City of Ember
Chapter 1 – Assignment Day
* A lot of indicators that not all is fine in Ember => the descriptions of Lina’s clothes show that
they’re not new or in good condition, just like the electrical system and everything else in the city.
* Lina tries to be hopeful about her future, the fact that the narrator says that people don’t like to
think about the lights going off forever—a possibility that seems likely—suggests that Lina might
not have much of a future in Ember without some major changes.
* Doon’s jacket and Miss Thorn’s shawl also described as extremely worn, just like Lina’s clothes
=> wearing tired, worn clothing is commonplace in Ember
* beginning of Mayor Cole’s speech sets up the idea that serving one’s community is a guiding
principle in Ember, showing that a sense of community and togetherness is a part of the city’s
ethos; Ember is very community-oriented
* there are so-called “bad jobs” in Ember suggests that there is still a hierarchy among residents
based on what jobs they perform => giving way to the rise of social and economic classes
* However, respect for all roles (since they are essential to keep Ember functioning) is an element
of the community spirit of Ember that, in some cases, gets corrupted.
* when Lina draws pipework labourer for the job, she is forced to reckon emotionally difficult
consequences of living in such a community-oriented place: it’s very possible that, to serve her
community, she’s going to have to do work she doesn’t like or that scares her (she feels she could
die)
* dangerous river begins to suggest that Ember’s residents are afraid of and somewhat
disconnected from the natural world.
* when Doon scowls at having drawn messenger as his role, it seems he is somewhat idealistic
here (when he blurts out that Ember is plagued by blackouts and supply shortages, and something
awful will happen if no one does anything) => however this suggests he is already better able to
think for himself, unlike Lina, feels Doon is overreacting and so far, she has bought into everything
people say about how the city is prospering, despite clear evidence to the contrary
* Lina is idealistic => she believes, uncritically, that being a messenger aboveground is the most
useful thing (communication is necessary to maintain a sense of community)
* Doon is idealistic => he’s convinced that the only way to do good in his world is to work in the
Pipeworks and learn about the generator (maintaining the water systems is necessary for people to
keep living in Ember comfortably)
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Chapter 2 – A Message to the Mayor
* When Lina runs home and goes through Hafter Street and sees three floodlights that are out =>
she demonstrates that she does have the capacity to question what she’s been told about Ember’s
prosperity => the obstacles in her way suggest again that Ember is in disrepair and is falling apart
* the fallout between Lina and Doon => shows people do have their differences and not everyone
likes each other, despite the emphasis on community; not everyone in Ember is without faults,
guiding Lina to later recognise corruption in others
* Lina wants to rekindle a friendship with Doon shows that Lina is naturally generous and doesn’t
want to make enemies
* Granny is old and struggling with her memory => she initially believes that Lina is still a student;
description of Granny’s shop and how it is disarrayed => suggest that orphaned Lina is probably
having to care for herself in many regards
* fact Granny is getting her yarn from old clothes suggests that Ember is running low on new
supplies.
* All the stuff in Lina’s apartment is likely a product of the fact that there’s not a lot of new things in
Ember due to a lack of resources—it’s possible that there are no more new rugs or pillows being
made, for instance
* What Lina says about The Book of the City of Ember indicates that censorship is an essential part
of Ember—from the first chapter, the reader knows that Ember isn’t the only place that exists
(though, it’s impossible to know if there’s anything left aboveground in terms of civilization) => The
Book of the City of Ember teaches that the Builders built Ember and it’s the only light in the whole
world.
* Wanting her imaginary city that she draws frequently, to be real shows that Lina is transitioning to
the coming of age => she wants there to be more in the world; she’s beginning to feel curious
about what else might be out there
* For Lina, receiving the red messenger jacket in particular is proof that she’s now an adult,
contributing member of Ember—something that makes her feel extremely proud and useful =>
shows she has strong sense of community engagement; getting to see everything there is to see in
the city through the course of her work is a way for her to celebrate it—even if, as with the
Believers, she doesn’t entirely understand what she sees.
* Lina’s thought that Barton Snode (guard at Gathering Hall) might be new at his job => shows that
she’s perceptive and compassionate, qualities that are essential when living in a community like
Ember.
* What she reads in The Book of the City of Ember this time indicates that life in Ember is tightly
governed (as evidenced by the need to faithfully keep time) and that it’s designed to be as
egalitarian (all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities) as possible (i.e.
people have enough, but no luxuries)
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* some timekeepers forget to change the date sign or even wind the clock, resulting in very long
days or nights. It’s impossible to know because of this how long it’s been since Ember was built =>
This confirms that not everything in Ember has gone according to plan => Lina is generally
forgiving of past timekeepers’ mistakes and feels that being forgetful doesn’t mean that someone is
a bad person
* The fact that the reader knows that the box containing the instructions is open, however, shows
that Lina is wrong about this.
* Redge’s remark that curiosity leads to trouble => suggests that they have something to hide and
don’t want people to start questioning what they are told and that some people in authority (himself,
the mayor etc) want to maintain power
* Mayor Cole’s reaction to Lina’s message, as well as his willingness to put a 12-year-old in prison
=> indicates that he’s a wicked individual who rules Ember with harshly
Chapter 3 – Under Ember
* Doon’s boots are so cracked => not going to protect him from getting wet => another indicator
that Ember is as prosperous as it should be.
* Doon’s reaction to seeing the river, and the explanation of what he thought it’d be like => shows
how disconnected Ember’s residents are from the natural world => river’s size and strength
impresses upon Doon that there’s a lot he doesn’t know about his world (and in fact is symbolic of
a much larger natural world he doesn’t even know exists)
* Doon and Arlin’s walk along the river shows clearly that the river comes from somewhere and
continues on to somewhere => so why hasn’t anyone wondered about where the river starts or
ends
* Fixing leaky pipes, in Doon’s opinion, isn’t going to fix the bigger problem: that clearly, the
Ember’s entire infrastructure is breaking.
* Disobeying Arlin and sneaking in to look at the generator shows that Doon already knows how to
think for himself and figure out how to answer questions that nobody else will answer for him.
* actually nobody knows how the generator works or about electricity => shows that there’s a great
deal of censorship in Ember
* saying that “the river runs the generator” doesn’t really answer any questions
* the fact they may run out of light bulbs => highlights the dangers that people in Ember are in; low
supplies etc
* Doon feels his job as Pipework work is useless => fixing the leaky pipes won’t do anything about
the fact that the entire system is crumbling
* major coming-of-age moment for Doon, as he’s forced to accept that his idealistic beliefs about
how Ember functions and about his own intelligence were wildly misguided
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* Doon and his father are close; his father is caring and supportive => guides him in right direction
by impressing upon him the importance of being curious about his world, despite what they hear
outside
* they call the caterpillar a worm => they are disconnected to nature and the real world
* Doon has science notes => shows he’s curious and methodical about gathering information,
habits and qualities that will serve him well as he comes of age and tackles this emergency.
Chapter 4 – Something Lost, Nothing Found
* Granny pulling out stuffing from couch => suggests Lina now needs to accept that her
Grandmother cannot take care of her and Poppy and even, she now needs to take up more
responsibilities, even take care of her ailing grandmother
* Lina feels frustrated and impatient with Gran’s forgetfulness and that she seems to only
remember thins from a long time ago.
* Lina asks neighbour Mrs. Murdo for help to look out for Gran => shows she is mature and really
believes in the spirit of community and togetherness
* There’s nothing out by the greenhouses except the trash heaps; before, no one went out there,
but now guards watch the area and trash sifters sort through the rubble for anything that might be
useful => Lina wonders if the job of trash sifter was created because Ember is really running out of
everything => indicates Lina is continuing to dwell upon Doon’s assertion that not all is well—and in
addition, she’s starting to make her own connections and observations about what’s going on in her
city
* greenhouse plants are black and potatoes are runny and stinky => shows Ember is totally cut off
from real world and they have no idea what is happening to the plants and how to manage them;
Lina is worried since potatoes are a staple food
* the sobbing was from Sadge, the Supply Depot clerk, who fell in the dark, having gone out to the
Unknown Regions => shows things are dire in Ember, so people are becoming increasingly
curious—and desperate to find solutions.
* Sadge says he was looking for something to help them, like stairs to somewhere else or more
supplies but he found nothing and says it’s impossible to be successful without a light => Lina is
curious, but not afraid; she wonders if there’s a tunnel out there that leads to the city in her dreams
=> she thinks it’d just take the courage to keep walking away from Ember but needs a moving light
* a moveable light would allow people the tools to be more curious about the world beyond Ember,
which they probably cannot be if they’re to remain in the city until the appointed time
* guards arrest Sadge “for no reason” => not everything in Ember’s community is working as it
should; people are becoming power hungry; they don’t want people to be curious and go to the
Unknown Region
* Clary talking about the bean seed => she acknowledges that there are lots of things they don’t
know; shows some curiosity
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* Clary plants a seed in the pot and gives to Lina => symbolic of Lina’s progression from being
literally & figuratively in the dark about what’s going on in her city, to understanding everything
about it. At this point, Lina is like the seemingly lifeless seed: she’s full of potential to know more,
but she hasn’t had enough information (water or sunlight) to figure it out (and sprout) yet.
Chapter 5 – On Night Street
* Lina’s grandmother’s memory is getting worse; Mrs. Murdo spends more time at their place =>
Mrs. Murdo’s willingness to step in speaks to the culture of caring and compassion in Ember;
supporting harmony in the community
* Sadge is in street shouting that he’s been to the Unknown Regions & that there’s nothing there
but darkness, monsters & holes => desperation that plagues Ember is dangerous.
* Looper is shopkeeper & when Lina asks about coloured pencils, he tells Lina he has them
sometimes, but they’re expensive => when Lina asks about how much, he suggests it’s too much
for Lina. The pencils each cost $5. Lina is shocked, since coats cost about $7. => end up Lina
reasons she can buy Granny a coat next month and she buys 2 pencils; she notices she feels
hungry => the way that Looper talks to Lina is specifically calculated to make her feel as though
she has to prove that she has enough to be able to buy the pencils & then makes her feel off
balance & insecure about purchasing them => this  Lina’s sense of desperation —that feeling of
hunger— & means that Lina feels like she has to make a decision about the pencils right now. As
Looper’s manipulation works, Lina becomes more selfish & greedy.
* Poppy is lost as Lina was greedily caught up in coloured pencils.; Loopa shrugs indifferently;
lights go out => Lina realise if she focuses too much on her own desires, it will naturally take her
attention away from the things that matter more—in this case, her family and specifically Poppy’s
safety
* The blackout incites feelings of fear and desperation in everyone in Ember, making it even harder
for Lina to do the right thing and locate Poppy => shows how desperation (and, behind the scenes,
authority figures’ corruption and inaction which leads to the blackouts) begins to dissolve feelings of
safety and community among Emberites.
* Doon is Poppy’s rescuer; he doesn’t want to talk to Lina when asked about the Pipework job
* when Lina gets home, she takes out the coloured pencils remembers the feeling of desire she felt
in the store => she feels ashamed and feels the pencils aren’t so beautiful anymore.
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Chapter 6 – The Box in the Closet
* meeting is called the next day after the 7 min outage => Mayor Cole appears and through a
damaged megaphone, speaks unintelligibly => People in the front of the crowd translate for those
in the back, but others shout for more information => shows that Mayor Cole doesn’t care enough
about what’s going on to come up with a way to more effectively communicate with the people of
Ember
* Lina’s feeling that Ember isn’t safe grows, she’s able to identify those people (like Doon) who may
have seemed crazy a while ago—but now seem to be telling the truth => Lina is learning to identify
and prioritize people who think critically and speak truthfully.
* People begin to cry out, asking for solutions => Lina feels pressure behind her as people push
forward, so she tries to get to the back of the crowd => fear that people feel about their fate turns
into mob mentality—and that turns perfectly normal people into violent ones
* Doon feels the Mayor should tell the truth; he feels angry => Doon’s father calms him down telling
him anger can lead to bad consequences, saying the Mayor is in a difficult position; Doon is
frustrated that his father seems to have no temper => Doon’s father is protective of the Mayor in
order to preserve peace and the sense of community
* Lina races home and doesn’t want to think about the speech => just wants to escape the reality
that Ember is in decline and hide in the comfort of her family and coloured pencils
* at home Poppy is chewing on a piece of paper with fine print on it
Chapter 7 – A Message Full of Holes
* Lina pieces the paper together and looks for context clues; has the word “Instructions” =>
showing she thinks critically
* When Captain Fleery appears disinterested in the document after trying to read it, Lina begins to
feel she shouldn’t trust someone or take them at their word, just because they’re an authority
figure.
* Captain Fleery tells Lina to throw the paper away and to trust that help is coming; Lina questions
whether this thinking is like her thinking about the dream city ….. a hope/wish that it’s true => Lina
considers Captain Fleery’s point of view shows she is compassionate and caring
* Lina goes to Supply Depot and everyone in line for supplies seems snappy and impatient, more
evidence that it’s true supplies are running low; seems like supplies aren’t nearly as much as how
Granny had described it back in her days of tours of the storeroom => Lina puzzles out exactly why
students no longer tour the storerooms => she thinks about info. herself and makes sense of it =>
shows that Lina is now able to, at times, see through attempts by others to control and restrict
information. That people are restricting the information in the first place says just as much as
what’s actually in the storerooms.
* Lizzie keeps talking really fast and about how she hates her work and how she doesn’t see the
reports for light bulbs and vitamins => dynamic between Lizzie and Lina shows that as a friend,
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Lizzie is somewhat selfish and is mainly concerned with having someone to talk at—Lina gets few
words in edgewise
* Lizzie says there’s only one thing she likes about her job but it’s a secret => telling Lina that she
has a secret is a power play on Lizzie’s part; it allows her to make herself seem more
knowledgeable and connected than Lina is
* Lina decides she should loop in Mayor Cole about this document, despite that she doesn’t like or
trust him => reflects Lina’s understanding of how Ember works: the mayor is the most powerful
person and is tasked with caring for the populace, so it’s only natural that he’d be the one to save
Ember using this document => When Lina ignores her intuition that the mayor is bad news, it
shows how receiving only this heavily controlled information and education makes Lina less likely
to trust herself
* Lina figures that the document could be something about the Pipeworks, maybe a door out of
Ember; she decides to seek out Doon because he is curious, serious, and knows something is
wrong => Lina is more mature now and recognizes that she and Doon parted ways because of a
misunderstanding and childish behaviour on both of their parts => shows that Lina is beginning to
expand her community of trusted people and look for support and validation from peers, not just
authority figures.
Chapter 8 - Explorations
* Doon wanders around the Pipeworks to try explore whilst other workers do bare minimum and are
complacent, not feeling any sense of urgency with what is happening with Ember; once when he
found new bugs and other workers teased him about it, he yelled at them and stepped on the bug
=> he feels frustrated by his anger and the unintended consequences that accompany it
* Doon discovers a closet with “No Entry” and a hatch in the ceiling => he explores these even
though he is not supposed to => shows he questions what the authorities tell them
* Doon continues to try to learn about electricity; realises its what goes through the wires that
makes electricity and not the wires themselves => resorts to going to the library(run by Edward
Pocket); everything in the library was written by an Ember resident; Doon’s choice to go to library
reflects he does seek “authority” to help
* no one in Ember knows what hogs or boats are => shows how successful the Builders were in
controlling the information that Ember has: these phrases still exist and are things people use, yet
nobody knows its origins => reflective of the citizens of Ember themselves, as Ember’s citizens are
also cut off from understanding their history.
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Chapter 9 – The Door in the Roped-Off Tunnel
* Doon goes back to Lina’s home to look at document; yarn shop is closed and Mrs Murdo says
Granny is not feeling well
* Lina feels self conscious as Doon looks around her house; Doon sees her drawing of the city and
says that he draws bugs he finds; although Lina finds that uninteresting, she says nothing =>
suggesting she is kind and doesn’t want to hurt Doon’s feelings
* Doon doesn’t seem to make sense of the document, but agrees it is important
* Lina jumps at the idea that Doon has found a door in the Pipeworks & immediately insists that
that is “the door” out of Ember => shows she is idealistic and more childish/naïve; whilst Doon is
more sensible and pragmatic
* Doon sneaks Lina in after work the next day; she is dumbstruck at the sight of the river => similar
reaction to Doon when he saw river the 1st time; it shows again that the people of Ember are
seriously cut off from the natural world—they don’t understand it and so it’s scary for them
* they try at door, but can’t open it; they then hide around the corner when they hear scraping
sounds and muffled vice => they see figure lurching figure walking away => suggests this is
Looper (who was described as lurching previously) …. raises questions and suspicions of Looper
and his motives
* Lina and Doon feel/assumes that the man found what he was looking for and left and that there
would be some announcement coming soon => Doon is upset that it wasn’t himself and Lina being
the heroes to “save” Ember => shows that although Doon cares about others but wants glory and
recognition for himself
* Doon feels that maybe there’s not that much in that room but a supply closet; Lina disagrees and
feels that at least it is linked to the mystery behind Ember
Chapter 10 – Blue Sky and Goodbye
* Granny wakes up with course breathing and is feeling unwell => makes Lina “relive” the illnesses
and deaths in the family => shows Lina is carrying around a lot of trauma and anxiety when it
comes to family.
* Lina stays home the next day and draw and colours on the can labels => the colour pencils
symbolise what can be possible; when she colours the sky blue, it foreshadows that at some point,
Lina will discover that the sky can actually be that colour.
* Granny when sick, asks Lina if “they have found it” => Lina replies “yes” despite not knowing what
she meant => to soothe/comfort Granny, not make her worry; give her peace of mind
* in middle of night, Granny screams for help and Lina goes over; she wishes she could see her
face in the dark; next morning Granny is dead => impresses upon the fact that they cannot control
having light or not and highlights the problems with Ember, having no electricity throughout the
night
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Chapter 11 – Lizzie’s Groceries
* Lina stays at Mrs Murdo’s place; she feels sad but comforted => Mrs. Murdo suggests they
discuss where to go from there and welcomes Lina and Poppy to live at her place thereon => Mrs.
Murdo embodies the generous, giving spirit that the Builders seem to have tried to purposefully
cultivate in Ember. She’s entirely selfless as she offers to care for Lina and Poppy; she offers
because she knows it’s the right thing to do
* at work, people seem gloomy and sad and strange; shops are closed or reduced working hours;
Lina tries wonders why there has been no announcement of a way out of Ember after that that
person discovered that door => reflects she is especially young and idealistic still thinking that the
door IS the way out and nothing else, as it shows that she believes everyone has the community’s
best interests at heart and will, without fail, do the right thing to help others
* Lina tries to refocus and realises how grateful she is for Mrs Murdo and the extra room on offer
etc; she feels a little comforted and that she doesn’t have to “grow up” and be alone
* Lina later sees Lizzie leaving the Supply Depot carrying a sack and didn’t want to stop for Lina =>
when asked what’s in the sack, Lizzie says it’s food from the market => clear she is lying; proof that
people she loves and cares about aren’t doing good, moral things—and they’re willing to tell lies to
continue doing so
* when Lina shares her news about Granny, Lizzie expresses half-hearted sympathy => even if
Lizzie is somewhat self-centered, it’s wildly selfish and odd to not acknowledge Lina’s grief
* Lizzie trips, out roll cans of applesauce, can of peaches and creamed corn and other coveted
goods no one has seen in years => Lina wonders how Lizzie got the goods and whether she even
paid for them => Lina doesn’t try to rationalize Lizzie’s behaviour => Though Lina cares about
Lizzie, she is able to accept that what Lizzie is doing is wrong—a mark of maturity and bravery.
* though Lina accepts Lizzie’s gift of creamed corn and peaches, she feels bad and grows
concerned and confronts Lizzie the next day; Lizzie avoids her but Lina is insistent
* Lizzie reveals that her new boyfriend and storeroom worker, Looper, explores forgotten rooms in
search of rare goods but are logged as empty in the ledger for supplies => Lina’s concern grows
when she realizes he also sells them in his store at inflated prices => suggests there is much
secrecy and unanswered questions
* Lina points out that Looper is wrong in doing this but Lizze’s reasoning is that there’s not enough
to go around anyway and people will just fight over it
* Lina is tempted by Lizzie’s offer to give her more, including coloured paper and shoes, if she
keeps things secret but ultimately declines => tells Lizzie that it is wrong that a select few should
possess such precious goods while others go without; Lina learns here that even though Lizzie
isn’t powerful, she has connections that allow her to profit and have unfair advantages over others,
such as the cough medicine => this means only select group can live a comfortable, healthy life
* Lizzie talks about the delicacies she and Looper have had; she says Looper thinks since supplies
are running out, all the more reason to live well now; Lizzie thinks that since they found it, they
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should have it; Lizzie offers can of pineapples to Lina => Looper’s thought process reveals that he
hasn’t internalized Ember’s community spirit—or, at least, the desperate situation Ember is in right
now makes it far easier for him to ignore it and behave selfishly. * Lina’s choice to leave Lizzie and
refuse Looper’s food is a commendable and brave decision—but there are also major potential
costs => giving up the only opportunity to get cough medicine—something that, if things continue to
decline, will be important => There are real costs to taking the moral high ground
Chapter 12 – A Dreadful Discovery
* in one of the repair works, Doon tries the door again and it opens => the interior makes him gasp:
it’s piled with cans, clothes, and light bulbs; Mayor Cole is fast asleep in an armchair inside =>
evidence of rampant corruption; explains why Mayor Cole seems so unconcerned about what’s
going on, and why he seems so intent on parroting the Builders’ ideals—if the citizens listen to him,
they’ll never wonder if he’s actually cheating them.
* Doon shares his discovery with Lina & suggests to expose Mayor Cole; Lina shares her discovery
of Lizzie and Looper with Doon; they are at the square with the Believers singing => seeing the
Believers and the protesters shows increasing signs of unrest and fractures within the community
and that some may already suspect corruption
* Doon merely want to expose Mayor Cole shows he’s more idealistic and youthful, while Lina’s
behaviour shows that she maturely recognises this situation is more complicated than simply
exposing the mayor; she also reckons that Looper is conspiring with the Mayor, based on the
message on the first day
* Doon comforts Lina about the death of her Granny => Lina feels comforted and relieved that she
is not alone; she feels that he is her best friend
* they tell Assistant Guard Barton Snode about Mayor Cole’s stealing; guards come around
including Redge Stabmark => seems that Barton Snode is as excited to be heroic and save Ember
Chapter 13 – Deciphering the Message
* Lina decides to share all her findings with Clary at the greenhouse => Clary points out that there’s
darkness all throughout Ember, including inside people; she feels that for people, it’s like a hungry
creature that wants and wants, and it gets hungrier the more it gets => Lina relates to this as she
remembers the hunger she felt for the coloured pencils
* Clary points out that it’s normal that people are greedy but what matters, however, is how
someone chooses to deal with that greed by either giving in (like the mayor) or standing up for
what’s right (like Lina).
* Clary goes back home with Lina to look at the instructions; she figures that “Egres” is actually
“Egress” => a way out of Ember => the bean sprout is sprouting, coinciding with them figuring out
something new with the instructions, it is symbolic of Lina’s growing knowledge, as she gathers
more information and literally, as she works toward leaving Ember.
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* Lina finds Doon to share Clary’s interpretations; they solve the puzzle of the instructions: 1st
instruction is intelligible; they reason that the 2nd direction must say to find a stone marked with an
E by the river’s edge; 3rd they think is to find a ledge down by the riverbank; 4th talks about a door
and a key that must be under the Pipeworks
* Doon is excited and wants to solve it ASAP so they can announce it at the Singing in two days =>
shows how Doon is still wanting to be heroic and longing for soe recognition
* Doon decides not to loop his father in on his findings and worries => wants his father to be proud
of him when it is announced that he was the one to solve the mystery and expose the Mayor; but
this is without consequences
* Doon keeps thinking about the Pipeworks in his mind, figuring out where it is that the E is;
suddenly remembers the writing on the rocks by the river => figuring out where the E on the rock is,
however, allows Doon to use his critical thinking skills to piece together information he already has
Chapter 14 – The Way Out
* Lina thinks about the Mayor and his doings; she thinks of him with all the food and light bulbs, but
the usefulness of that when the power goes out for good => Lina identifies the pointlessness of
corruption, given Ember’s situation—light bulbs and food won’t do much in the long run, given what
else is wrong in Ember.
* Doon says that he’s found the E and they go off to check it out
* the E is on the rocks by the river; there is also metal bars bolted to the sheer rock face, down to
what must be a ledge; there, they find a space carved out of the wall with a door in the back; right
of the door, they find a small stell panel (the “small steel pan” on the instructions); inside is a key
* inside the dark room, there are two boxes inside which are “candles” and “matches” => Doon and
Lina don’t know what they are and even tries writing with matches; shows the consequence of
censorhship in Ember; Lina and Doon don’t understand that they’re holding the one thing that
doesn’t exist in Ember (moveable light), and which will enable them to leave the dying city.
* end up they mistakenly light the match and then figure out that the candle lights up to be a
“moveable light”; they take it to inspect the large, rounded, metal object there. One end is pointed
and the other is flat, and there are two poles in it => labelled “BOAT” and the poles are labelled
“PADDLES.”
* realises that the directions say to lower the boat with ropes and head downstream; the boat, they
understand, is something to ride in: the way out of Ember is on the river => leaving via the river will
dramatically reconnect Ember’s residents with the natural world and show them that while the river
is something to fear, it’s also something that will very literally give them life as they leave the city.
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Chapter 15 – A Desperate Run
* they discover another door, with more boats and more matches/candles => they decide to tell
people of their discovery at the Singing => the Singing itself symbolises the community spirit of
Ember, while Lina and Doon wanting to tell everyone then => may suggest their weak desire to
support the community and more as a selfish desire to contrive a situation in which Lina and Doon
get to feel important and heroic.
* next morning Doon packs ready to leave; he puts in food, extra clothes, and paper and pencil so
he can record their journey. He reasons that in the new city, people will give him more food =>
shows how idealistic and naïve Doon is, despite him supposedly realising how selfish and greedy
people can be
* worm becoming a moth => Doon now recognizes that this is showing him how much is still out
there to learn—and how amazing some of that currently unknown information might be; moth is
symbolic parallel to Doon’s own coming of age, as he, too, is preparing to make a dramatic
transition in potentially leading people out of Ember.
* 3 guards approach Nammy Proggs asking for Doon, saying he is spreading rumours => Doon
realises that maybe the guards are conspiring too and profiting => Nammy Proggs is significant
primarily because she only appears a handful of times in the novel—and yet, here, she chooses to
protect Doon => shows that others see that the guards are corrupt too; also shows how
community-oriented many of Ember’s residents are when Nammy Proggs redirects the guards,
helping Doon
* Doon is angered that he is in trouble for telling the truth => shows he begins to come of age here
as he turns his anger into a more useful emotion by allowing his friendship to motivate him
* Lina realizes that her dreams of a gentle path out of Ember were childish => shows she is
becoming of age as she is able to recognise that previous thoughts or belief were immature and
childish
* Lina’s thoughts of people fighting over the boats => she’s learned that all humans, no matter how
good, have the potential to be greedy and selfish—especially when fear is a part of the mix;
enables her to better understand how Ember functions
* Doon alerts Lina & says that there are signs all over looking for them; they run and hide at the
school & figures that they can’t easily expose the corruption at the Singing, with all the gaurds
around and they don’t know who they can trust => people of Ember have been taught to trust
authority figures like the mayor and the guards, Lina and Doon are probably in very real danger
here => they have to come up with a way to get out of this mess themselves & not look to authority
figures who, they see now, cannot be trusted
* Doon suggests to leave a note to someone & they leave the city first; Lina is hesitant to leave
Poppy but Doon reassures her that everyone else will soon follow; Lina suggests to leave the note
to Clary who lives near the school
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* Doon points out if they leave, they’ll be the first out of the city & that they can show people around
the new city => displays his desire for recognition and glory
* Lina is worried to leave Poppy & also thinks how scared/worries Doon’s father & Mrs Murdo are
seeing the posters searching for them => shows Lina identifies herself now, that she is being
selfish leaving Poppy & unlike before with the coloured pencils, she handles the negative feeling
better and not indulge in it; also shows she is considerate and sees things from other’s perspective
* Lina goes to deliver the note but is spotted by the guards
Chapter 16 – The Singing
* Lina runs to the library but is still caught; she is put in same room, as her first day of work; Mayor
Cole comes in, “larger” than ever => Mayor Cole seemingly “larger” he’s becoming even greedier
and more corrupt => echoes Clary’s wisdom to Lina, Mayor Cole’s greed manifests as literal
hunger that makes him literally larger than ever
* the Singing draws out the differences between how Ember looks on the surface and what’s going
on below
* Mayor says curiosity is a dangerous quality; says he’s doing things for the good of Ember =>
curiosity is dangerous towards people who are doing bad and sneaky things —it could, and it has,
led to others figuring out that he’s abusing his power; this is why he tries to insist that he’s the only
person smart enough to know what’s going on; if he’s the smartest person, nobody else will feel
comfortable asking questions
* as he calls for the guards to put Lina into the Prison room, the lights go out
* Lina smartly escapes; she rushes to the roof; singing starts; she feels a rush of joy and sadness
as she overlooks her city; she feels hesitant to leave Poppy => as she escapes, indicates that
darkness doesn’t have to be so scary—she just has to commit and go for it
* her emotions through the song “The Song of the City” show she still feels absolutely a part of the
city and of her small family unit & her ties with Poppy
* Lina joins in singing the last song “The Song of Darkness”, a sad and majestic song; lights go out
again and lots of panic arises; sees light flickering in distance => reminds Lina that though she may
have connections to Ember as a whole, she also has a strong friendship with Doon that, if she
chooses to lean into it, will give her the strength to do the right thing and leave Ember
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Chapter 17 - Away
* Doon heads to Pipeworks, although worried about Lina; he scribbles a note to his father; he lights
match and candle to see entrance; he too sings with the songs => for Doon, the candle acts as a
reminder that he has more knowledge of how the world works than he’s ever had in his life—unlike
anyone before him in Ember, he has the power of a moveable light; his joining in the shows that he
also feels like a valued and important part of Ember, despite the city’s faults & now a supposed
“enemy”
* Doon wonders if he should head down river without Lina & whether he can move the boat himself;
Lina appears in Pipeworks with Poppy; Doon is so relieved to care that the journey would be harder
with Poppy => Doon now understands that he’s part of a community and needs help to do things
* it’s possible to read bringing Poppy as either selfish or selfless => either Lina is saving Poppy
from the struggle of traveling with strangers, or she’s potentially dooming her own journey out of
Ember.
* they figure out how to get the boat down and untie the ropes etc; they are not using the
instructions => they’re using the information they find around them and thinking logically and do it
safely and successfully => shows maturity and development; this help them overcome the Builders’
censorship
Chapter 18 – Where the River Goes
* boat moves into a huge room with columns of rock coming out of the water and down from the
ceiling; eventually they reach another pool; Doon lights lots of candles; when they see a flat rock
expanse on one side, Lina climbs out to investigate and discovers a path
* Poppy has something in her hand but drops it startled by Lina shout; while they eat, they pull off
the packet’s wrapping and realise it’s a book. The first line reads, “They tell us we leave tonight.”
Doon and Lina are confused
* Lina told Mrs Murdo the truth: that she’s taking Poppy to safety; but she forgot to leave the note to
Clary; so nobody knows where they are or the truth behind everything => shows how selfishness
can have dire consequences
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Chapter 19 – A World of Light
* Doon discovers a framed sign on the wall welcoming Ember’s refugees and warns of a several
hour climb ahead; Lina says it’s from the Builders; as they progress ahead the smell changes =>
makes her feel the Builders are watching over them; makes them feel that they are not doing
anything wrong since they are being welcomed & although there was a great deal of censorship, it
was intended they find this new place
* there’s no city; land is spacious and lit by a shiny silver circle in a black sky (the Moon); soft hairy
stuff covers the ground (grass); tiny lights in the sky; air is sweet; tall hard plants with leaves above
their heads => they agree they are not scared reach tall; they wonder if there’s a city nearby =>
hilly meadow they find here is the exact opposite of Ember; It functions as a continuation of the
river and will connect Lina and Doon to the natural world they’ve never experienced before.
* Lina suggests that with the lamp in the sky these people might not need lights, but Doon points
out that the lamp isn’t enough to grow plants; Doon doesn’t know what they’ll do if there’s no city
and no people => for them, emerging from the cave at night—coming from Ember, the moonlight
doesn’t seem all that bad
* Lina realizes that the silver lamp is moving; they see light getting brighter; gradually, the edge of
the sky turns orange and then bright red; a huge coloured orb rises over the land and becomes too
bright to look at; everything is green; sky is a clear blue => seeing sunrise was awesome
experience, especially having never lived anywhere where light didn’t come from bulbs => when
the sky turns blue, Lina must feel like all her dreams have come true
* Lina and Doon cry at the warmth, the beauty, and the light. They point at singing, flying creatures
that flit through the trees and Doon notices insects all over the ground
* suggests that nature is something that is intrinsically connected to humans
Chapter 20 – The Last Message
* woman writes that they leave tonight; though they told her to not bring books or photographs & to
never speak of this place again, she’s determined to record what happens to her
* the next day, she writes about taking a train and saying goodbye to the fields and houses she
calls home. Three men met her at the train station and now, she’s in a room of other elderly people
=> the plan is supposed to ensure that there will always be humans on Earth; woman writes that
disaster seems close. She also notes that this plan is proof that people think the world is doomed
* The way the woman writes => It’s likely that the world she lives in functions much as Ember does
right now: some are willing to believe Mayor Cole that things are fine, despite all the evidence to
the contrary => suggests that the complacency and wilful ignorance the reader saw in Ember is
something that can happen everywhere, not just in a city like Ember.
* woman says that scientists and engineers have made an incredible effort on this project, but
she’s certain their efforts would’ve been better spent elsewhere; she thinks this is the wrong
answer, and she’s not sure why she agreed to join
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* she’s one of 100 people over 60 who will start this project; they’re all strangers and will be paired
up and given two babies to care for. The babies can’t know of this world.
* Later, she resumes her account and says that she’s on a bus with boarded windows, next to a
man named Stanley. They named their babies Star and Forest. By the time Star and Forest are
about 20, the woman and Stanley will be dead.
* family structures begun by the Builders suggest that it’s not actually so out of the ordinary for
people in Ember to live in these multi-generational family units => also clear, given the way that
Lina has thus far experienced Ember’s sense of community spirit, that these strangers who
populated Ember were able to come together and form a strong sense of community to pass on to
these babies
* Later, she writes that they called everyone off the buses; they herded everyone down a long path
that opened out onto a pool where motorboats were waiting. The woman asked her pilots if people
will return this way. The pilot explained that the people will have instructions, and he suggested that
people always find a way through.
* woman has no real way of knowing outcome but she did one of the most selfless things that it
sounds like a person could do in her time by choosing to go to Ember => explains the strong sense
of community and the desire to make things better in Ember: that ethos has been a part of the city
since before it even existed
* they wonder if the book was left on purpose or someone made the woman leave it to be found
* Lina thinks that the city the woman came from must’ve been a lot like Ember: dying & dangerous,
with people arguing over solutions => understands the consequences of desperation and danger.
* Lina and Doon wonder if there’s another way back to Ember, so they spend their day searching
for another way into the ground.
* The woman’s account helps Lina and Doon connect to their history and their ancestors and, in
this sense, is one of the greatest resources they have to continue to move away from the
censorship they grew up with
* rust-red creature about Poppy’s size steps out; picks up something round and purple from the
bushes & runs away => animal is a fox; Doon feels he belongs there
* They find a crack in the hillside and squeeze through; They creep forward until they reach a sheer
drop. Down below, they can see lights—it’s Ember …. At the bottom of a hole => Seeing Ember
from above confirms emphatically for Lina and Doon that the Builders purposefully withheld
information from them in an attempt to keep them—and humanity at large—safe. Now, it’s Lina and
Doon’s duty to help dissolve the system of censorship in Ember by passing on what they know to
others so that they too can leave Ember and figure out who they actually are.
* At the top, they scribble a note saying that they made it and it’s okay, tie it to a rock & hurl it
down; Mrs Murdo picks it up => Lina knows she can rely on Mrs. Murdo to help look after people of
Ember to safety
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