Ender’s Game

by

Orson Scott Card

Shen Character Analysis

A friend of Ender’s who arrives in Battle School at the same time, Shen and Ender bond with each other after Bernard teases Shen. Ender and Shen remain friends even after Ender is sent to another army, and although they eventually grow apart, Shen ends up serving alongside Ender in the final battles with the Buggers.
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Shen Character Timeline in Ender’s Game

The timeline below shows where the character Shen appears in Ender’s Game. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 5: Games
Leadership Theme Icon
The next week, Shen and Ender sit together at lunch. Ender doesn’t admit that he was the one who... (full context)
Chapter 6: The Giant’s Drink
Games, Computers, and Virtual Reality Theme Icon
Childhood and Growing Up Theme Icon
Control, Manipulation, and Authority Theme Icon
...in his suit, and doesn’t get hurt when he crashes into a wall. He and Shen also discover that they can use the laser guns to “freeze” other people: if they... (full context)
Games, Computers, and Virtual Reality Theme Icon
Childhood and Growing Up Theme Icon
As Ender and Shen float through the battleroom, they notice Bernard’s best friend, a boy named Alai. Ender collides... (full context)
Chapter 7: Salamander
Love, Empathy, and Destruction Theme Icon
Morality and Survival Theme Icon
Leadership Theme Icon
Childhood and Growing Up Theme Icon
...Bernard, along with Alai. He invites them to practice maneuvers in the battleroom. Together, Ender, Shen, Alai, and Bernard practice aiming, and Ender passes on some of the lessons that Petra... (full context)
Chapter 9: Locke and Demosthenes
Love, Empathy, and Destruction Theme Icon
Games, Computers, and Virtual Reality Theme Icon
Leadership Theme Icon
Childhood and Growing Up Theme Icon
...Battle School—but this sometimes frustrates him. While he continues to practice with his old friends, Shen and Alai, he’s noticed that they think of him as a different “kind” of person... (full context)
Chapter 14: Ender’s Teacher
Love, Empathy, and Destruction Theme Icon
Games, Computers, and Virtual Reality Theme Icon
Morality and Survival Theme Icon
Leadership Theme Icon
Childhood and Growing Up Theme Icon
Control, Manipulation, and Authority Theme Icon
...prepared to command an elite group of commanders, including his old friends Alai, Bean, Dink, Shen, Crazy Tom, and many of his other loyal commanders from Dragon. Ender relays orders to... (full context)
Love, Empathy, and Destruction Theme Icon
Games, Computers, and Virtual Reality Theme Icon
Morality and Survival Theme Icon
Leadership Theme Icon
Control, Manipulation, and Authority Theme Icon
...fleets, and ends up losing all but two ships. Ender calls on Crazy Tom and Shen to help Petra, and in the end Ender is able to win the battle, but... (full context)