Special Sub-Topic: Madeleine L'Engle's "A Ring of Endless Light" Authored by: amywats Sub-topic of: L'Engle, Madeline

What character in "A Ring of Endless Light" refers to Vicky as "Vicky-O"?

Zachary. Vicky and Zachary met a summer earlier as the Austin family crossed the country on a family roadtrip in "The Moon by Night." Zachary gave Vicky her first kiss, and Vicky cares for him deeply. The rest of the Austin family, however, is not thrilled about the relationship between the much-older Zachary and naive Vicky.

The novel opens at the funeral of Commander Rodney, a family friend. How did the Commander die?

He had a heart attack while saving a drowning young man.. The young man the Commander was saving was Vicky's old boyfriend, Zachary Gray. Zachary was trying to commit suicide by overturning his boat. Most of the Austin family cannot forgive Zachary after the Commander's resulting death.

Adam Eddington, John Austin's friend, is spending the summer researching what area of marine biology?

communication with dolphins. The previous summer, Adam had spent a lot of time researching starfish regeneration with Dr. Calvin O'Keefe of the "Wrinkle in Time" series. His summer is chronicled in "The Arm of the Starfish."

Vicky's grandfather is dying of what disease?

leukemia. Grandfather has an extremely rare case of leukemia that cannot be treated. The Austin family knows that this is his last summer, so they decide to be with him as he dies. Vicky truly matures this summer as she learns to cope with the duality of life and death.

What is the name of Rob's beloved stuffed animal?

Elephant's Child. Rob, the youngest Austin child, loves his stuffed elephant very dearly. He had recently outgrown his constant attachment to the creature, but with his grandfather's disease, he falls back on childish habits and begins to rely on the stuffed animal again. Grandfather's demise is having a large impact on the entire family.

Who are the three young men who begin to pursue Vicky in this eventful summer?

Zachary, Adam, and Leo. Vicky is overwhelmed to find herself interested in three very different individuals during the summer. Leo is an old family friend, Zachary a dangerous and rich older boyfriend, and Adam a kind friend of her older brother. Jacky is Leo's younger brother who is interested in Vicky's younger sister, Suzy.

As Grandfather begins to lose touch with reality, he begins to call Vicky by her late grandmother's name. What is this name?

Caro. As he begins to die, Grandfather becomes obsessed with the idea of letting go of life at the proper time just as the Eskimos he once ministered to would do. He gives Vicky the great task of telling him when the appropriate time is. Thinking she is his dead wife, he thinks that he has already begun to cross into the spiritual realm.

What character takes Vicky flying in his private airplane?

Zachary. Zachary scares Vicky to death by almost crashing as he tries to show off for her in his plane. Zachary's life of country clubs and private airplanes seems so foreign to Vicky, and that is part of what she enjoys about their relationship. In the end, however, she realizes that Zachary's wealth does not bring him happiness, and she finds herself more interested in Adam, a kind, down-to-earth individual.

Vicky finds peace through what hobby?

writing poetry. Vicky becomes more and more absorbed in her poetry throughout the summer as she tries to deal with the death she sees all around her. She begins sharing her poetry with Adam and her grandfather, and she is encouraged by their positive responses. Grandfather even gives her a bound copy of her poetry to inspire her to keep writing.

What young child dies in Vicky's arms in the emergency room?

Binnie. Binnie is a young girl with a serious medical condition. She needs medicine every day to keep her alive. Unfortunately, her fanatically religious father doesn't believe in doctors and medical science; he thinks God will keep her alive if he so wills. Binnie dies after one of her seizures in the emergency room in the arms of Vicky, who is there because of her grandfather.