i
Study Guide
for
A Wrinkle
in Time
by Madeleine L’Engle
T
HE G LENCOE
L ITERATURE L
IBRARY
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 9
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Her first few books sold well. And Both
Were Young, for example, won its way onto
The New York Times Ten Best Books of the
Year list for 1949. During the 1950s, how-
ever, she postponed her writing career to
raise her children. L’Engle and her husband
ran a general store in Connecticut and
raised a family. She wrote stories when she
had time. A Wrinkle in Time was one of
those stories. Twenty-six publishers rejected
it before editors who had liked one of her
earlier stories decided to publish it. The edi-
tors said they were publishing the book
because they loved it. As it turned out, the
public loved it too.
In 1963 A Wrinkle in Time won the
Newbery Medal. Other awards followed, and
the book became a classic of literature for
young adult readers. “It was simply a book I
had to write,” L’Engle said of A Wrinkle in
Time. “And it was only after it was written
that I realized what some of it meant.” The
writing career that had come so close to
ending was relaunched.
L’Engle has written more than forty
books for children and young people. In
1998 she received the Margaret A. Edwards
Award from the magazine School Library
Journal for her lifetime contribution to writ-
ing for teens. She continued the story
started in A Wrinkle in Time with another
book, A Wind in the Door, in her Time
Fantasy Series. She also has many loyal
readers, who delight in her imaginative
approach to stories. She says:
I start with what I know with all five
senses, what I have experienced, and
then the imagination takes over and says,
“But what if—” and the story is on.
Meet Madeleine L’Engle
I had to write . . . It didn’t matter how small or
inadequate [was] my talent. If I never had another
book published, and it was very clear to me that this
was a real possibility, I still had to go on writing.
—Madeleine L’Engle
adeleine L’ Engle (pronounced leng el)
wrote her first stories when she was only
five years old. An only child, she often felt
lonely, and to amuse herself she made up stories
in which she was the heroine. Her loneliness
grew when she and her parents moved to
Switzerland and they enrolled her in a boarding
school. She says of those unhappy years:
I learned to shut out the sound of the
school and listen to the story or the poem
I was writing.
Back in the United States, L’Engle
attended Smith College in Massachusetts,
where she acted in the theater and wrote
plays. After graduation, she worked as a
stage manager and an actress. She met her
husband, Hugh Franklin, while she was the
assistant stage manager for a Broadway
production of a famous play called The
Cherry Orchard. While working in the the-
ater, L’Engle continued to write.
M
10 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
[A Wrinkle in Time] combines devices of fairy
tales, overtones of fantasy, the philosophy of
great lives, the visions of science, and the
warmth of a good family story. It is an
exuberant book, original, vital, exciting. Funny
ideas, fearful images, amazing characters, and
beautiful concepts sweep through it. And it is
full of truth.
—Ruth Hill, A Critical History of
Children’s Literature
A Wrinkle in Time is no ordinary adventure
story. While the pages of the novel are filled
with all the action-packed scenes and sus-
pense an adventure fan could want, the novel
also explores common human struggles, such
as the difficulties involved in growing up and
trying to find one’s identity. It is, perhaps,
this mixture of the extraordinary and the
everyday that has made the novel a favorite
among young people and adults since 1962. It
is a novel that not only entertains but also
encourages readers to think and ask questions
about the world. One critic writes: “It makes
unusual demands on the imagination and . . .
gives great rewards.”
When A Wrinkle in Time begins, main
characters Meg Murry and her younger
brother Charles Wallace live with their
mother and their brothers, Sandy and
Dennys. Meg has trouble fitting in at school
and misses the support of her father, a physi-
cist, who has not been heard from for more
than a year after he disappeared while per-
forming a time-travel experiment.
A strange being from another world visits
the Murry home one night and drops an
important clue about Mr. Murry’s whereabouts.
Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin
O’Keefe then begin a dangerous journey
through time and space to save Mr. Murry.
They are assisted by the Murrys’ somewhat
unusual neighbors, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who,
and Mrs. Which. The children soon find
themselves at the center of a struggle between
good and evil that threatens to destroy free-
dom and individuality. Along the way, they
develop strength, courage, and abilities that
they never knew they had. For Meg, in partic-
ular, the journey is more than an adventure or
a mission to help others; it is also a journey of
self-discovery that changes her ideas about
herself and the people around her.
L’Engle’s story contains elements of two
categories, or genres, of fiction—fantasy and
science fiction. Fantasy is imaginative writing
that is set in strange or imaginary places and
contains unusual characters who have magical
powers. L’Engle’s unearthly characters are col-
orful, unique, and sometimes frightening.
Science fiction blends imaginative writing
and science. The scientific language L’Engle
uses in describing parts of the children’s jour-
ney makes the story sound realistic, despite its
fantastic elements. It also allows readers to
recognize one of her important themes—the
responsible use of science and technology.
Another important theme in the novel is
the importance of love in a healthy society.
To emphasize this idea, L’Engle draws on her
strong personal religious beliefs and her belief
in family. She expands this theme to include
the self-love that allows individuals like her
characters to believe in themselves.
THE TIME AND PLACE
Although A Wrinkle in Time is timeless in its
appeal to readers, its themes reflect the times
during which it was written. For example, the
idea of space exploration was new and exciting
to people in the United States when the book
was written in the early 1960s. The first artifi-
cial satellite was sent into space in the late
1950s by the Soviet Union. After the United
States later launched its first satellite into
orbit, the two nations began competing in the
exploration of outer space. In 1961, a year
before A Wrinkle in Time was published, both
nations sent manned rockets into space for the
first time. In her novel, L’Engle makes the idea
of travel through space sound exciting but also
Introducing the Novel
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 11
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
dangerous. She warns people against believing
they know everything there is to know about
the universe.
The novel also reflects political themes
of the time. For example, life on the planet
Camazotz is similar to what Americans
thought life in the former Soviet Union was
like at the time. In the 1960s, the United
States and the Soviet Union were in the
midst of a Cold War—a long period of hos-
tility without actual war. The two nations
had very different political systems. Then,
as now, the United States was a democratic
country in which the individual rights
of every citizen were protected by the
Constitution. In the Soviet Union,
however, many aspects of life were con-
trolled by a central government. Soviet
citizens did not have freedom of speech
or freedom of religion. This novel presents
L’Engle’s views on a society without freedom
and individuality.
Can people really travel through time? Does
life exist beyond Earth and its atmosphere? In
his theory of relativity, physicist Albert Einstein
suggested that time travel could exist in the-
ory. This does not mean that other, unknown
factors could not prevent it from actually hap-
pening. According to physicist Stephen
Hawking, we can believe that time travel is
impossible because “we have not been
invaded by hordes of tourists from the future.”
Many scientists strongly believe that other
forms of life must exist in the universe. They
point out that the star we know as our sun is
like 400 billion other stars in our galaxy.
Because life exists on Earth, life probably can
exist on a planet that rotates around a similar
star. Scientists also point out that there are
hundreds of billions of galaxies in the universe
aside from our own, the Milky Way.
Because of the great distances between
Earth and other stars, people probably will not
be able to use a spacecraft to search for life
outside the solar system any time soon. It is
believed that any contact will have to be by
radio. Successful radio contact, however, would
require that other life forms be as technologi-
cally advanced as humans and have similar
radio equipment.
Did You Know?
12 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
FOCUS ACTIVITY
What skills, strengths, ideas, or beliefs help you meet everyday challenges?
List Ideas
Make a list of the things you rely on when faced with a challenge. Include personal skills.
Setting a Purpose
As you read, identify the challenges that Meg Murry faces in her life.
BACKGROUND
Did You Know?
French author Jules Verne (1828–1905) is generally considered to be the first serious writer of
science fiction. He wrote at a time when the public was becoming fascinated with the potential
of science to change people’s lives. In his writing, Verne imagined devices and human abilities
that did not become realities until after his death. His characters rode in airplanes and sub-
marines before anyone had seen one. His books include From the Earth to the Moon, Twenty
Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and A Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Competing in Science
Madeleine L’Engle wrote A Wrinkle in Time in the early 1960s, when science was a popular topic
around the world. The United States was trying to be the first country in the world to send peo-
ple into space. Anything that contributed to this goal received the utmost attention.
Throughout the 1950s, the former Soviet Union and the United States competed with each
other extensively in many areas, including in science. The Soviet Union was the first nation to put
a satellite in orbit and excelled in other areas of science. To improve its space program, the U.S.
government established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In the early
1960s, U.S. President John F. Kennedy promised to put an American on the moon “before the
decade [was] out.” NASA trained crews of astronauts and improved space exploration equipment
to prepare for the attempt. It was during this period of early space exploration that L’Engle wrote
A Wrinkle in Time.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
antagonistic [an ta´ə nistik] adj. hostile; unfriendly
assimilate [ə simə la¯t´] v. to absorb; to understand
diction [dikshən] n. manner of speaking; pronunciation
ephemeral [i femər əl] adj. short-lived; temporary
preliminaries [pri limə ner´e¯z] n. preparations; beginnings
prodigious [prə dijəs] adj. tremendous; amazing
relinquish [ri linkwish] v. to let go; to abandon
tangible [tanjə bəl] adj. touchable; real; solid
tractable [traktə bəl] adj. manageable; obedient
wraithlike [ra¯ thl¯k] adj. ghostly
Before You Read
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 1–4
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 13
Name Date Class Name Date Class
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
You will meet both extraterrestrial and human characters in A Wrinkle in Time. As you read, try
to think of words that describe the characters. Add several adjectives until you have a brief
description of the characters in the book.
Name Date Class Name Date Class
Active Reading
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 1–4
Meg
Mrs. WhichMrs. Who
The dark
Thing
Mrs. Whatsit
Charles Wallace
Sandy/Dennys
well-adjusted
happy
athletic
Calvin
Mrs. Murry
14 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Personal Response
What thoughts do you have about Meg’s personality as you read these chapters?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. Why is Meg Murry unhappy at school?
2. How and why does Calvin fit in with the Murry family?
3. Where and why do Calvin, Charles Wallace, and Meg go with Mrs. Whatsit,
Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which?
Name Date Class Name Date Class
Responding
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 1–4
Responding
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 1–4
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 15
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Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect
4. In your opinion, why do the three children accept the three Mrs. Ws rather than
fear them?
5. In what ways does Meg seem like any other young person? In what ways are her
feelings similar to yours?
Literature and Writing
Character Sketch
In the
Focus Activity on page 12, you considered the ways in which you respond to
challenges. How does Meg respond? Write a character sketch that describes Meg as you
know her at this point in the story. What is she like? What problems is she facing? Be
sure to include details from the book to support your ideas.
Extending Your Response
Literature Groups
Does the story seem believable or possible to you? In your group, discuss which ele-
ments from the story seem real, which seem possible, and which seem impossible. Then
discuss whether the impossible elements affect your enjoyment of the novel. Have each
person explain his or her position.
Learning for Life
Imagine that you are a guidance counselor at Meg’s school. You believe Meg can do
better classwork. Write a letter to Mrs. Murry about Meg, explaining the problem as
you see it and suggesting possible solutions.
Name Date Class Name Date Class
16 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
FOCUS ACTIVITY
Many stories examine the conflict between good and evil. What examples of goodness do you see
in the world around you?
Think-Pair-Share
Make a list of good works, such as food and clothing drives, in which people in your community
are involved. Then share your list with a partner and discuss other ways that people can promote
goodness in your community and in the world.
Setting a Purpose
In this section, Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin learn about an evil power that threatens the
universe. Read to discover how the children try to deal with it.
BACKGROUND
Did You Know?
Before the children begin their travels, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which warn them of an
ongoing cosmic struggle between good and evil. To illustrate this struggle, they use many allusions.
An allusion is a reference in a work of literature to another work of literature or to a well-known
person, place, or event in history. Writers often use allusions to express complex ideas. Sometimes
the allusions are direct, such as quotations from historical figures. Sometime, however, allusions are
less obvious. For example, the Murry’s dog Fortinbras is named after a character in Shakespeare’s
play Hamlet who is strong and brave in military matters. In a subtle way, the allusion tells you some-
thing about the dog and something about the people who named him. You might guess that the
Murrys enjoy literature and value strength and courage. Watch for allusions in chapters 5–8 and
throughout the novel.
Tesseract
When Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace ask how they can go on a mission through time and
space, Mrs. Whatsit says, “Now we will tesser.” The children will learn that tessering is a shortcut
through time and space that will allow them to travel quickly to other planets. Although the jour-
ney the children will take is fantasy, some of L’Engle’s story is based on real science. For example, a
dimension is anything that can be measured in space. The three ordinary dimensions on Earth are
length, width, and depth. Albert Einstein considered time a fourth dimension.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
aberration [ab´ə ra¯shən] n. change from the normal
dwindle [dwindəl] v. to lessen; to shrink
myopic [m¯ opik] adj. nearsighted; shortsighted
obliquely [ə ble¯ kle¯] adv. slantingly; indirectly
perturbed [ pər turbd] adj. troubled; upset
precipitously [ pri sipə təs le¯]adv. abruptly; steeply
reverberate [ri vurbə ra¯t´] v. to echo; to vibrate
sadist [sa¯dist] n. one who enjoys causing pain
wheedle [hwe¯ dəl] v. to plead; to coax
Before You Read
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 5–8
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 17
Name Date Class Name Date Class
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
This section of A Wrinkle in Time contains events that are key to understanding the plot. Use this
organizer to keep track of what happens on the dark planet as Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin
seek the home of the Thing.
Name Date Class Name Date Class
Active Reading
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 5–8
The Dark Planet
Camazotz
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
they arrive and find town of complete
conformity
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Personal Response
What was your impression of the planet of Camazotz? What questions would you like
to ask Madeleine L’Engle about this place?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. What is the Thing and which historical figures have opposed it?
2. What is life like for the residents of Camazotz?
3. What has happened to Meg’s father?
Responding
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 5–8
Name Date Class Name Date Class
18 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Responding
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 5–8
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 19
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Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect
4. The people on the planet Camazotz have no crime, no responsibility, and no
decisions to make. What is so wrong with their society?
5. Mrs. Whatsit and the children name well-known figures from our civilization
who have fought against the darkness. Whom would you add to the list?
Literature and Writing
Imagery
The details that writers give to help us see, hear, touch, smell, and taste the world
are called imagery. Write a paragraph about the imagery L’Engle uses to describe
Camazotz and the kind of life people have there.
Extending Your Response
Literature Groups
Is life on Camazotz similar to life on Earth? In your group, make a list of things about
Camazotz that remind you of our society. In what ways does modern life ask us to
think like the red-eyed man.
Performing
The dialogue between the red-eyed man and Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace is filled
with opposing points of view. Pick a section of chapter 7 and put on a three-minute
“radio play” of dialogue. Show in your dialogue the emotions the characters feel.
Name Date Class Name Date Class
20 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
FOCUS ACTIVITY
All of our experiences—good and bad—teach us and change us in different ways. Think about
experiences that have taught you the most about yourself and others.
Journal
In your journal, write about a single experience that made you stronger and wiser in some way.
Perhaps you struggled through a difficult task or helped a friend with a problem. What did this
experience teach you?
Setting a Purpose
Read to find out how Meg’s journey changes her.
BACKGROUND
Did You Know?
Throughout the novel, L’Engle questions the human tendency to fear and misjudge what we do
not understand. Camazotz is an extreme example of a world that does not allow differences. What
can happen when differences are accepted and valued? In societies that value independence, we
often see creativity, inventions, great literature and art, and knowledge. As you read further, notice
Meg’s struggle to recognize her own unique gifts, especially those she once considered faults. Think
about what message the author is trying to send in these final chapters.
Internal and External Conflict
In literature, an internal conflict is a struggle within a character, such as Meg’s struggle between
fear and her wish to find her father. An external conflict takes place between a character and an
outside force, such as the evil power the children must fight. The events of A Wrinkle in Time are
driven by both internal and external conflicts. In the section you are about to read, the main
characters face the most difficult part of their journey. Meg must take more responsibility than
she ever imagined she would be asked or able to take. As you read, notice how Meg’s internal
conflicts affect her ability to face the outside forces in Camazotz. You might also notice how the
outside forces that have a hold over Camazotz are like the internal conflicts that keep Meg from
realizing her own abilities. Read to find out where these conflicts lead the story.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
brusquely [bruskle¯] adv. roughly; impatiently
distraught [dis trot] adj. upset; distressed
emanate [emə na¯t] v. to flow out; to radiate
impenetrable [im penə trə bəl] adj. inaccessible; indestructible
omnipotent [om nipət ənt ] adj. all powerful; god-like
translucent [trans loo¯¯¯sənt] adj. allowing light through
transparent [trans pa¯rənt] adj. clear
trepidation [trep´ə da¯shən] n. anxiety; fear
Before You Read
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 9–12
Name Date Class Name Date Class
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
There are no lasers, bombs, or bullets in the battle between the Thing and the people who fight
it. With what weapons is this battle conducted? With what weapons does the Thing expect to
take over the universe? What weapons do the people use to fight it? As you see those weapons at
work in these chapters, use this organizer to list the ammunition each side uses.
Active Reading
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 9–12
Name Date Class Name Date Class
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 21
Powers of Light Powers of Darkness
hope
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Personal Response
What did you think of the ending of the book? Were you surprised? What do you
think the future holds for Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. After Meg releases her father, why is she so disappointed in him?
2. Who is Aunt Beast, and how does she help Meg?
3. How is Charles Wallace finally freed?
Responding
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 9–12
Name Date Class Name Date Class
22 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Responding
A Wrinkle in Time Chapters 9–12
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 23
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect
4. Why must Meg go alone to Camazotz? How is her relationship with Charles
Wallace important to her ability to free him?
5. Do you believe IT is finally defeated at the end of the book? Why or why not?
Literature and Writing
Theme
The theme of a book is its main idea or message. A work of literature can have more
than one theme. A Wrinkle in Time deals with many different themes—interplanetary
travel, extraterrestrials, family, and school. Ask yourself what L’Engle’s book is really
about. Then write a paragraph or so explaining what you think is the most important
theme of A Wrinkle in Time. Support your answer with details from the novel.
Extending Your Response
Literature Groups
In the
Focus Activity, you considered what values sustain you as you face challenges.
What values help Meg, her family, and friends through their challenges? Discuss this
question in your group, and find specific examples in the book that support your con-
clusions.
Science Connection
A Wrinkle in Time introduces many concepts from physics and psychology. The novel
mentions, but does not explore extensively, topics such as ESP (extrasensory percep-
tion), space travel, and extraterrestrials. Pick an idea from the book that interests you,
then find out more information about that subject. Write a report on this subject and
relate it to the ideas in A Wrinkle in Time.
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Personal Response
What was the most memorable part of this book, in your opinion? What did you like
best? Least?
Writing About the Novel
Now that you’ve finished the book, how do you rate it? Why? On a separate sheet of
paper, write a review of A Wrinkle in Time for your school paper.
Responding
A Wrinkle in Time
Name Date Class Name Date Class
24 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
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Name Date Class
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 25
Before You Read
Focus Question
What types of new technologies have come about in your lifetime? What laws were written or
changed to govern these new technologies?
Background
In his lifetime, writer Isaac Asimov published books about a number of subjects. But he is best
known for his science fiction writings. In this humorous short story, Asimov uses a play on
words—which he calls the “noblest form of wit”—to raise a “point of law” about time travel.
Responding to the Reading
1. In what year is this story set?
2. What point of law is raised in this story?
3. What do you think happened with the law after the judge handed down this decision? Why?
4. Making Connections If the tesseract had become common knowledge, as time travel was in “A
Loint of Paw,” how might it have affected the laws of the world? Give examples of laws that
have been made to regulate the effects of technological advances.
Making an Outline
Make an outline for a new story patterned after “A Loint of Paw.” First, choose an old saying that
can be changed into a play on words. Then, make some notes about possible ideas for a story
whose moral or ending will be the saying you have turned into a play on words. Finally, organize
your ideas into outline form. Share your ideas with the class.
A Loint of Paw Isaac Asimov
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Name Date Class
26 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Before You Read
Focus Question
How do writers use language to create a feeling of fantasy or adventure?
Background
Both of these poems are examples of fantasy, adventure, and nonsense verse. In “Jabberwocky,” a
poem that uses invented words, a young boy tries to prove himself by slaying an evil monster. In
“The Jumblies,” the adventurous Jumblies win admiration when they take a risky journey. Like L’Engle,
the poets use quirky characters and descriptive language to capture their readers’ imaginations.
Responding to the Reading
1. Describe your impression of the Jabberwock. Does it seem frightening? Why or why not?
2. Why is it important to the boy to confront the Jabberwock? What is the outcome of their battle?
3. What vessel do the Jumblies use to go to sea? Explain how their friends react to this sea journey.
4. What is the mood at the end of the “The Jumblies”? What statement does the poem make
about taking risks?
5. Making Connections Fantasy tales are imaginative and use strange or unnatural characters and
settings. Science fiction can be described as a type of fantasy, but the two forms do have differ-
ences. Science fiction is often set in the future and based in part on science or technology.
Fantasy is usually set in an imaginary world and centered around mythical characters. What
would you call these poems: science fiction, fantasy, or both? What would you call the novel: sci-
ence fiction, fantasy, or both? On a separate sheet of paper, give details from each work to support
your response. Then explain how the works are both similar to and different from one another.
Art Connection
Create pictures of some of the strange characters that appear in the poems and in A Wrinkle in Time.
Base your pictures on descriptive details that are in the selections. Then compare and contrast your
work with the work of your classmates.
Jabberwocky Lewis Carroll
The Jumblies Edward Lear
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Name Date Class
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 27
Before You Read
Focus Question
Do you believe in the existence of “other worlds”? Why or why not?
Background
This selection is taken from the first of seven books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia by author,
lecturer, and Cambridge University professor C. S. Lewis. In this book, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and
Lucy leave London during a time of danger early in the Second World War. They are sheltered with
a kindly professor who has agreed to take them in. While exploring the house one rainy day,
youngest sister Lucy enters an old wardrobe—a large piece of furniture used for storing coats and
other clothing. What she finds inside is a doorway to another world—Narnia, where the White
Witch has taken over and made it “always Winter but never Christmas.” Lucy returns from Narnia
to tell her brothers and sister, but they think she is making up stories. What Peter and Susan don’t
know is that Edmund also has been to Narnia and met the dreaded White Witch, who swears him to
secrecy. In this excerpt the children tell the Professor what Lucy says is beyond the wardrobe.
Responding to the Reading
1. Why do the children finally decide to talk to the Professor about their sister?
2. Why were Peter and Susan shocked to hear the Professor suggest that Lucy might be telling the
truth?
3. Making Connections What character from A Wrinkle in Time is the Professor most like? Why?
Using Logic
The Professor used logic to support the idea that Lucy was telling the truth about Narnia. He
pointed out that there were only three choices in evaluating the truth of a statement: either the
person is lying, insane, or telling the truth. Do you think this method of assessing someone’s claims
would be reliable? Test this method on several statements made by historical figures or people
currently in the news. On a separate sheet of paper, write a brief description of your tests and the
outcome of each test.
from The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe
C. S. Lewis
28 A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Name Date Class
Before You Read
Focus Question
What basic freedoms do you feel are most important in a society?
Background
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was given during the U.S. Civil War after one of the war’s bloodiest
battles. In this speech, Lincoln encourages people to keep the ideals of the United States in mind and
to remember those who fought for those ideals. He does not want people to give up on the idea of a
unified nation. In A Wrinkle in Time, Calvin recites Lincoln’s speech in order to resist the bad influ-
ences of the red-eyed man. Some of the ideas in the address contrast with those of the society that
the children discover during their journey.
Responding to the Reading
1. According to the speech, to what ideals were the founding fathers of the United States
dedicated?
2. What is the “unfinished work” to which the living citizens of the country should be dedicated?
3. Making Connections Contrast the ideals laid out in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address to the prac-
tices Meg encounters during her time on Camazotz. Why does she disapprove of these practices?
Learning for Life
Often people express their political views in newspapers. On a separate sheet of paper, write a letter
to the editor that explains what you believe is positive and strong about your government, as well as
what you believe needs improvement. In your letter, explain what you think are the greatest threats
to freedom and equality.
Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Name Date Class
A Wrinkle in Time Study Guide 29
Before You Read
Focus Question
What does the old saying “Everything is relative” mean to you?
Background
Before Albert Einstein (1879–1955), most physicists believed in the theories of Sir Isaac Newton
(1642–1727), who asserted that space and time intervals are absolute and that the speed of light
is relative. In contrast, Einstein theorized that the speed of light is absolute and that space and
time intervals are relative.
Although Einstein’s theories are complicated, they are not as hard to understand as you might
think. Just imagine that you are standing on a sidewalk watching a train go by. A friend standing
in the center of a passenger car of the train is holding a machine that can instantaneously send
out forward and backward beams of light. These beams of light automatically open the front and
back doors of your friend’s passenger car. When your friend turns on the machine, she sees the
front and back doors open at the same time. You, however, see the back door open first. Why is
that so? We see objects and events when the light bouncing off them reaches our eyes. For your
friend standing in the center of the passenger car, the forward and backward light beams travel
the same distance to reach her eyes. For you, however, the back door of the moving train appears
to move forward to meet the light pulse, while the front door appears to move away from the
light pulse. As a result, from your perspective the back door opens first. How do Einstein’s theo-
ries apply to time travel? The Web selections provide an intriguing example.
Responding to the Reading
1. According to the selections, what is time dilation?
2. What causes the clock aboard the rocket to move more slowly relative to the clock on Earth?
3. What experiment did scientists perform to test Einstein’s theories? Did his theories pass the
test? Explain.
4. Making Connections How might Einstein’s theories apply to the time travel described in
A Wrinkle in Time?
Science Connection
Use basic library and Internet resources to learn more about Einstein’s theories. You might start
with Joseph Schwartz and Michael McGuinness’s book Einstein for Beginners, a hardcover comic
book that presents accurate information in an easy-to-understand format. Share your findings in
a brief oral report to your class.
Einstein Revealed:
Time Traveler
NOVA Online
