A Wrinkle In Time Chapter 1-6 Questions and Answers
Chapter 1:
1. What do Meg Murry’s actions tell you about her? How does Meg feel about her family?
Meg actions tell us that she feels like an outsider at school: she can’t remember what she studies, she can only get the answer if she does the problem her way, she questions the adults at school and gets into trouble because she feels like they don’t understand her. Meg loves her family very much, especially her father.
2. How is Charles Wallace different from most five-year-olds? Have you ever met an unusual child like Charles Wallace?
Charles Wallace is very intelligent for his age. He has a large vocabulary and has a sixth sense that allows him to read people’s emotions and body language. (Answers will vary for the second part of the question.)
3. How do we know that Mrs. Whatsit is odd – but friendly?
Mrs. Whatsit is odd because she dresses like a homeless person – with many layers and scarves – and she talks funny, like she is familiar with the Murry family; however, we know she is friendly because she sits and eats with the family and speaks kindly with them.
4. Does ending the chapter with the tessaract make you want to read on? If so, why?
Ending the chapter with the tessaract makes a reader want to continue reading because it is a question we want to learn more about and how it’s connected to Mr. Murry.
5. What does Mrs. Murry’s treatment of Mrs. Whatsit tell you about Mrs. Murry?
Mrs. Murry welcomes the woman in, feeds her, asks after her, and offers her shelter in their barn. These actions all show us that Mrs. Murry is a kind and caring woman.
Chapter 2:
1. Why does the school principal, Mr. Jenkins, want Meg to accept that her father is never coming home? Should Meg believe him? Why or why not?
The school principal, Mr. Jenkins, wants Meg to accept that her father is never coming home because he thinks that is the reason Meg is misbehaving at school. Meg shouldn’t necessarily believe him because it’s important that she trust her instincts and her family. Also, the principal doesn’t understand that Meg has trouble learning in school; it doesn’t have anything to do with her father being away.
2. In what ways are the twins Sandy and Dennys different from the rest of the Murry family?
Sandy and Dennys are different from the rest of the Murry family because they are popular in school, are athletic, get good grades, and stick up for themselves.
3. Why do the twins think Meg has so much trouble at school?
The twins think Meg has so much trouble at school because she goofs off and doesn’t focus.
4. What does Mrs. Who say to Meg that lets us know that something is about to happen?
Mrs. Who tells Meg, “The time is not yet ripe. Don’t worry, we won’t go without you. Get plenty of food and rest” (43).
Chapter 3
1. How is Calvin’s home life different from Meg’s? How is his school life different from Meg’s?
Calvin’s home life is different from Meg’s because his family doesn’t check up on him and doesn’t show him love. He has a larger family – ten sisters and brothers – and are poor. His school life, however, is different because he fits in, gets good grades, is popular, and is athletic.
2. What does Mrs. Murry mean when she says “…just because we don’t understand doesn’t mean that the explanation doesn’t exist”?
Mrs. Murry means that even though there are ideas and events in life that we don’t understand – like Charles Wallace’s instinct and her father’s disappearance – there are always explanations. Our job is to journey through life and discovery the explanations.
3. What is a “willing suspension of disbelief”? How does having a willing suspension of disbelief help Mrs. Murry.
A “willing suspension of disbelief” is when you are so focused on one thing that the rest of reality goes away or can be disbelieved. Mrs. Murry “suspends” her disbelief that Charles Wallace is different and that her husband is missing to focus on keeping her family together. It allows her to cope with the situation.
4. What are the hard questions that Calvin asks about Meg’s father?
The hard questions that Calvin asks about Meg’s father is whether is she thinks her father might be dead and whether she thinks the government might not even know where her father is.
5. Are you surprised when the children go off with Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which? Why do they go off with these strange woman?
If we are surprised, it’s because the three guardian are strangers even though CW’s instinct and Calvin’s compulsions suggest that the three guardians can be trusted. The children also decide to go off with the woman because all of them, especially Meg, want to find Mr. Murry.
Chapter 4
1. Why does Mrs. Who like to quote? Do you think it is an effective way to communicate with the children? Why or why not?
Mrs. Who likes to quote because she has a hard time putting her thoughts into words. It is easier for her to use other people’s words. This may not be the most effective way to communicate with the children because the children may or may not understand what she means when she uses someone else’s words.
2. Why do you think Calvin is asked to go on the journey with Meg and Charles Wallace?
Calvin seems to be an important part of the journey. He has compulsions – a sixth sense like Charles Wallace – and the three guardians seem to suggest he has a part to play in finding Meg’s father. He also seems to support Meg, which seems like it would be important to her journey.
3. How would you react if you were taken on a surprise journey to another planet?
(Answers will vary)
Chapter 5
1. What does the children’s experience in a two-dimensional planet tell you about tesser travel?
Based on the children’s experience almost being flattened in a two-dimensional plate, tesser travel can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
2. During their journey, the children learn about the Dark Thing. What do you think the Dark Thing really is?
(Answers will vary.) The Dark Thing is a shadow caused by the evil in the universe, especially characters we will meet later on. It is the archetypal symbol for evil or discord or wrongness.
3. Who are some of the famous people mentioned as fighting the Dark Thing? What do they all have in common?
Some of the famous people mentioned as having fought the Dark Thing are Jesus, Leonardo de Vinci, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Bach, Pasteur, Madame Curie, Einstein, Schweitzer, Gandhi, Buddha, Beethoven, Rembrandt, St. Francis, Euclid, and Copernicus. All these people brought light, knowledge, and goodness to the world. They fought against darkness – of evil and ignorance.
Chapter 6
1. Why is the Happy Medium’s worst trouble “getting fond”?
The Happy Medium’s worst trouble is “getting fond” because she meets new people but then has to say goodbye to them again, after giving them bad news or seeing “bad” things in her crystal ball.
2. Describe the planet of Camazotz.
It resembles the planet earth in landscaping and features, except that when the children enter the town, everything is the same – identical. Same houses. Same actions. Everything is in perfect sync. There are no differences and no one stands out.
3. What characters have you met through reading other books and stories who also have magical qualities like Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which?
(Answers will vary). Dumbledore from Harry Potter was a great wizard. Yoda and Obi Wan from Star Wars had Jedi powers. Gandalf from Lord of the Rings was a powerful wizard. The three fairy godmothers in Sleeping Beauty had magical powers. Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe had tremendous powers.
4. What do the children learn about the people of Camazotz. How do you know?
The people of Camazotz are all alike – they live in the same kinds of houses, play the same kinds of games, at the exact same time. No one is different, and they are extremely afraid of acting “out of line” and being different. They seem to fear what the CENTRAL Central Intelligence will do to them if they step out of line.