Madeleine L'Engle (1986)
Genre
Fantasy / Children's / Science Fiction / Young Adult
Reading Time
12 Minutes
Key Themes
See below
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Sent through time by a science accident, two ordinary brothers must navigate a prehistoric desert with mythical beasts and biblical figures to reunite a father and son before a great flood.
Sandy and Dennys Murry, the most 'normal' of the Murry children, are home while their parents, Alex and Kate Murry, work in their laboratory. Curious, the twins decide to investigate their father's latest experiment, a complex array of equipment and flashing lights. Their innocent tampering, combined with their father's research into tesseracts and chronosynclastic infundibula, causes a sudden, disorienting flash. They are instantly pulled from their home and thrown into an unknown, ancient desert, leaving their 20th-century lives behind.
Lost and alone in the scorching desert, Sandy and Dennys soon realize they are in a primeval world full of mythical creatures. They see a unicorn, hinting at the strange nature of their new surroundings. But the peaceful scene quickly turns dangerous when a manticore threatens them. During the chaos, a man named Japheth, riding a magnificent unicorn, rescues them. As Japheth tries to lead them to an oasis, Dennys, still dazed and injured, gets separated from Sandy and Japheth, disappearing into the vast, dangerous desert.
Japheth brings Sandy to the oasis, a green haven in the desolate land. Here, Sandy finds a community of small, long-lived humans and the tall, beautiful Nephilim, who are the children of the Sons of God and human women. Sandy, being normal human size, is seen as a giant among the small humans. Japheth and his wife, Sarai, and their children take him in. He quickly learns about the oasis's customs, its unique environment, and the balance of power and relationships between its inhabitants, all while worrying about his lost brother, Dennys.
Meanwhile, Dennys, injured and unconscious, is found by a powerful and beautiful Nephilim named Yalith. Yalith, with her Seraphim companion, Azriel, brings Dennys to a secluded cave to recover. Dennys is initially confused, struggling to understand his new reality and the extraordinary beings caring for him. Yalith and Azriel, with their understanding of healing and the spiritual world, nurse him back to health, slowly telling him about the Nephilim, the Seraphim, and the changes threatening their world. Dennys feels drawn to Yalith's calm strength.
Sandy settles into life with Japheth's family, including his father, Lamech. He helps with daily chores, tends to the unique plants and animals, and observes the social dynamics of the oasis. He learns about the 'Giants' – the Nephilim – and the 'Small Ones' – the humans. Sandy discovers that Japheth's estranged brother is Noah, an eccentric man who has started building a large boat in the middle of the desert, an act that puzzles and amuses many of the oasis inhabitants. Sandy begins to understand the tensions within the family and the growing unease in the community.
After recovering and adapting, Sandy and Dennys are reunited at the oasis. Their reunion is joyful but also marked by the changes they have undergone and the unique experiences each has had. They share their stories: Sandy's time with human life at the oasis, and Dennys's spiritual awakening with Yalith and Azriel. Together, they begin to understand their situation and the meaning of the world they have landed in. They sense a deeper reason for their arrival, connected to the coming disaster and the destiny of Noah's family.
The twins gradually understand Noah's project: he is building an ark to survive a flood that will cleanse the earth. Most of the oasis inhabitants, including Lamech and the Nephilim, meet this news with skepticism and ridicule. Sandy and Dennys, however, recognize the importance of Noah's task and the urgency of the situation. They realize their role goes beyond finding a way home; they must help Noah, reconcile his family, and prepare for the cataclysm, which is now a real and terrifying threat.
The strained relationship between Lamech and his son, Noah, is a central conflict. Lamech, bitter and resistant to change, strongly opposes Noah's seemingly insane endeavor, creating a deep split within the family. Sandy and Dennys see the pain and frustration this division causes. They also observe the subtle, powerful influence of the Seraphim and Nephilim, particularly Yalith and Azriel, who seem to guide and protect Noah's family. The twins realize their presence might help bridge the gap between Lamech and Noah, a task that seems nearly impossible given the strong beliefs on both sides.
Knowing about the coming flood, Sandy and Dennys dedicate themselves to helping Noah and his family prepare the ark. They help with the physical labor, gathering materials, and organizing the many animals that begin to arrive. More importantly, they offer emotional support and a new perspective to Noah's family, who face constant mockery and disbelief. Their presence helps strengthen the family's resolve and provides hope amid the growing despair and the constant threat of the coming waters. They become important, if unusual, members of the ark-building crew.
As the final preparations are made, tension in the oasis builds. The Nephilim, sensing their time is ending, begin to leave. Lamech, still resistant, finally makes a difficult choice. Animals, drawn by an unseen force, gather at the ark. With the ark finished, Noah, his wife Naamah, their sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, their wives, and many animals, guided by Sandy and Dennys, board the vessel. Just as the last of them enter, the heavens open, and the torrential rains begin, signaling the start of the flood that will cleanse the world.
As the ark floats on the rising waters, Sandy and Dennys witness the flood's destructive power, a terrifying and amazing sight. They feel the rocking of the ark and the immense force of the deluge. Just as they fully grasp what they have experienced and the new world that will emerge, there is another sudden flash of light, like their initial transportation. They are disoriented again, and when their vision clears, they are back in their own time and place, in their familiar home, forever changed by their journey to the time before the flood.
The Protagonist
Sandy grows from a 'normal' boy into someone who can accept the extraordinary, understanding the deeper spiritual truths hidden within practical life. He learns to reconcile his scientific mind with the profound mysteries of existence.
The Protagonist
Dennys transforms from a somewhat ordinary boy into a more spiritually aware and empathetic individual, deeply touched by the divine and the ephemeral nature of thephilim and Seraphim. He learns to trust his intuition and embrace the unseen.
The Supporting
Japheth's arc is one of unwavering loyalty and growing conviction in his father's mission, despite familial strife and societal ridicule. He finds strength in his faith and commitment to the future.
The Supporting
Noah's arc is one of steadfast faith and immense burden, culminating in his fulfillment of a divine mandate to save humanity and all living creatures from the flood.
The Antagonist/Supporting
Lamech's arc is one of initial stubborn resistance and pride, slowly giving way to a grudging acceptance of the inevitable, leading to a difficult but necessary reconciliation with his son, Noah.
The Supporting
Yalith's arc is one of serene acceptance of her species' impending demise, finding purpose in guiding Dennys and witnessing the transition to a new world.
The Supporting
Azriel's arc is one of fulfilling his divine duty to guide and protect, ultimately accepting the necessary end of one era for the birth of another.
The Supporting
Naamah's arc is one of unwavering support and quiet strength, enduring societal scorn to stand by her husband's prophetic mission.
The central conflict is Noah's faith in the face of widespread doubt, especially from his own family and community. Sandy and Dennys, initially skeptical, must confront divine prophecy and the power of belief. The story explores how faith can sustain individuals through impossible tasks, while doubt can blind others to truth. It also highlights the courage needed to believe in the unseen and act on it, even when mocked.
“Some things have to be believed to be seen.”
The story is about an old world ending and a new one beginning, specifically the antediluvian world ending with the Great Flood. This is shown by the fading Nephilim and Seraphim, and by Noah's ark, which represents preserving life for a new start. The twins see the beauty and sadness of this change, understanding that destruction is sometimes necessary for renewal. It is a look at loss, change, and the natural cycle of existence.
“The world was ending. But it was also beginning again. And it was all one.”
A significant emotional part of the story is the strained relationship between Noah and his father, Lamech. Their separation, fueled by Lamech's pride and disbelief, shows the importance of family bonds and the pain division causes. The twins' presence helps their reconciliation, emphasizing the power of forgiveness and understanding, especially during a shared, overwhelming crisis. The theme shows that even deep disagreements can be overcome for survival and love.
“It was hard to love, and harder to be loved, when fear stood between you and those you loved.”
The book constantly challenges how its characters and readers see reality. The presence of mythical creatures (unicorns, manticores), angelic beings (Seraphim), and the Nephilim blurs the lines between myth and truth. Sandy's scientific mind struggles to accept these things, while Dennys is more open to their spiritual meaning. The story suggests that reality is more expansive and mysterious than conventional understanding, and what one sees is often shaped by one's ability to believe and imagine.
“For the world was full of things that were not, but should be, and things that were, but should not be.”
Sandy and Dennys, first presented as the 'normal' Murry children, find themselves in an ancient, magical world. Their ordinary nature provides a relatable way to experience the fantastical. The theme explores how even the most grounded individuals can be called to extraordinary circumstances, and how their seemingly mundane skills and perspectives can be important during epic events. It reassures that heroism is not only for the 'special' but can come from anyone.
“They had always been the normal ones, the ones who kept their feet on the ground. Until now.”
The primary mechanism for transporting the protagonists to a different era.
The accidental activation of their father's experiment serves as the catalyst, propelling Sandy and Dennys across time and space to the antediluvian world. This device not only sets the entire plot in motion but also establishes the fantastical premise, allowing for the juxtaposition of modern sensibilities with ancient mythology. It creates a sense of disorientation and wonder, forcing the characters (and the reader) to question their understanding of reality and history, making the impossible seem possible through scientific means.
Blending biblical and mythical elements into a cohesive reality.
This device seamlessly weaves figures from biblical narratives (Noah, Lamech, Seraphim) with creatures from mythology (unicorns, manticores) and unique beings (Nephilim) into a single, believable ancient world. It challenges conventional genre boundaries, creating a rich tapestry where science fiction meets fantasy and spiritual allegory. This integration enhances the sense of wonder and otherworldliness, suggesting a hidden, deeper history to our world where these diverse elements coexisted before the Great Flood.
A cataclysmic event representing cleansing, judgment, and renewal.
The impending Great Flood is not merely a plot point but a powerful symbolic device. It represents a divine judgment on a corrupt world, a cleansing of evil, and a necessary reset for a new beginning. For the Nephilim, it signifies their end; for Noah, it's a test of faith and the preservation of hope. Its inevitability drives the narrative's urgency and underscores themes of environmental responsibility, spiritual purity, and the cyclical nature of destruction and creation in the larger cosmic order.
Using relatable, 'normal' characters to ground extraordinary events.
Sandy and Dennys Murry are explicitly described as the most 'normal' and 'grounded' members of their eccentric family. This device allows the reader to experience the fantastical events of the antediluvian world through relatable, human eyes. Their initial skepticism, gradual acceptance, and emotional responses to the bizarre and the divine make the incredible journey more accessible and believable. It emphasizes that profound experiences and significant roles can fall to anyone, regardless of their perceived 'specialness'.
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Madeleine L'Engle was an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels: A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time. Her works reflect both her Christian faith and her strong interest in modern science.
