with Andrew when he killed the cyclops and also when he hurt Bernard he felt guilty.He hates thinking that he is aggressive and acts like his brother Peter.

In what ways are Ender and Bean alike? How are they different? If Ender had failed and been iced, do you think that Bean would have taken his place?

Do you think Ender was manipulated into going to the battle school in the first place? If so how?