The Destructors by Graham Greene
1.) Why does Trevor want to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house? They are jealous and they don't like that his house is still standing and they don't have a home to live in.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166) He is jealous that it's not his, it's a fairly nice house.
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them? He says that they aren't thieves, and they aren't there to steal they are just there to send a message.
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174) He wants revenge because it's fun.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175) They didn't get to finish their job because the old man shows up to his house before they can finish.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172) They don't want to do a lousy job and they don't want to give the old man a chance to rebuild his house in a couple of days.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house? It sounds cooler adn it's more daring than the stuff they usually do.
8.) Why are we told that "destruction after all is a form of creation"? (p. 172-173) Rebuilding something requires thinking.
9.) What does the author mean when he says that Trevor had "a kind of imagination" that "had seen this house as it had now become"? (p. 173) He planned the whole thing out before they went in to destroy it.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174) It was thrilling to them but it's odd because of how much they were capable of.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote: "Suppose we are? he said ambiguously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): having several possible meanings
Synonym: cryptic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There was a rock of ambiguous character.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): overcome with fear
Synonym: dismay
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.
3.) Altruistic - p. 169
Quote: "Driven by the pure, simple, and altruistic ambition of fame for the gang, Blackie came back to where T. stood in the shadow of Old Misery's wall."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unselfishly concerned for something or someone
Synonym: generous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man was being altruistic towards all of his customers.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): near the surface
Synonym: near
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He had a superficial wound after he fell.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): exhilarated condition or feeling.
Synonym: joyousness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): After the game, I was filled with exhilaration.
Thinking Map:Use textual evidence to show examples of when Trevor is trying to be part of the gang or when Trevor is trying to separate himself from the gang. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166) He is jealous that it's not his, it's a fairly nice house.
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them? He says that they aren't thieves, and they aren't there to steal they are just there to send a message.
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174) He wants revenge because it's fun.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175) They didn't get to finish their job because the old man shows up to his house before they can finish.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172) They don't want to do a lousy job and they don't want to give the old man a chance to rebuild his house in a couple of days.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house? It sounds cooler adn it's more daring than the stuff they usually do.
8.) Why are we told that "destruction after all is a form of creation"? (p. 172-173) Rebuilding something requires thinking.
9.) What does the author mean when he says that Trevor had "a kind of imagination" that "had seen this house as it had now become"? (p. 173) He planned the whole thing out before they went in to destroy it.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174) It was thrilling to them but it's odd because of how much they were capable of.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote: "Suppose we are? he said ambiguously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): having several possible meanings
Synonym: cryptic
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): There was a rock of ambiguous character.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): overcome with fear
Synonym: dismay
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Don't be daunted by the amount of work still to be done.
3.) Altruistic - p. 169
Quote: "Driven by the pure, simple, and altruistic ambition of fame for the gang, Blackie came back to where T. stood in the shadow of Old Misery's wall."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unselfishly concerned for something or someone
Synonym: generous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The man was being altruistic towards all of his customers.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): near the surface
Synonym: near
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He had a superficial wound after he fell.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house."
Definition (based on context/in your own words): exhilarated condition or feeling.
Synonym: joyousness
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): After the game, I was filled with exhilaration.
Thinking Map:Use textual evidence to show examples of when Trevor is trying to be part of the gang or when Trevor is trying to separate himself from the gang. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
They all vote.
He participates in all gang activity. He takes orders from Blackie. They all convince each other to go to the house. He delegates responsibility. |
He takes orders from Blackie.
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