A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Assignment:

• Objective: To think about the themes of freedom and individuality in A Wrinkle in Time, especially during the Cold War.

• Instructions:

  • In the book, Meg Murry talks to her father about wanting to feel secure. He says she can’t let security control her life. Look at the conversation between them where Meg says, “Well—but I want to be secure, Father. I hate feeling insecure.” and her father replies, “But you don’t love security enough so that you guide your life by it, Meg.”

  • Write a short paragraph about what this conversation means. How does it show that L'Engle wants readers to think for themselves and not just follow what others say, especially when it comes to feeling safe or secure?

  • Think about how this theme connects to the time when the book was written, during the Cold War, when there were many worries about losing freedom. How does the book encourage readers to question authority and be brave enough to be themselves?

Questions to Think About:

1. Why is it important for Meg to learn not to let fear of insecurity control her?

2. How does A Wrinkle in Time show the dangers of losing individuality for the sake of safety or security?

3. How does the book encourage us to stand up for our own freedom and ideas, even when things are uncertain?