THE WAVE

by Todd Strasser

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 11. What is the setting of the novel? The story mostly takes place at

Gordon High School which is in a small, suburban community of middle-class families. The novel is based on a true story that took place in Palo Alto, California in 1969.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 12. Describe the following characters:

– Laurie Saunders: • Main character• Pretty, short light-brown hair• Editor-in-chief of The Grapevine• Smart, good student• Serious, deep-thinker

– Amy Smith:• Laurie’s best friend• Petite, thick curly hair• Feels she has to “compete” with Laurie

– Ben Ross:• Well-liked history teacher at Gordon High• Not good with technology• Charismatic• Concerned about his students

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1– Christy Ross:

• Ben’s loyal and loving wife• Music and choir teacher at Gordon High• Understands that her husband get very “focused” on

things– Brian Ammon:

• Quarter back on the football team• Big appetite

– Robert Billings:• “Class loser”• Lives in the shadow of his overachieving brother• Doesn’t care about school• Unkempt, social outcast

– David Collins:• Tall, good-looking• Good student• Running back on the football team• Laurie’s boyfriend

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 13. Name three examples in this chapter that

indicate that some students and/or teachers at Gordon High lack self-discipline.

– Some teachers at Gordon High are resentful of Mr. Ross because he works hard (and makes them look bad because they don’t)

– Students were late for class – Many students didn’t do homework and

those who did it, did a messy job – Some students don’t pay attention in class – The Grapevine staff didn’t turn articles in

on time

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 24. Describe Hitler’s background and rise to

power. Hitler, a house painter, turned to politics

after WWI. Germany had been defeated in the war and thousands in the country were homeless, hungry and jobless. Hitler saw this as an opportunity to rise quickly through the political ranks by claiming that the Jews were the destroyers of German civilization. He believed and preached that the Germans were a superior race. He told the people of Germany, who were desperate for someone to bail them out of poverty, what they wanted to hear. He manipulated and used the people to gain power.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 25. What was the “final solution to the

Jewish problem” according to Hitler? The “death camps” were his final

solution. He sent everyone that he thought was not part of his “superior race” to concentration camps where they were worked, starved, tortured or put to death.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 26. What were the students’ reactions to

the film? The students were shocked and

stunned by the film. Some were close to tears. Several questioned how and/or why this could have happened.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 27. Mr. Ross was asked why the Nazis

(only 10% of the German population) were not stopped. What were the possible reasons?

The German people claimed they knew nothing about the concentration camps or killings, but the real reason was probably that they were afraid to speak up. The Nazi party was highly organized and feared. Anyone who questioned or rebelled could also be killed.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 28. How did the students react to these

reasons? One student said that he would never

let such a small minority rule the majority. Another said that he wouldn’t let a couple of Nazis scare him into submission.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 29. How did some Nazis try to excuse their

behavior? After the war many Nazis tried to

excuse their behavior by claiming they were only following orders and that they would have been killed themselves if they hadn’t.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 210. What did the students say about

these reasons? They said it was no excuse. They

could have fought back or ran away. They should have thought for themselves.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 211. Why was Robert Billings a poor

student? Robert lived in the shadow of his older

brother who had been a model student and very popular. Seeing that he could never compete with his brother’s achievements, he decided it was better not to even try.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 312. Compare and contrast Laurie’s reaction to the film with David’s reaction. Cite at least three similarities and three differences. (6 pts.)Same:a. They both thought it was a horrible incident in historyb. They were both bothered by the filmc. It made both of them think about the past

Different:a. Laurie lost her appetite, but David didn’tb. David said that it’s over now and people should move onc. Laurie couldn’t stop think about the film

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 3

13. Why were Laurie and Amy not truly close friends?

The constant competition between them kept them from being really close.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 314. Describe the following characters: (2 pts.)  a. Carl Block – The Grapevine’s investigative reporter

b. Alex Cooper – The Grapevine’s music reviewer

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 415. What question is Ben Ross trying to answer in this chapter?

Why didn’t the majority of German’s who were not Nazis try to stop what was happening?

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 517. What were the new class rules?

a.Everyone must have pencils and note paper for note-taking.b.When asking or answering a question, you must stand at the side of your seat.c.The first word you say when asking or answering a question are, “Mr. Ross.”

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 518. Describe these characters’ reactions: (4 pts.)

a.Brian – very enthusiastic about itb.David – felt power of a unitc. Brad – thought it was no big deald. Robert – was seen practicing in the bathroom

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 619. What did Mr. Ross add to “Strength through discipline”?

“Strength through Community”

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 6

20. What was Mr. Ross’ definition of “community”?

The feeling that you are a part of something that’s more important than yourself. You’re a movement, a team, or a cause.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 621. Who were the last students to join in repeating the mottos?

Laurie and Brad did not join at first, but finally rose from their chairs and participated.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 622. What was the symbol of the class movement? Why?

The symbol was a circle with the outline of a wave inside it. A wave is a pattern of change. It has movement, direction, and impact.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 623. Describe the salute.

Cup your right hand in the shape of a wave, tap it against your left shoulder, and then hold it upright.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 724. Christy Ross makes three observations about Ben’s experiment. What are they?

The students are afraid of being unprepared, they don’t have to think for themselves, and they are acting superior to students in the rest of the school.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 825. What three things are added to The Wave movement? (3 pts.)

a. Membership cardsb. Monitorsc. “Strength through Action”

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 827. Who is the first student to become uneasy over The Wave?

Laurie Saunders

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 928. What disturbing discovery did Ben make about the students’ preparation for class?

Although his students seemed prepared for class because they could spit back answers, they didn’t seem to be analyzing or questioning anything. They weren’t thinking!

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 929. What is Mrs. Saunders’ opinion of The Wave?

She thinks The Wave is like a cult and that people who are unhappy with themselves and their lives join such things. She is worried that everyone at school is taking it too seriously and that someone may eventually get hurt.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 10

Take a break - No questions!! : )

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1130. What four things occur in this chapter that reflect negatively on The Wave? (4pts.)a. The letter to The Grapevine editor from the boy being threatened by Wave members.b. Robert wants to be Mr. Ross’ bodyguard.c. Mr. Ross is hearing about “orders” he had given for the Wave to do things, but he didn’t give the orders!d. The pep rally was changed to a Wave rally without school authorization.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1231. Why does David think Laurie is against The Wave?

He thinks she’s against it because it makes her equal like everyone else instead of the best and most popular student.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1232. What does Carl’s statement, “Looks like I’ve stumbled into Anne Frank’s attic,” refer to? Explain.It is an allusion to The Diary of Anne Frank. Anne and her Jewish family hid in an attic to avoid being taken to a concentration camp by the Nazis. Carl is comparing Laurie hiding out in The Grapevine office to avoid The Wave to the Frank family situation.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1233. What do Laurie, Carl, and Alex plan to do to discourage The Wave?

They decide to put out an issue of The Grapevine to question the purpose and intentions of The Wave.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1234. What incident takes place that causes more concern to Laurie and her father?

Laurie’s father tells her that a boy was beaten up after The Wave rally when he refused to participate. Mr. Saunders also told her that he is concerned that The Wave also targeted the boy because he is Jewish.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1335. Describe Laurie’s conversation with Brad about the salute.

Laurie tries to go up into the bleachers at the football game, but Brad won’t let her pass unless she does The Wave salute. She refuses and they argue until finally he tells her to go ahead up, but people would be “watching” her. She realizes that Brad seems afraid of what the other Wave members will do if he doesn’t go along with them.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1336. What did Laurie say in her editorial?

It condemned The Wave as a dangerous and mindless movement that suppressed freedom of speech and thought and ran against everything the country was founded on. She said that The Wave had already begun to do more harm than good.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 14&1537. What incident occurs as a result of Laurie’s stand?

First she and Amy argue and hurtful things are said. Then Robert says that Laurie is a threat to The Wave and must be stopped. Brian tells Robert that he and David will take care of it. The plan is for David to meet up with Laurie after school to tell her to “cool it”!

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 14&1538. What incident is the turning point in David’s feelings about The Wave?David confronts Laurie about her criticism of The Wave. They argue and he ends up grabbing her and throwing her to the ground. He realizes at this point that he has let The Wave control him and now he feels “almost as if he were coming out of a trance.” He knows he could have hurt someone because of The Wave, including his girlfriend!

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 14&1539. How was The Wave successful?

The Wave had originally been conceived as a way to show Ross’ students how frightening life in Nazi Germany had been. When David and Laurie explained to him how scared some of the students were, he knew his experiment was a success.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 16

No questions – almost done!! : )

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1740. Mr. Ross finds what he considers a

natural inclination of people. What is that inclination?

He realized that it is a natural inclination for people to look for a leader; someone to make decisions for them.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1741. What do the students learn from The Wave experiment?

They learn that everyone is responsible for their own actions and that you must always question and not blindly follow a leader. You must never allow a group’s will to overtake your individual rights.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1742. What does David mean when he says, “Let’s try and forget it…I mean let’s try not to forget it…but let’s forget it at the same time”?

He was trying to say that everyone should forget the specific Wave incidents, but don’t forget the lessons that were learned from these incidents.

THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1743. What do you think Mr. Ross intends to say to Robert as this novel ends?

Mr. Ross will probably tell Robert that it really wasn’t The Wave that gave him the ability and drive to improve his life, but it was something inside of him. He has self-confidence now that he can continue without The Wave.

YOU’RE FINALLY FINISHED – GREAT JOB!!