The City of Ember

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.

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.

Chapter 1 states that the year is 241. What does Lina suggest later about time and its passage in Ember? How might it be possible more time has passed than the year states? How does the description of the timekeepers either contribute to the established atmosphere or defy it? Cite novel details to support your thoughts.

The author begins the novel in third-person omniscient point of view, slips into Lina’s third-person perspective about halfway through Chapter 1, then generally keeps to limited third person (in either Lina’s or Doon’s viewpoint) for the rest of the story. What is the effect of an omniscient opening in this novel? How would the novel be different in style or plot points if it was told from only Lina’s viewpoint?

Lina genuinely loves her baby sister, and once Granny is gone, Poppy is Lina’s only remaining relative. What does Poppy symbolize, both to Lina and to the story overall? In what ways is Lina’s last-minute decision to bring Poppy on the journey out of Ember both surprising and befitting, considering Lina’s characterization? Review passages of interaction between the sisters and incorporate story details into your answer.

DuPrau frequently foreshadows future events in the novel and details about Ember unknown to its inhabitants. How does this narrative strategy support the themes of the novel?

What character is most influential to Lina in terms of guidance, lessons learned, or advice? What character most influences Doon? What reasons do you have for these selections, and what impacts do these characters have on the plot?

The Mayor makes a point to remind students on Assignment Day that all jobs in Ember must “be properly done” (8), while Lina reflects “You never knew, each year, exactly which jobs would be offered” (10). How do the Assignments made to Lina’s class and her reactions to them paint a picture of the city’s qualities and needs? Over the course of the novel, readers learn about some changes to Ember’s jobs and workforce. How do these changes relate to Ember’s overall deteriorating condition? Cite specific details to support your response.