1. The chrysalids
Unit introduction

2. The chrysalids What is a Chrysalid? Why the title?
Chrysalids refers to chrysalisis, which is the transformation of a caterpiller to a butterfly
Why the title?

3. The chrysalids The Setting
Waknuk – David’s home town and name of father’s farm
Labrador – Christian civilization following the “Tribulation.” Society matches the 1700s-1800s.
Capital of Rigo, Island of Newf
Wild Country
Fringes – Lawless land full of danger and mutations
Badlands – Dangerous area
Black Coasts – Dangerous area affected by radiation
Sealand – Technology exists here. Universal telepathy

4. The chrysalids The Setting Society is based on farming and agriculture
People are controlled by rigid beliefs about morals and religion
Religious beliefs are cruel and OPPRESSIVE
People believe TRIBULATION caused world to be this way as a punishment from God
“OLD PEOPLE” refers to us – the current readers
Radiation has caused mutations
Chrysalids is a novel set in the future with a setting of the past

5. The Chrysalids Social Life Purpose in life is dealing with Tribulation
Need to follow ETHICS to climb back into God’s grace
Church is the ultimate authority
“Rules” found in Nicholson’s Repentances
Anything not normal must be destroyed
Anything not normal is an insult to God
Mankind’s greatest duty is to see that the human form is kept true and proper
Nicholson’s Repentances describes true human form

6. The chrysalids Chapters 2-4 CHAPTER 2
History of David’s family and household
Background: Religious family – Focus on “Repentances” and Bible
David’s father (JOSEPH) – Strict religious leader. Grandfather (ELIAS) – Founder of Waknuk
Individuals responsible to watch for BLASPHEMIES and OFFENSES – Including killing animals
Information about Blasphemies and their relationship with the Pure People (Raiding farms)

7. The chrysalids Chapters 2-4 CHAPTER 3
David spending more time with Sophie
Steam Engine: Technology of Old People
Tension between Sophie’s Dad and David
David remembers getting a splinter and nobody helps him at home so he wishes to his father for a third arm. Gets punished – pray to God, received beating
David dreams of Sophie being killed by Joseph
David wants Sophie’s Dad to trust him

8. The chrysalids Chapters 2-4 CHAPTER 4 Telepathy with cousin Rosalind
Uncle Axel finds out but keeps it a secret
David’s telepathy = Sophie’s toe
Group of telepathic people get together to keep secret: David and Rosalind, Michael, Rachel and Anne, Sally and Katherine, and Mark.
Fringe people planning on invading Waknuk. Some are captured and appear normal
One guy looks like David’s father but has long arms and legs: Spider-Man
Uncle Angus: loves to annoy Joseph. Argument about selective breeding: Giant horses and tail-less cat
David spends more time with Sophie and starts teaching her school stuff

9. The Chrysalids Theme THEME:
Theme is the main topic, lesson, or idea that is the focus of a story/narrative
Novels often explore more than one theme
What THEMES have been introduced?
Comment on Our Society
Genocide
Religion
CONFLICT:
Conflict is the tension or problem between different forces or characters in a story.
You should already know conflict from short stories. Conflict includes:
Character vs. Character
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
Change
What types of CONFLICT have you seen
in The Chrysalids so far?
David vs. Waknuk Beliefs
Joseph vs. Blasphemies
Fringe People vs. Waknuk

10. The Chrysalids Character CHARACTER SKETCH:
A character sketch is a description of the different TRAITS of a character, including their personality, relationships, emotions, and actions based on events in the story.
Character’s ACTIONS lead to TRAITS, which are words that describe the character.
Relationships
Personality
Family: Mom and Dad
Protective
Sophie
Loving
Uncle Axel
David
Curious
Other telepathic kids
Energetic
Emotions
Actions
Anger
Dishonouring Father
Guilt
Befriends Sophie
Curiosity
Wants to Run Away
Sadness
Defends friends

11. The Chrysalids Chapters 5-6 CHAPTER 5
Spring proves to be free of Deviations
Waknuk wins “Purity Record” – All good!
David and Sophie sneak off together
While fishing barefoot, they meet Allan, who finds a “peculiar footprint” – says he will tell everyone
David attacks Allan and he’s knocked unconscious
Sophie and David tell Sophie’s parents. Family forced to disappear
David returns home and finds Inspector at house
David lies about knowing Sophie. Receives beating
David worried about telling/holding secrets (THEME)

12. The Chrysalids Chapters 5-6 CHAPTER 6
David uses telepathy to talk to friends about Sophie
David has vivid dreams about Big City
Inspector continues to question David
David begins doubting his culture/beliefs
Joseph announces that Sophie’s family has been captured
Uncle Axel and David discuss the world beyond Waknuk
Rigo (Capital); Black Coasts; “Unspeakable monstrosities”
David learns of different races outside of Waknuk – and that each believes they are the “true image of God” (Comment on different religions / THEME)
Axel and David talk about telepathy. Eight people other than David, though eighth person hasn’t answered
Axel will find out what happened to this person

13. The Chrysalids Dystopia
Why is the world such a dark, bad place in the future in so many novels and films?
Challenge Leadership/
Governemnt
Warning
Social Commentary
What THEMES are you seeing in the novel so far?
MAKING CONNECTIONS:
-text to text
-text to world
-text to self
How does The Chrysalids compare to other novels/films that explore similar ideas?

14. The Chrysalids Chapters 7-9 CHAPTER 7
David’s mother gives birth. Child must be certified “normal” before it is allowed to exist
Tension between Joseph Strorm and Inspector
Petra Strorm certified as normal
David’s Aunt Harriet comes with new baby – uncertified because not normal
Harriet wants to borrow Petra for certification. Answer is no. Harriet chased out of house by Joseph
Harriet found dead next day by a river. Baby is not there.

15. The Chrysalids Chapters 7-9 CHAPTER 8
Harriet is wiped from knowledge/existence after her death
Suggestion that her death was a suicide
David prays to lose his ability – just wants to be normal
Axel helps David calm down
Missing Telepathic boy died in a wood-cutting accident
Reader is introduced to other telepathic children. Michael teaches rest of kids new information (he lives in a different area)
Chapter ends with a new Telepathic person revealed

16. The Chrysalids Chapters 7-9 CHAPTER 9
Big jump in time. Now six years later.
David gets urge to run – runs to river and finds Petra about to drown
Rosalind comes, too. People suspicious of how they knew to help
David fears that Petra will be killed. Tries to telepathically warn her.
Last year was a bad year for Deviations. Lots of “purgings”
Old-Timers blame Deviations on “corruption in government and carelessness in youth” (SOCIAL COMMENTARY HERE?)
Society getting paranoid – fearing new Tribulation (More COMMENTARY)
Everything calming down until Anne (telepathic person) announces she is going to get married

17. The Chrysalids Chapters 10-12 CHAPTER 10
Anne marrying “normal” son of man who discovered Sophie’s secret
Telepathic group uneasy and warn against marriage. Anne blocks them out
Uncle Axel suggests considering killing Anne to protect secret of group
Anne marries and cuts off connections with group
David falls in love with Rosalind but this is kept secret as their bond forms
Anne’s husband found dead six months after marriage
Anne is found in her house dead, a victim of suicide
Letter Anne left found by an illiterate neighbour. Letter calls out telepathic group. Letter is destroyed.
All tension relaxes.

18. The Chrysalids Chapters 10-12 CHAPTER 11
Next Spring is very quiet. Few Deviations (none beloning to family of Allan (the Mortons) or Joseph Strorm
Petra is growing up. Takes off into a forbidden forest on her pony.
David feels urge to run. Calls Michael and Rosalind to join her. They find a freaky Deviation eating Petra’s pony. Deviation killed and Petra rescued.
All other Telepathic People also meet in forest
Group agrees on how to deal with Petra’s calls as David tries to teach his sister about what’s going on with her mind. Petra reveals she hears people from far away
Uncle Axel suggests people are becoming suspicious of David. Axel killed Allan because he was telling people about the Group.
Group ready to leave if people come after them.

19. The Chrysalids Chapters 10-12 CHAPTER 12
David receives a messages that some of the telepathic kids – the Chrysalids – have been captured. He calls Petra and Rosalind and with a horse, the three leave Waknuk.
Group is followed and kills a man who threatens them. Secrecy and stealth are key.
Find out Katherine being tortured by Inspector and is revealing information.
Inspector issues reward for capture of David, Rosalind, and Petra so he can learn about the Chrysalids and prevent the Deviations from happening again.
David decides to head to Fringes. Michael plans to fake their deaths to protect them.
Petra starts communicating with a mystery girl. The group head towards her. David realizes this is a girl from his dreams.