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In chapters 6-12 of Ender's Game, what challenges does Ender face and how does he overcome them?
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In chapters 6-12, Ender faces challenges like isolation, constant transfers between armies, and hostility from peers, particularly Bonzo. Despite being unwanted, Ender uses his intelligence and observational skills to improve team performance, often defying orders for the greater good. His strategic thinking helps him excel in army games and ultimately defeat Bonzo in a physical confrontation. Ender's ability to adapt and innovate leads to his promotion to Command School as he masters the lessons of Battle School.
Chapters 6–12 in Ender’s Game follow Ender’s time being transferred between armies and being unwanted by those around him. Initially placed in Bonzo Madrid’s army, he is relegated to the back of the group because Bonzo has a very specific method and doesn’t want Ender messing anything up. However, because of his intellect, Ender observes a moment when his intervention would help the team, and he goes ahead and does it. However, this angers Bonzo because it was insubordinate, in spite of it helping them achieve victory.
Ender is shunted from team to team during this period. Bonzo gets increasingly angrier with him, and Ender starts practicing hand-to-hand combat in case it becomes violent. When Ender has his own army and eventually defeats Bonzo, Bonzo is enraged and attacks him in the showers. Ender, because of his intelligence, realizes he can use the soap and steam to his advantage and...
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easily beats Bonzo, though the ferocity with which he defeats him permanently damages him, either killing him or mentally damaging him—it is never clarified.
In the novel Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, Ender Wiggin is the young boy chosen to go to Battle School to find out if he can be the commander of the army to defeat the Buggers. Chapters 6-12 are about Ender's time at Battle School until he is removed and sent on to Command School at the end of Chapter 12. In his time at Battle School, Ender faces many challenges from isolation from other students, to being constantly transferred to other armies who do not want him, to being physically attacked, to army games with all the odds stacked against him. Ender comes out the victor because he is observant of other people, willing to try new strategies such as freezing feet to improve his chances, is imaginative by eliminating the rules and thinking outside the box, and aware of all reactions to him. When Bonzo attacks him in the shower, he knows it is to complete defeat or Bonzo will attack again. Ender uses his quick thinking to defeat Bonzo though he is never told Bonzo is dead. When Col. Anderson figures that Ender has learned all he can learn in Battle School, he is sent to Command School.