Here are your questions for the first third of the book that you have chosen. Your responses to each question should be three to four sentences, minimum, and should include a quote from the book wherever possible to justify your response. Your responses should be posted as comments on this post prior to the class of the due date on which they are assigned; you may also submit responses in handwritten or typed form.
Good Luck!
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1. Read a biography of Robert Cormier. Write a summary of no less than 100 words describing him and the things you learned about him from his biography.
(http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Library/Archives/WAuthors/cormier/bio.html is a good place to start.)
2. Read the short story "The Bully" here: http://www.thecockatoo.com/bully.html
3. Write a 100-word response to the story in which you consider the story and bullying in general.
4. Write a 100-word response describing a situation in which you have felt bullied and how you dealt with it.
READING QUESTIONS PART I:
Chapters 1-13
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (like Obie’s notebook)
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
13. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
43 comments:
Allison Rowe
Mr. Parsons
Chocolate War
March 12, 2009
Pre Reading Responses
1.)Robert Cormier was one of eight children who lived during the Great Depression. He went to a catholic school, which shaped him in many ways. He first considered being a writer after writing a poem in the sixth grade, after being encouraged by a nun. He was very intelligent and a liked person as I see him by being president of his senior class in college and high school. He was an amazing author at a young age, analyzed by his writing earning 75 dollars and being published in a magazine. I believe he s a very courageous man with strong emotions. He had to be this to write a novel based on his father and the double life he was living. Overall, I enjoyed his biography and look forward to reading the Chocolate War.
3.)From the story I believe that Robert went through a time of life where he was bullied or saw others being bulled, thus being his inspiration. Bullying is a bad thing no matter what the reasoning and no matter who is performing such actions. I think that bullying should be put to a stop by being punishable by law. In ‘The Bully’ what he writes is really like something that would happen in real life. Kids would go everyday just hoping that the bully wouldn’t be there or would pick on someone else that day, but you do have to stand up to them even if you know you can’t in.
4.) Once in cheerleading I was bullied by a senior who had no right to be bullying me. She screamed at me telling me to shut up all the time and threatened to beat me up after she overheard a few names I had called her. She had no right to be yelling at me for stuff that she didn’t do, she was a complete hypocrite. She said she was going to beat me up, but would never say it to my face, just to my friends. I approached her randomly and told her that what she heard me say about her was true and that she don’t need to be mad at me for being honest. I also told her that if she didn’t want people making fun of her than she needed to what she was supposed to do in the first place. She never bothered me again and actually started getting better.
The Chocolate War Pre-Reading Questions
Kaleb Kozee
2nd Period
1. Robert Cormier was known for his controversial yet moving writing. For his whole life Cormier lived in French Hill, Leominster, never moving more than three miles away from his original home. He attended St. Cecilia’s Parochial School, a private catholic establishment, until High School. While attending there, Cormier once noticed his house was set ablaze through a window. But a Nun would not Cormier check on his family until he said a prayer on the rosary. This led Cormier to have mixed or even hateful feelings toward the Catholic Church. Cormier often wrote, until one day a professor discovered his work during his freshman year in college. The professor secretly submitted Cormier’s work to a magazine, and six weeks later, his story was published. From there on Cormier wrote stories and columns in a local newspaper. He also wrote several novels, including The Chocolate War, and I Am the Cheese. Cormier won several awards for his writings.
3. The Bully was an interesting short story. Bullying in general is a controversial topic. Even though the short story was based many years before the present, it still holds its prevalence. Almost every bullying situation occurs under the same circumstances; one victim against a group of oversized goonies. The brigands back the victim up to the point of no escape, and have their fun. Why, because they have raw power and no will to control it. But as bullies tend to have such a lack of will power, they are sometimes easily persuaded, if a good play of charisma comes along. Such was evident in The Bully. It shows how powerful a man can be, without flaunting physical stability. Intimidation is possible in anyone, no matter his or her size.
4. I cannot recall a situation in which I was bullied in public, but during my childhood, there was always a fight for dominance among the siblings. It was always my older brother, not the oldest, but the one younger, who tried to establish his priorities over the others. As the youngest male among the siblings, I had it the worst when trying to voice my opinion. I grew tired of his shameless threats eventually, and decided the best option to gain dominance was not through blunt force or head on arguing, but through sly trickery, and simple roguishness. Over the years, he seemed to become shyer, less hotheaded, and simply more submissive. As his belongings randomly vanished, and as his prized possessions became vandalized, he lost his grip on the household monarchy, and suddenly my word became more important. Ever since then, what I say seems to be law among my brothers.
Sara Hardin
3-12-09
Honors English II
"The Chocolate War"
Pre-Reading Questions
1.Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 1925 and was the second of eight children. His parents were Lucien Joseph and Irma Margaret (Collins) Cormier. Robert was raised in Leominster, MA. They lived in French Hill, the French-Canadian section of Leominster, in a triple-decker. The family moved a lot and started in different houses in order to afford rent during the Depression. Even if they moved out of their house, they were never more than three miles away from the original home. Robert was first encouraged to start writing at his private school, St. Cecilia’s Parochial School. His teachers there encouraged him to be a writer and this is where he started considering it. The “sister” of the school caused some hard feelings between the school and Robert when she would not allow him out of class while his triple-decker was on fire. Cormier graduated as the president of his senior class in 1942 from Leominster High School. He then attended Fitchburg State College and was also the president of his class. Everyone who was around him always encouraged him to be a writer, even if he wasn’t in such a wealthy family. As a freshman in college, Cormier wrote a composition in which a teacher snuck and sent to a magazine. The writing was soon published, and this is where Robert Cormier’s career took off.
2.-Read the short story “The Bully”-
3.The short story called “The Bully” is a very interesting story and it teaches a lesson. It is about this young boy named Keith, who had to face the “bully of the school”. The bully’s name was George, and he was part of a group of five other boys. These boys went around and were constantly picking on people. One day George approached Keith and told him that it was “his turn”. In other words he was saying that he was going to beat him up. Keith became very nervous and scared, but in the end he stood up to the bully. Instead of backing down, Keith came right back at him. To Keith’s surprise, George backed off and walked away.
To me, bullying is something that I know happens a lot but I think it needs to come to a stop. No one likes to be bullied, and no one likes to see someone else be bullied either. What Keith done, in the story, was very brave and took a lot of guts. But even though it was probably really hard mentally to stand up to that bully, it was the right thing to do. When a bully thinks that someone will come back at them, then they will back off. The only reason a bully continues to pick on people is because they know that they can get by with it without someone doing the same back to them.
4. When I was little, I always had to ride the bus home from school by myself. My brother had just graduated into middle school and I was stuck in the little elementary school all alone. Riding home from school, I had to walk all the way down my street and through my driveway to my house. There were also these mean boys, who in my mind have cooties, and they were my neighbors. They would always walk right behind me and yell, “Hey little girl!” They would always make me cry because they called me midget, shorty, and other bad names. As a little girl, this was the worst bullying there was.
One day I grew enough confidence to stand up for myself. With my Barbie backpack on, and my shiny white KEDS shoes on (ha-ha), I turned around and yelled at the top of my lungs. I screamed, “STOP MAKING FUN OF ME, I AM NOT SCARED OF YOU!!” I kept yelling and yelling until I got my point across. Even though I know that these boys were not afraid of me, they knew I meant business. They just stood there and stared at me like I was some sort of alien. I finally turned around and marched off. From that day forward, those boys never said another word to me. I realized that standing up for myself wasn’t so bad after all!
Ashley Barlow
3rd Mr. Parsons
pre reading questions
Robert Cormier
1) Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 1925, in Leominster, MA. He was the second oldest of eight children. With his mother and father, Lucien Joseph and Irma Margaret Collins he lived in French Hill, the French- Canadian section of Leominster, in a home called a triple- decker. He lived during the Depression so his life was never easy. Him and his family many times because they were pore and could not afford the rent. It was very hard to live with eight children during the Depression. The larger the family grew the more they had to move.
Robert had a a good education and he started writing poetry at a very young age. He wrote his first poem in the sixth grade. Its seemed he had always wanted to be a writer. He finished his education 1944. He was encourager by his family but mostly by his mother. After finishing School he became a reporter and that sparked what his love for writing. After being a reporter he started writing books. He did this for many years.
3) The Bully
“The bully” was a story about concurring your fears and facing them head on. The bully George is surprised when he is finally confronted and he realizes that he cant jus go around beating people up all the time. He realizes that eventually someone is going to stand up to him and punch him back.
I believe that at some point everyone will be faced with a bully. It’s how one face the problem determines what the out come will be. I believe you should always stick up for yourself. Never back down, even if that does mean getting the crap beat out of. To me hurting ones pride is worse than getting a fist to the face.
4) One day the softball team and I were on our way to a game. It was my first year playing at the high school level. I was only n the eight grade. Nobody really game me any trouble so I didn’t have a problem with anybody. When we arrived at the game I started in left field for the field for the first time. That was great and all but I took that spot from a senior. She didn’t take it to well. We won the game and everyone was happy until, I fell right on my face getting back on to the bus. I thought to myself, “huh I don’t remember a foot being there.” Then as I’m getting up I here “ you should just stay down. You f***in eight grader! I don’t even know why you’re on the team. You cant even stand up!”
Enraged I jump to my feet and out of nowhere I feel my fist meeting her face. This was not like me. I yelled at here and told her to shut the hell up! She had no idea what say as she was holding her face. Then I turned back around and got on the bus. After that day I never had a problem with her again.
In reading the biography on Robert Cormier I learned that he was the second child of eight children. He was born January 17th,1925. He attended a private catholic school which made an impact on who he became later in life.
While in high school he became president of his senior class then he served again as class president in college. Cormier's father was a factory worker so their family wasn't very wealthy. His mother tried to inspire Robert to become a writer but their lack of money gave Robert doubt that he could do anything like that. Although he felt he would never be known as a famous writer his jobs included his passion. He worked for his town's gazette, then he worked as a writing consultant for 3 years. His first novel was "Now And At The Hour" which was published in 1960. He used his father's death for inspiration to write the novel. in 1974 his book "The Chocolate War" was published.
Many more books written by Robert Cormier throughout the years. on November 2nd, 2000, Robert Cormier died at the age of 75 due to lung cancer. His legacy lives today through his books.
2. after reading "the bully" i think that robert not only stood up for himself but he gave the other kids that went to his school the confidence to stand up for themselves when the gang of bullies hassled them.
at first he was terrified knowing that he was about to get jumped by a gang of huge boys.that is something that is often times seen today in bullying. there are usually more than one. they cant fight a fight with 1 other person unless they have 3 or 4 other people there to help them. they will get a whole gang of people that are big to help them beat up or bully the smaller,quiet, shy kid. if they were by themselves they would not have the confidence to fight or bully the other person alone as they would if they had a whole crowd of people. but if one person stands up to them and lets the bully know that they are not afraid of them the bully is less likely to continue bullying that one person. they will probably find someone else to badger. the bully looses all confidence and stop. i think that the story was a great reflection of the real world. there are bullies in every age group but you have to learn to overcome that.
3. i can remember when i was little my parents would let me get away with a lot more than my older brothers and sisters because "i was the baby". my brothers and especially my sisters hated that i always got whatever they wanted me to do like go get them soda out of the kitchen when we were all the way outside playing. soon i got the idea to stop doing what they wanted me to do and threatened to tell my dad if they picked on me or pushed me around....soon they stopped.
The chocolate war pre reading
1. Robert Comier was born on January 17, 1925, in Leominister, MA. Robert was the second of eight children. His father Lucien was a factory worker, and the family, like so many others during the depression were struggling with the rent and had to move many times during his life at home. He attended St. Cecillia’s Parochial school, a private catholic school, in which he wrote his first poem in the sixth grade, but he was also traumatized as he saw his house burn down from the classroom window, and couldn’t leave to check on his family, because a nun said he could not leave until he had recited on the rosary. This gave him bitter feelings toward the Catholic Church for many years to come. Of his many works, The Chocolate War is the most notorious due to the fact that it is number two on the most banned book list.
3.The short story, the bully was a very good example of the bullying and such that went on in old schools and that still goes on today. I think everyone feels like the author at some point in their lives, especially when he says that no one would stand up to him because they were scared they would get it too. I know there have been several times that I have seen a fellow student be pushed around or beaten, for some bully’s enjoyment. No one wants to help someone they don’t know and then be prosecuted for it. I think that the author showed in the ending how he thinks bullies should be dealt with; non-violently.
4. My eighth grade year there was a boy who continuously taunted me on the bus ride home from the middle school. He had said very specific things not only about me but my family also. Then on one day in March he started trying to push me off the bus faster than I was going. I told him to stop but he then resorted to calling me names, which only angered me, further. I then said, “say that one more time” and he did so I turned around and punched him square between the eyes. That was probably not the smartest thing to do because I broke his nose and knocked him backward into the bus driver. So at this point his nose was bleeding profusely and I was escorted off the bus and to my mother’s car upon which my mother was told that I had hit another kid and I was suspended from school for three days, with the other kid only receiving one day of in school suspension.
Tania Waller
3rd Period
Pre-Reading Questions
1.) Robert Cormier was born in Leominster, MA on January 17, 1925. He was the second of eight children. He lived during the Depression, so his family moved frequently in order to afford the rent. He attended a private catholic school. He wrote his first poem in sixth grade, in which a nun encouraged him to write. When he was in eighth grade, his family’s home was on fire. He went to Leominster High School in which he was the president of his senior class. He was also president of his class in college in which he attended Fitchburg State College. He died on November 2, 2000 at the age of 75 from lung cancer.
3.) “The Bully” is a short story about a boy named Keith who had to face George, which was the bully of the school. Keith had watched younger kids being bullied for months. Keith had gotten the guts to stand up to George and got away without being bullied. In general, I think bullying is a waste of time. The only reason bullies bully other people is because they feel insecure and they bully everyone else to make them feel better about themselves. Almost every bully who gets stood up to will back down because they don’t feel as superior anymore.
4.) There hasn’t really been a time when I was actually bullied face to face. I have dealt with people saying things about me behind my back that I didn’t really like. For example, last year during cheerleading there was girl who talked bad about everyone behind their backs after practice was over. I was the only one who was honest enough to confront her to her face. After that everyone then began to confront her and she ended up quitting cheerleading that year.
1.) Robert Cormier was the second of eight children born on January 17, 1925, in Leominster, MA. He was brought up during the Great Depression and his family moved many times throughout his childhood, one reason was so they could afford the rent and the other was to accommodate their growing family. He attended a private Catholic school which shaped his life in a few different ways. He also attended Leominster High School, where he graduated president of his senior class. He was also president of his class at Fitchburg State College. His mother was the one who predicted that he would be a writer. She would read his works without picking out all the problems like his teachers would do. He married Constance Senay in 1948, they ended up having four children. He worked as a reporter until his first novel was published in 1960. He wrote ‘The Chocolate War’ when his son had straight refused to sell chocolate for his school. He had won many awards from his books over the years. However, on November 2, 2000, Robert Cormier died of lung cancer. Over the years Cormier wrote many novels for young people, which will continue to be read for years to come.
2.) The short story ‘The Bully’ is about a young man, Keith, who is forced to stand up for himself against the school bully. However the bully was also with five other guys, who were all considerably larger than Keith himself. George, the bully who told Keith he was going to beat him up, backed down after Keith stood up for himself when he was being threatened.
I think that the scenario for bullying is all the same. Someone who thinks they are bigger-and-badder than everyone else tends to pick on people who are smaller than them, trying to instill fear into getting them to do what they want or just wanting them to be afraid of them. However if you stand up for yourself and show that person that you won’t tolerate being mistreated then they will back off and leave you alone.
1.) The first sentence in The Chocolate War is “They murdered him”. This made me think that the novel is going to turn out to be more downtrodden and serious than I originally believed. The author may have written this to foreshadow something that happens later in the book or to preset the feeling you should have throughout the novel.
2.) I somewhat believe that you have to stay on the good side of some people. This is because that if I don’t I’ll get brought into a lot of things like drama that I don’t want to be and it also because it will in the end just make things go smoother.
3.)If someone was keeping private information about me then I would probably be offended. Because if I would want everyone to know it then it wouldn’t be private, I would just clue the whole world in.
4.) He tells him he’s missing a lot in the world because he’s living in the past before his mother died and doing what he thinks his mom would want, and not what he wants.
5.) Brother Leon is a teacher at Trinity, he is taking over as headmaster until the true head is back from sick leave. He is also the one who thought that they should double the chocolate quota that year.
6.) The Vigils are a group of students who keep things under control while also causing a little mischief at Trinity. The other students ignore them because they don’t want mixed up in all of the shenanigans that they sometimes get involved in.
7.) Goober has to comply with the assignment because if not then Archie is capable of makings his school life miserable. If I were Goober, then I would probably try to do the assignment just to keep things cool between myself and the other students.
8.) Brother Leon is a teacher who likes to pick on students and also likes to bring dramatics into the classroom. I, personally, have never been picked on by a teacher or seen it done to another student.
9.) I, personally, don’t know anyone with Emile’s characteristics.
10.) They chose to pick on Brother Eugene for a couple of reasons. One being that they knew his reaction would be the best because he would freak out and take it badly.
11.) A way to remedy that situation would be first to find some common ground, then he could talk to him about other things. I sometimes find it difficult to talk to people, and I believe that if I put in enough effort then I could remedy the situation by doing the same thing.
12.) I once had to sell magazines for a school fundraiser. I felt some pressure to sell them because it was to help out the entire student body and it was also what was expected of me to do.
13.) The coach was the type of person who expected you to always be doing your best and if he didn’t think you were then he would yell and get frustrated. This could say that he doesn’t really look too highly on some of the students at Trinity because of the way he treats them.
14.) At first I didn’t think the book was going to be very interesting, I actually thought it was going to be quite boring or monotonous. However as I continued to read I began to become more interested in what was going on with the characters in the book, especially the vigils. I wasn’t really ever confused during the book, I picked up on what was basically going on from the beginning. Also, as I read the first several chapters I became interested in Archie’s story and why he is the way that he is. This is really all that I thought about the first 12 chapters.
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1. Read a biography of Robert Cormier. Write a summary of no less than 100 words describing him and the things you learned about him from his biography.
(http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Library/Archives/WAuthors/cormier/bio.html is a good place to start.)
Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 19925 in Leominster, Massachusetts. His parent’s names were Lucien Joseph and Irma Margaret (Collins) Cormier. Out of the eight children his parents had he was their second. Cormier’s family moved around many times during the Great Depression to afford rent. He attended a private catholic school, St. Cecilia’s Parochial School. When Cormier was in eighth grade he could see that his family’s triple-decker was on fire from his classroom window. The sister would not allow him to leave until he recited on the rosary. No one was injured in the fire but because of that incident Cormier had some bitter feelings towards the church for years. He was president of his senior class at Leominster High School and president of his class at Fitchburg State College. He was inspired to write “The Chocolate War” when his son Peter refused to sell chocolates for the Catholic School he attended.
2. Read the short story "The Bully" here: http://www.thecockatoo.com/bully.html
3. Write a 100-word response to the story in which you consider the story and bullying in general.
I thought the story was very well written. It kept you interested and wanting to read more. I think bullying is wrong and the people who bully are immature and need to grow up. When people bully people they are just trying to make themselves feel better. People will bow down to these bullies and not say anything to try and stop them. They wont stick up for themselves. I admit I have been bullied and made fun of before, I probably still am made fun of because on my hand or whatever people want to say. I consider the story good and the way he acted in the story is how everyone should act towards bullies, stick up for yourself and not take what the bully is dishing out. Have confidence and the bully will back down.
4. Write a 100-word response describing a situation in which you have felt bullied and how you dealt with it.
There’s a couple situations that I remember when I was bullied. One is my hand. People make fun of me because I had surgery on it and it doesn’t look normal. I deal with it by ignoring them and making them feel bad about what they’ve done. Also, by making the bullies look like idiots. Another incident happened in elementary school, at the school I attended in Florida. I was in first grade and this huge boy in my class was a bully. He threatened to kill me, a friend of mine, and our class but he only told my friend and me that. We dealt with it by telling a teacher and the situation was dealt with, the bully backed down and stopped being a bully. It also didn’t help him for threatening us for the simple fact that my dad worked with his dad. Another time happened just recently, last year in fact a girl cyber-bullied me. She posted mean and hurtful things about me on her myspace. I dealt with that by making her feel bad when I commented her blog about me. I made her look like an idiot and she deleted the blog. That was the end of it.
READING QUESTIONS PART I:
Chapters 1-13
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
The affect that the first question had on me was wondering did they really murder him or is the author just saying that? I think that the author used it to make the reader wonder.
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
Yes. I try to stay on everyone’s good side if they stay on mine. I do that so that I’m not always fighting with people and to keep peace. If I stay on their good side then there is peace if not then there is war.
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (like Obie’s notebook)
I would ask them why they felt the need to keep personal information about me and ask they to destroy it or destroy it myself. I would feel violated and like I have no privacy in the world. I would also be angered by the act.
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
Jerry was staring at the man and the rest of the people everyday and Jerry was “Square boy. Middle- aged at fourteen, fifteen. Already caught in a routine.” The man was saying that because Jerry was “already caught in a routine” he was missing out on what was happening in the world around him.
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
Brother Leon is a teacher at the school. Brother Leon was one of those teachers “who could hold a class in the palm of his hand” meaning his students were afraid and did as he told. He was “calm and deadly.”
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
The Vigils are a group of students who “kept the students under control.” The teachers pretended like the group never existed because they would not be allowed to have the group if they did not. People ignored the Vigils because they were afraid of them. The Vigils we’re one of those groups you didn’t want to mess with.
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
He has to follow the assignment because he knew that there was no way out of doing it. I would refuse to do the assignment. I wouldn’t really care if they threatened me and I wouldn’t have showed up to their meeting, if I did show up it would just be to taunt them.
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Brother Leon is one of those strict teachers that students are afraid of. He is a mean teacher and bullies his students. Yes I have seen teachers pick on students. Teachers have picked on me but they always say they were joking. The rest of the class would sit there. There are those few students who join in on it.
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
Yes I know a few boys with Emile’s characteristics. His characteristics are what people would call “bad boy” or “trouble maker” characteristics. He steals gas, doesn’t care for or follow the rules, he was an “animal”, and no body would mess with or go against Emile. He would sit in the front of class “to harass the teacher.”
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
They say that he is the peaceful sort. I couldn’t really figure out why they decided to pick on him other than that. I’m guessing that because he was so peaceful that it was easy for them to pick on him. They did make him cry when they loosened the screws.
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Jerry could try to talk to his father about it, or try to do more things with his father. No I do not feel that way. I would tell him how I felt about it and try to fix it.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
Yes I have, I’m sure every students has. Yes, one of my teachers would make us feel like we had to. She would set a number of items we had to sell and we would do it. Brother Leon telling the school about “the do-or-die determination that made Trinity a place of triumph through the years” drives the pressure to sell. Also the headmaster was lying sick in the hospital. “The need for funds to keep this magnificent edifice of education operating on all gears.”
13. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
In chapter 12 the coach pushes the boys, and has a varsity player tackling the players. He does congratulate a couple of the boys after the last play in the chapter. His behavior suggests that he doesn’t really care but he wants to push them to do their best. The coach is constantly putting them down. He doesn’t accept you as a player unless he is calling them a son of a b****. He wants them to do their best and make their school look good. He doesn’t really have any good views about the students and seems like he could really care less about them.
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
I liked the first 12 chapters of the book. It’s really interesting and keeps me wondering. The last sentence of the 12th chapter keeps me interesting and wanting to know what his assignment is. It can be confusing in some parts but I still like it. Archie is a clever guy who is sly and devious always coming up with plans. He is always ahead of everyone. Jerry seems to be a shy guy who doesn’t really want to cause any trouble but he is confused on life and wants to know if there is more to it.
1) The first line in the book was "They killed him." It made me realize how intense the book was going to be. The author used it to attract the reader and to set the tone for the rest of the book. It was also kind of a rip-off because he meant metaphorically but I still like it.
2.) No. I do not care what people think of me and I do not hang around violent people. Now if we are talking about teachers then yeah. You always have to be on the good side of authorities including parents. They have control of you basically.
3.) I expect that, actually, especially after reading 1984. I would not feel as violated if they were not watching me all the time but just basic information like that, I kind of expect. Really, all you would have to do is pay forty dollars and you would have all of the information you need about a person due to the Freedom of Information Act.
4.) Jerry has been staring at him and the other homeless people. The man that comes over is offended that Jerry stares at them like zoo animals. The man also tells Jerry that he is letting life pass him by which is what "missing a lot in the world" means. He tells Jerry that he is young yet is living his life like a businessman would.
5.) Brother Leon is an administraitor and a very important person to The Vigils in the story. He comes to them because he needs help. He bought too many chocolates and he needs The Vigils to help sell the chocolate. He is also a teacher but does not respect his students. He insults them and orders them around.
6.) The Vigils are a violent organization headed by students. They are basically bullies that bounded together to create an organization-type group. No one speaks of them because even though they use violence to keep order, they keep order. The school does not approve but does nt recognize them and by not recognizing them, they allow them to keep going.
7.) He is muscled up by The Vigils. He knows what they would have done if he had said no. I would probaly comply, also. The Vigils have a large population and I would have no chance to stand up for myself. There would really be no point.
8.) Brother Leon is a corrupt teacher. He lets the students get to him so he insults them back. I have seen teahcers pick on students but it is usually out of love. It is always over something small and unfortunately there have been no fights between student and teacher. The rest of the class usually just sits there and laughs along or joins in on the assault against the student. I'm not sure that their hazing is out of love, though.
9.) Emile Janza is a brute. The Vigils use Emile to beat up other students. He is a strong, muscular brute. The only person that comes to mind when I think of the qualities of Emile Janza is Chris Brown. Chris Brown, just like Emile Janza is a thug with no regard for the life of others or Rhianna.
10.) Brother Eugene is at a conference along with all of the other brothers. They want to send a statement to the brothers but the only reason I can think of is that his room is held together by screws.
11.) Jerry's father is still depressed about his dead wife. He could try to talk to his father about the fond memories of his mother. My step-father and I never talk. We simply have nothing in common and through the years, we have developed resentment toward each other. I truly do not believe there is a way for us to "remedy the situation".
12.) In middle school, I had to sell candy bars for the baseball team. I did feel pressure because our team needed the money and I wanted the coaches to like me but i did not sell that many. I actually did not care. It was not that important. The Vigils are the pressure to sell in this novel. Who knows what they will do if they do not get what they want?
13.) The coach is a smart coach. He knows that freshman can never do anything with varsity but the only perk the freshman have is playing against the stars in tryouts. The coach is considerate but still very demanding and impatient. He is the epitome of high school football coaches.
14.) The Chocolate War, so far, has been one a complete surprise. Even though, I read the author's biography and how his works were controversial, I was still caught off guard by some of the questionable content. The book is also better than I expected. The only reason I chose this book was because I felt that the other book was too reminiscent of 1984 but I can still draw some comparisons between Big Brother and The Vigils. They are both too powerful and abuse their power. However, The Vigils seem more equipped for their role than Big Brother did. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the beginning to this novel and I look forward to reading the rest of it.
Taylor Reed
Robert Cormier began writing at a very young age in a private catholic school; this is where he wrote his first poem that a nun encouraged him to write. Even though Robert was a very poor boy growing in the depression he didn’t let that stop him. He graduated top of his class in high school and college. Cormier did not even know about his the first story he published. He was a freshman in college when he wrote a short story for his professor and she sent it in without him knowing it. He found out about this when the same professor handed him a seventy-five dollar check six months later and said it was going to be published.
Robert’s first job was a complete accident; he was looking for the telegram office one day but accidentally walked into the radio station. This is where he found his first job writing news briefs and advertisements. Some of his most famous novels are “The Chocolate War”, “Now and at the Hour”, and “I am the Cheese”. For some reason Robert set most of his books in his hometown. He was always very fond of it; he never lived more than a few miles from where he was born.
The short story “The Bully” is a very good example of how real life can be so much like your younger days but harder. He makes a very good comparison at the end of the story when he talks about the business people were just like those bullies, but instead of school uniforms they are wearing suits and ties. This also gives a good image of how bad school life can be for some kids. Even though bullies may seem like tough guys most of the time they are just wanting attention, because their home life is probably very rough.
When I was much younger mostly in elementary school I felt like I had it hard because I was made fun of a lot and picked on. It wasn’t as bad as the short story “The Bully” but it was upsetting. Verbal abuse was the main type of bullying I took but I just let it pass over my head. Because my mom always told me if you make it seem like it is upsetting you then they will keep on doing it. Bullying is a very horrible thing and I will admit that I have had times were I have made fun of people and I feel horrible for that.
1) The first sentence “They killed him” kind of surprised. When I first read it I tool a pause and was “wowed” in some sort. But then as I continued to read I figured out that the narrator was talking about football. I think that he put this sentence in there to basically throw the reader of guard.
2) Yes, I definitely feel that I need to stay on everyone’s good side. But there are only a few that I really need to and that would be my parents. When I think about it everything that I get comes from my parents so if they are mad at me then I don’t get anything.
3) Well if I found out that someone was keeping secrets about me I would be upset to a degree. If it was bad things, of course I would be angry and upset. But if it were nothing bad I probably wouldn’t care.
4) The man doesn’t like Jerry because Jerry is always at the bus stop looking at him. The man calls Jerry a “square boy” Jerry comes to find out that he means that Jerry really never does anything in life.
5) Brother Leon is the teacher. He is almost like a dictator in the way he rules the class.
6) If you think of the mafia that is sort of what the “Vigils” are, they pretty much run the school. What they do is give kids assignments to do, the assignments are pretty much pranks they do to teachers and kids. The reason that kids stay away from them is because they don’t want to do these things.
8) I have think that Brother Leon is a teacher that feels he needs to pick on kids, because maybe he was picked on by a teacher. I have never seen a teacher pick on a kid and I hope I never see it. Also I have never been picked on by a teacher maybe in a joking matter but never meaning it. The rest of the class basically laughed but I didn’t care.
9) I don’t know anyone who physically beats up kids but there are a few kids who put people down a lot and probably don’t even realize it. Emile Janza is a thug that the Vigils hired to do their “dirty work” as you could call it.
10) The reason that they picked on Brother Eugene is because they knew that he wouldn’t fight back. He was also one of the nicer teachers which really doesn’t make since why they would want to pick on him.
11) Jerry tries to talk to his father, but he always seems to be depressed. I think if he tried to do something with his dad like get him out of the house. I have never really felt awkward around my dad because we spend a lot of time together fishing and stuff.
12) The only time I have ever had to sell anything for school was in middle school and it was just a combination of things. There definitely wasn’t any pressure to sell because it was our chose to sell or not. The reason that people want to sell is because Brother Leon got the Vigils to threaten the other kids to sell.
13) The coach in chapter 12 seems to put the school and the students down. He makes fun of the students and disrespects them. He even does this some at the beginning of the book to Jerry.
14) This book to me is starting out good. There are a lot of different characters which can make it confusing at times but I think I can catch on. One thing that I like but at the same time do not like is that these things don’t really happen in schools especially a private catholic school. My favorite character so far would have to Archie; he seems to be almost the leader of the school. He is a very intelligent kid, not so much at school but he knows how to get things done the way he wants.
1) Born on January 17, 1925, Robert Cormier was one of eight children. He grew up during the Great Depression and suffered from constantly having to move homes. Robert’s schooling came from a private Catholic school, where he was inspired in sixth grade to write his first poem. Though Robert’s family was struggling, he strived in school and graduated high school and college as president of his class.
Continuing to write, Robert first earned money for his work while he was in college. His teacher secretly entered one of his short stories into a magazine, which later awarded Robert 75 bucks.
As many writers have done, Robert worked for multiple newspaper and reporting companies. With this, he earned many awards. Around 1960, Cormier’s father passed away; this triggered and all new writing era for the young man. He wrote a few novels during this time such as Now and At the Hour. They works lit up Robert’s fresh career.
Cormier’s most famous work is The chocolate War. The book was so controversial that it was banned in many cities, and parents and teachers felt the profane content was extremely inappropriate. The book was later made into a movie.
After publishing many more masterpieces, Robert died at the age 75. Cormier’s works were so controversial and lesson abundant that they are still used in English classrooms to this day. He did not let the Great Depression and his family’s welfare interfere with his strive to achieve. Nor did Robert like being taken for granted by his religious peers, and that his why his works are so amazing.
2) Bullying is becoming less physical these days and more mental. Nonetheless, its all still a game. The bully finds a weakness that contributes to all of their potential victims and then acquires a way to beat down on a person (body or mind) until there is basically nothing left of them.
Robert Cormier’s short story “The Bully” relates back to a time where cigarettes were all the rage, and “four eyes” was a horrible insult. The story begins with Robert being horribly frightened of the school bully, George. The bully and his sidekicks approached Robert one day while taking a lonely smoke. Though Cormier was undeniably terrified of the gang, he acted as if he could actually withstand a fight with George. Cormier stood there bluffing and oozing with confidence as the bully backed down.
The story then shoots to present day where he is talking to a few businessmen that could easily make or break the rest of his life. Cormier was remembering the bully incident because it related to the meeting. The businessmen were planning on doing much the same, but Robert knew confidence was his key to success.
3) Multiple years ago, when I still thought boys were gross and that fifth grade was the worst thing ever invented, I was dealing with a mild bully problem. My older cousin by three years suffered from what I like to call “I’m a spoiled brat and I never get in trouble, which makes me very immature, so I do what I want” syndrome. He was constantly picking on me; calling me names, embarrassing me, and he had this fascination with wedgies. Yeah, he was almost in high school, but still felt the need to pull a person’s under garments where they are not preferred to be.
My family visits my Grandmother’s house every Sunday. Now, when I say family, I don’t just mean three of four of us. There are a good thirty people in this small house every weekend. My mom’s best friend always comes also. One day she brought her son, who was a year older than me and easily became my first crush. It was late spring, early summer, so all the kids were outside playing while the parents gossiped inside.
Whoever the idiot was that put my older cousin in charge of us young kids while we played outside is still unknown to this day, but I haven’t lost rage. Well ‘Mr. I’m In Charge’ decided it was time for a game of soccer. But he didn’t want to play it in the backyard where the parents could still keep an eye on us; he wanted to play in the empty lot next door.
Of course we all agreed because his hefty figure was enough to scare us into doing what he said. My soon to be boyfriend was very athletic, so I was in intense competition with him. As the game came to an end, my cousin decided he was being too nice and had to squeeze in one act of abuse before we went back inside to maintain his reputation. As my crush and I walked towards the house, I suddenly felt a huge yank on my underwear. Yeah, he did it. He gave me the wedgie of my lifetime right there in front of everyone. No one laughed, everyone just sat and stared in relief that they weren’t the victims. I lay on the ground and closed my eyes wishing it to all go away.
As I slowly lifted my eyelids, and wiped away the tears, I saw my Mom walking towards me. Somebody had left for help! I had told my Mom many times in the past what was happening with my cousin on Sundays. She never believed it was as bad as what had just happened. She pulled me off the ground and we headed to the house. Though my underwear was now practically around my neck, I felt as wonderful as ever because I knew that was my last wedgie of my life.
1) “They murdered him.” is the very first line in “The Chocolate War.” The sentence instantly brought seriousness to the book and sparked my interests. I’m sure that’s exactly why Robert Cormier used such drama to begin with. It said his works are meant for teenagers. From my experience, teenagers are interested in pain that is inflicted upon other people, so that was a great introduction.
2) There are definitely a few people in my life that I feel I must watch what I say and do around them. They tend to be short-tempered and conniving. People like this act nice in front of you, but talk behind your back. The instance you tick them off, they can ruin you.
3) As we learned in the novel 1984, privacy should not be taken for granted, and it means a lot to me. If I found out someone was keeping secret information about me, I would feel very betrayed and as if my life were not my own. Privacy is not a privilege; it is a right. There is certain information that people do not want to be shared or known by someone else. If someone at my school was in possession of a notebook like Obie’s, I’m sure everyone in it would be raged.
4) The man at the bus stop shouted at Jerry multiple times that Jerry was missing a lot in the world. The man was saying that since Jerry’s life consists only of school and schoolwork, he is not seeing everything else the world offers. I have witnessed situations such as this with a few people in my school. The only thing they know is to succeed in school. Though that’s a great goal, they are missing out on the fun and beauty that their surroundings behold. That’s the message the man is trying to express to Jerry.
5) Brother Leon is a teacher at the school that Obie, Jerry, Archie and others attend. Though he is a small man who looks like his self-esteem level is grasping for life, he has a big attitude. Leon understands the way the mind works, thus feeding off of outsmarting his students. There is something mentioned a lot in the novel that symbolizes Brother Leon: his pointer. The cold, metal stick is used by Leon to further intimidate his pupils, allowing him to have complete control over them.
6) The Vigils is a group of students who ultimately keep everything under control in the school. Carter was said to be The Leader because of his muscles and ability to enforce things upon people, but everyone knew that Archie Costello, The Assigner, was really the head honcho. The teachers ignored The Vigils, which is how they were able to carry on with the group. Though their acts were mischief, the teachers knew the organization kept the school together. The Vigils chose students at random to preform daring tasks. The tasks were thought out and given to person because it fit them. The task had to be completed and there was no way out of it.
7) The Vigils were more like lawmakers rather than an organization. Once a task was assigned to a person, it was irrevocable, a command. Archie’s ability to think ahead of everyone else and Carter’s strength enforced what was said. Goober and all other victims had no way of escaping. If I were in Goober’s position, I would probably do exactly what he did. I am easily intimidated.
8) Brother Leon is an arrogant, shallow teacher who loves to toy with people. He finds himself to be smarter than what he really is, and makes up for his lack of size by expanding his cockiness. Brother Leon actually reminds me of a teacher I had last year. I won’t mention any names but he’s short, has a mustache, and likes to act like he can speak Spanish. He picked on me every single day in that class. Though I was his main target, he did like to hurt other students’ feelings also. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, the class acted differently. If he was being unreasonable, the class often grouped together in an effort to change his mind on something, or to make him feel as bad as he made us feel. But if what he was doing was directed towards only one person, the class sat silently and watched.
9) Emile Janza is the type of guy who gets what he wants by using his grimly appearance and scare tactics. He finds humor in annoying or ruining someone’s day, and is disappointed in himself when one of his performances doesn’t irritate somebody. I personally do not know anyone with Emile’s characteristics; I try to steer clear of those people.
10) Brother Eugene is a kind-hearted fellow who seems to be a bit of a pushover. He has a weak personality and that is why they chose to attack his room.
11) Though Jerry feels he can’t talk openly to his father, maybe he could write him. In the past I have faced issues with my parents and I haven’t felt comfortable talking to them about it. Whether it is I didn’t know what to say, or I felt like they didn’t listen, or weren’t getting the message at hand, speaking openly just didn’t seem to be the answer. I soon found a solution though, I wrote letters to my parents expressing certain feelings and problems in my life. I felt it efficiently explained to them how I was feeling, and the situation was better taken care of.
12) I have participated in many fundraisers. From chocolates, to candles, to raffle tickets, I’ve worked hard to earn my money for each. My motivation was to sell more than most people. I didn’t want to be the one who sold the least amount of candy or Avon, so I pushed to sell the most. In the novel, the students are encouraged to sell all of their chocolate because the school is counting on them. Brother Leon proclaimed that in the past, the amount of chocolate that had to be sold was an easy number to reach, so the rise in amount should be insignificant.
13) The coach in chapter twelve uses the “tough guy” approach to push his players. He treats them degradingly and calls them names. But by the way he treats them, the players feel honored and a part of the team. Personally, I think the coach feels that the students at Trinity are easily manipulated and just want to feel involved in something. With this information, he can treat them however he wants.
14) Honestly, I thought this book was going to be another thing I did because I had to and for that reason only. But these twelve chapters have really surprised me. I often find myself picking up the book to read in my leisure time, which I never did with 1984. My favorite character is definitely Archie. His ability to think ahead of everyone else is something I really envy. Also, I think there are many kids at my school who have lost a family member and have a rough home-life. Jerry’s character is a great symbol of these kids who just want to feel involved in something. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the book!
1. Robert Cormier was born in 1925 to a family that was greatly affected by the depression. Robert, his parents, and seven other siblings moved around a lot because they couldn’t afford to stay in one place; however, they never moved very far from the first house. Robert grew to despise the Catholic church because of an incident he had when he attended a private Catholic school. His house was on fire with his family at home, but he wasn’t aloud to leave until he read a poem to the class. His book The Chocolate War talks down about the church, which probably had something to do with the fire.
3. In the short story, The Bully, a man recalls a time at school when he was being bullied. He knew that the bullies would be all talk first, trying to get fired up before they beat him. Even though he knew his beating could get worse if he stood up to them, he took a chance and threatened them back. Thankfully for George, the bullies were intimidated from him standing up to them, and walked away. I think bullying is just stupid. Bullies are all insecure people looking for power and attention. I don’t feel like it’s as big as a problem as it was years ago.
4. There are very few times in my life that I would label as being bullied. One of those times was in seventh grade. I got along with most people my age, but it's hard to avoid middle school drama. I absolutely did not like an ex-girlfriend of my boyfriend (now ex). Maybe we could have got along, but of course she was jealous of me, so she resulted to "bullying me." She always called me names and started rumors on Myspace, nothing big but just stupid little things to annoy me. I should have just ignored her, but of course I fought right back and stooped to her level of name-calling nonsense. At one point we almost did get in a fight because my friends took my side and her friends took her side so everybody hated everybody and wanted to do something about it. We planned to meet in town to fight, but my friends mom found out and wouldn't let us go. Finally, I just started ignoring her and we've never said anything to each other since.
1. Reading the first sentence, I thought that someone had actually been killed. Then I read the next few paragraphs and realized it was an exaggeration. The author probably used it to set the mood. It made me feel sorry for the kid.
2. I do feel like I have to stay on the good side of my mom. I wish I could be honest with her and tell her about everything in my life so she could help me. But my mom has trust issues already and I know if I upset her it would make it worse.
3. First I wonder what they did know about me. I would feel violated, too. I like to keep things to myself, so if someone took away that privacy, I'd get pretty angry.
4. After scolding him for staring at him everyday, the man at the bus stop was telling him that his life was too routine already. He was wasting his time going to school and doing homework. He needed to go out and experience life while he was still young.
5. Brother Leon is the Assistant headmaster at Trinity. Archie said that on the outside, he seems like a vulnerable pushover. In the classroom, he is actually cold, sarcastic, and demands presence.
6. The Vigils was like an organization, or gang, at Trinity. They were basically in charge and “kept things under control.” No one spoke of them because they would have to admit that they existed, so instead, they ignored them completely.
7. Goober had to do the assignment because he was afraid of standing up to the Vigils. No one refused them, you just did as you were told. If I was in that situation, I probably would have said I would do it, and then not do it.
8. Leon is a very intimidating teacher. He uses fear to control the students and teach them life lessons. I have been in a situation similar to this where a teacher picked on a student for sleeping in class. The rest of the student just laughed because they weren’t being brutally mean. But a teacher has never really picked me on.
9. I have never met anyone completely like Emile, but I had a friend in middle school that Emile reminds me of. He was a troublemaker and loved to put people on the spot. Everyone still stood up to him, but he fought right back.
10. The Vigils gave Goober the assignment of loosening all of the screws in Brother Eugene's classroom, causing it all to fall apart the next day in class. The Vigils did this to show how much power they have at the school. Brother Eugene is considered to be weak and vulnerable, as more people are afraid of Brother Leon.
11. If Jerry wants to talk to his father, he should find something they both find interesting to start off with. Then once they feel more comfortable talking to each other, they will have a closer relationship and be able to talk about deeper things. I feel like this all the time with my mom. Every once in a while we'll have a good conversation, but usually it's just stories about our day. If I just told her that I didn't feel I could talk to her about everything, then maybe she would listen more.
12. I've had to sell all kinds of things for school fundraisers. The only time I really felt pressure for selling them though was in Sixth grade. At the school I used to go to, we had sixth grade camp. Before we could go, we had to sell a certain amount of candy to pay for it. Everyone talked about how fun it was, so everyone worked hard to make sure they sold enough to go. The kids are pressured to sell in the novel by the fear of losing their school.
13. In chapter 12, the coach shows that he cares for the students. He doesn't act like it, "the coach lumbered toward them, still scowling. But then he never smiled." But the coach is still proud of the boys and appreciates them.
14. At first, I thought this book was going to be extremely boring because I'm not really interested in books about gangs and bullies. But this book isn't like that at all. So far it's one of those books that is hard to put down. It switches between characters from chapter to chapter, which is confusing at times, but not too hard to catch on to because the characters are so different. When I think of students in a Catholic school, the characters on this book are deffinitely not what I would think of. Even the teachers are not what someone would expect. But I think this makes the book less predictable and more exciting.
The Chocolate War
Questions 1
1) Robert Cormier grew up in Leominster, MA. He was born on January 17.192. Cormier attended a catholic school while growing up. I believe that this was his inspiration for The Chocolate War.
One instance in particular, he could see his house from the window of his classroom of this school. His house was burning down and he asked to leave the class to check on his family members. The sister did not allow him to until he completed his assignment. I believe this person gave him the inspiration for Brother Leon and his authoritarian rule on the classroom. Also, Cormier’s son attended a Catholic school where they had to sell chocolates. He refused to sell them. This was probably his inspiration for Jerry Renault not selling chocolates.
Events mentioned in the biography were important for Cormier’s career as an author. I never realized that nearly all of the events in The Chocolate War were related to Cormier’s life. Every event in Cormier’s life was significant for the composition of The Chocolate War
3) The story, “The Bully,” discusses the narrator and a group of four bullies at his school. He describes how the bullies dictate the school and always fight and beat up other students.
One day while the narrator is outside the bullies confront him. They taunt him and tease him before they fight him. The narrator ends up admitting that they can in fact beat him, and the bullies do not fight him. This shows how if you stand up and confront your enemies, you can come out on top.
In the conclusion, the narrator is at a business meeting many years later. He is nervous about the meeting and recollects about this incident. This makes him able to do the meeting with no worries.
This story is a great one for many kids to read. It teaches them to stand up to their fears and enemies because they will always come out on top. Also, confronting your problems will help you many years down the road.
4) Many times when I was younger, I was teased and verbally abused by a class bully. Everyday I dreaded the fact of going to school because of this.
One day after being harassed, it got to my head and made me feel down. My mother noticed and asked me what was wrong. I explained and then she told me that I should not put up with these kinds of things. The next day that I was teased, I started to rebut the bully. Once I did this a few times, I was no longer made fun of.
Bullying is a terrible thing that can greatly affect the minds of many kids. I have been guilty of bullying myself, only to come back and fill me full of regret. Many kids do not realize what they’re doing when the bully and what kind of affect it can have on a person. This story captures that and relays a great message to the reader.
1) “They killed him.” Cormier chose this sentence as an element of foreshadowing. They’re playing football in this setting, which is also symbolic to the plot of the story. In the story they single out Jerry Renault, which is also the point of football, to single out one person and tackle them. This sentence captures how The Vigils will basically kill Renault.
2) I do not feel that I do. Most people would answer yes to this question, but I have felt that I have had to stay on someone’s good side before but I have learned from that mistake. If you try your best to stay on someone’s good side, you end up not being whom you want to in life. That’s why I try to be who I want to be, and not live in fear of someone else.
3) Obie’s notebook consists of nearly everyone’s personal information in Trinity. This notebook gives The Vigils information on giving kids assignments. This notebook would anger me because groups like The Vigils do not have the right to hold my information like this. This shows the reader how powerful The Vigils truly are.
4) This man despises Jerry because everyday Jerry stands at the bus stop and stares at them. He tells Jerry he is missing a lot of the world because Jerry is always there with his tie on, going home, doing homework, then back to school again. He is suggesting that Jerry’s life is too monotonous and should do more.
5) Brother Leon is the class’ teacher. He has an authoritarian rule on the classroom. He always likes to have control over the class. He also sometimes singles out students to see if they will stand up against his terror.
6) The Vigils are basically the mob of the school. They give kids assignments, such as Room Nineteen where they tell The Goober that he has to unscrew every screw in that room. The next day, the class falls apart when everyone enters. This leaves the teacher in panic. The assignments keep the school on their toes. Also, the reason everyone ignores them is because they do not exist. They are unofficial.
7) The Goober has to comply because he is afraid of what will be done to him. The Vigils are so influential that he has no other option. I would comply with the assignment because I would be afraid of what The Vigils would do to me.
8) Brother Leon is a teacher who has a very strict rule on his class. He picks on students, only to show his authority. No, a teacher has never picked me on but I have witnessed it plenty times. The class only sets and watches.
9) Yes, there are many people with Emile’s characteristics. They are much bigger and stronger than everyone and they target students and peers who are smaller than them. They have no sympathy for students they harass and can sometimes be very cruel to them.
10) The Vigils chose to pick on Brother Eugene because he is an easy target. This is ideal for the assignment, since The Goober has to carry it out. He is an older man who is a brother of the school, which also makes him an enemy.
11) Jerry could fix this situation by actually making an attempt to talk to his father. He always sees his father in his cycle of life (work, cook, sleep, etc). I believe if Jerry actually tried to talk to his father and discuss the death of his mother, his father would open up.
12) I have had to sell many things, such as t-shirts, magazines, etc, for school and other activities. I have felt more motivated to sell them by the other activities rather than the school. The activities that I sell things like t-shirts for are more motivational to sell is because I enjoy those activities and sell them for a purpose (such as trips). Brother Leon forces the sale on the kids because it raises money for the school, of course he claims for school spirit.
13) The coach in chapter 12 plays his star players against his younger, new athletes. This shows how much he expects from the students. Also it is a very good experience for them. If they can play, and do well, against their older peers, they will have a successful high school career.
14) The first 12 chapters of The Chocolate War are great. It really captures many different feelings and perspectives around a group of teens in a high school setting. This makes the intro to the book very attention grabbing for teens because they see and are a part of this behavior daily.
Perhaps my favorite thing about the novel, so far, is The Vigils. Every high school has a group of students, although maybe not as radical as The Vigils, who run things. I love their assignments. The assignments are so simple, yet ingenious because they do simple things, like Room Nineteen, and leave such an impact on a person or persons.
Pre Reading Questions
1. It seems that Robert Cormier was born to be a writer. He was always encouraged to write, starting at a young age. Cormier learned to write about many of his experiences. Growing up in the depression, he learned a lot. I think he got the chocolate war, from his experiences at his own school. Cormier had some bitter feelings in his writing. He probably encountered bullies in his schooling, influencing his writing. Cormier had a descent home life. His mother encouraged him, which helped him a lot. His bad experiences affected his writings a lot. Cormier is a great author with many famous pieces.
3. The bully is a great piece of work. It tells about the author’s experience with a student at school. The story uses great description. He does a great job telling about the bully. The author makes the bully seem like a savage. He does this by describing his appearance. He also does it saying his language, saying things like “Won’t ya stay and fight?” This gives a mental picture of the kid. This piece is good because it is easy to relate to. Most people have been bullied at least once. This connection makes the story more interesting to the reader.
4. I can recall only one time I’ve been bullied. It was in the fourth grade. There was some big jerk that was in fifth grade, but was supposed to be in sixth grade, so he was much bigger than me. This kid was very mean but had never given me any trouble. This day, and I don’t remember why, he just started shoving me. I was little, but wouldn’t be bullied. I shoved him right back. I think the bully was shocked. Before he could act again a teacher had stopped us. The kid probably won the little scrap but he never picked on me again.
Reading Questions
1. . The first sentence of the book is “they murdered him.” This sentence could be interpreted in many different ways. My opinion is that it is describing not only his physical being, but his mentality also. This is a very powerful telling that they not only beat him physically during practice, but broke him down mentally. As the first chapter goes on we learn that they struggle to break jerry’s will, because he is so headstrong.
2. I do not necessarily feel that I have to stay on anyone’s good side, but I know the kind of person who could make people feel this way. I have encountered people who act tough to make people treat them right. I personally just don’t interact with these people. I think this avoids a lot of conflict.
3. I would be bothered a lot if people were keeping private information about me. My personal information is no one else’s business. I don’t believe that I would be bothered as much by it as some people would. The reason for this is that I don’t worry as much about what others think of me as most people do. I do however, care to an extent, so it would still make me upset.
4. The man claims that Jerry is living an unhappy lifestyle. He says that Jerry is caught in a routine and “middle aged at fourteen”. He says that jerry is “missing a lot of the world”. What the man means by this is that Jerry is focusing on school and working too much, instead of just having fun.
5. Brother Leon is a teacher. He is a very cruel and mean man. Leon picks on the students of his class. Leon can get away with this simply because of his superiority to the students.
6. The Vigils are a big group of trouble makers. There leader is Archie. The group forces students to carry out cruel assignments. They make them do things such as vandalize school property, which was Goober’s assignment.
7. Goober cannot act against the Vigils. They are too large and powerful. Goober does not want to face the consequences of betraying them. It would be much easier to betray the school.
8. Brother Leon uses his power to torture students. I have never had a teacher like this. I have been called out by teachers, but I usually deserve it. I honestly don’t think any of my peers would speak up if that situation did happen.
9. Emile acts like a thug. He tries to intimidate people and looks for trouble. I know many people like this. They may be feared or avoided by people, but they usually aren’t well like.
10. There is no particular reason for picking on Eugene. The Vigils are just relentless. They don’t care about others. They vandalize his room and when he comes in its like “somebody had dropped the bomb”.
11. Jerry should simply sit his father down and say how he feels. His father would probably relate. I do not have this problem. I have a good relationship with my father.
12. I had to sell t shirts for basketball this year. I felt pressured because if I didn’t sell 10, I had to run, or pay money. The pressure to sell in this novel is provided by the Vigils. They don’t want to sell, but do because it is honorable to be asked for help.
13. The coach is happy with Jerry’s effort. Jerry is persistent. He wishes other students would be like that. This tells a lot about the coach.
14. I like this book and think it is very interesting. I like how it seems fairly modernized and easy to connect to. The book is moderately easy to read and comprehend. This can lead to more advance thoughts on the book, and not just a bunch of time trying to understand it. I really like the topic of the book. Every high school student likes to read about high school. The mischief in the book also keeps me interested. The author does a good job leading the author on. I am actually wondering what Jerry will have to do for the Vigils. I think I will enjoy this book more than I would Fahrenheit 451.
The Chocolate War
Chapters 1-13
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
-“They murdered him”--it brings me to a entirely dramatic state of mind from the very beginning of the book, which I believe is why Robert Cormier used it.
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
-No; I used to, because you feel you have to stay on the good side of those above you on the social climb, because they’re the only visible route up.
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (like Obie’s notebook)
-In reference to something like Obie’s notebook, I would feel more confused and exposed than betrayed. Everyone has secrets, but that’s beyond creepy.
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
-He questions Jerry about the staring. He means Jerry has slipped into a daily routine of missing out on what really matters and focusing on the unimportant things.
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
-Brother Leon is a professor at the school. He has school renowned and specializes in torturing the kids and becoming as cruel and deceiving as possible. A lot of book critiques compare him to Archie the villain of the story because of the perspective in which they both bully Jerry.
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
-They’re a group of bullies that “keep the school straight” with the immunity and blessing of Brother Leon.
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
-Because it is given by the vigils and because of the black box.
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
-Brother Leon is very cruel and domineering. Yes. Yes, they sat in silence.
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
-Yes, they’re a hypocritical, viscous beast that is so insecure with their selves that they feel the need to lower the rest of the world down to their level.
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
-Because he’s the weakest link.
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
-He could quickly solve the problem by opening up to his father. I constantly feel the same way.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
-A number of things including calendars, candy…etc. Yes. A combination of peer pressure, bullying, and teacher pressure.
13. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
-Having read the first twelve chapters of the book I can honestly say the book has left a dramatic imprint on me. However juvenile the drama may be at first, it increases as you continue into the depth of the book.
Cormier begins the dramatic entrance from the title The Chocolate War, to the beginning sentence “They murdered him” all the way to the various confrontations of “The Vigils”, and the humiliation of Jerry by his professor Brother Leon.
The number of analogies and various parallelism instances within the characters in the book make for a literarily packed novel.
The Chocolate War
Pre-reading questions
1. Read a biography of Robert Cormier. Write a summary of no less than 100 words describing him and the things you learned about him from his biography.
-Alive on January 17, 1925, and dead on November 2, 2000,both controversial and revolutionary young adult novelist, Robert Cormier, is known to be either extremely related to teens’ train of thought or entirely way too graphic, but still remains a legend as one of the most prestige authors we still love and honor today.
Robert Cormier attended and participated in a Catholic school his entire elementary and high school career which, however tragic they may have seemed at the time, forced him through experiences that built some of the vital, fundamentals to his writing style.
From the beginning of Cormier’s career when he authored a number of short stories and adult novels to the times in his later life when he toned down to young adults and teens, Robert Cormier has become one of the greatest controversial yet grabbing novelist of his time and ours.
3. Write a 100-word response to the story in which you consider the story and bullying in general.
-The Bully, short story by Graham Pockett, is about a recollection of a grown, middle-aged man’s past elementary experiences with the school bully, and his triumph over them and it’s parallelism to his present situation where all the details have changed, but the situation seems to be entirely unaltered.
The term “bullying” refers simply to the act being domineering and controlling. In the short story The Bully Graham Pockett reveals both sides of being bullied: the obvious beast taking your lunch money on your way to school in the sixth grade and the more subtle bully in the real world.
4. Write a 100-word response describing a situation in which you have felt bullied and how you dealt with it.
-As a young girl raised in a Free Will Baptist church I was always taught to remain in the shadows and be the “silent witness”. When my mother and step father went through a graphic divorce my step father’s brother, as a deacon of the church, spread nasty rumors to the other deacons and the pastor about me and my mother. Rumors that we had forced him out of the house and that my mother had had a long term affair on him, none of which was true. The pastor and deacons held a meeting in honor of the situation and later confronted the two of us with a proposition. They proposed mom could either get up in front of the church and apologize (for something that never happened) or remove her name from the church member book.
This was the first time my family had been targeted. Like a million darts sharply stabbing the back of my neck or the feeling of waking up to a bucket of stunningly, ice cold water poured onto your face, I snapped into a state of over-protectiveness and control. After mom had chosen to remove her name from the church member book I caught a ride to the next meeting. I barged in, in the middle of the conference and stood up in front of them all and gave a 15 minute speech about the hypocrisy and un-fairness of their judgments and life-styles. When I was done I said “It’s not my place to judge you, but it’s not your’s to judge me either.” And I walked out. My mom to this day doesn’t know, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
The Chocolate War Pre-Reading Questions
1) Read a biography of Robert Cormier. Write a summary of no less than 100 words describing him and the things you learned about him from his biography.
Answer:
Robert Cormier was a great author. He was born on January 17, 1925 in Leominster, MA to his parents Lucien Joseph and Irma Margaret. He had a hard childhood because he grew up in the depression. His family always moved around a lot but stayed in the same neighborhood. He went to school at St. Cecilia’s Parochial School. This school shaped his life for him. In the eight grade he watched his house burn from the classroom window. The sister wouldn’t let him go check on his family until he recited on the rosary. The incident made hi have bitter feelings for years. When he grew up he too moved around the same neighborhood he grew up in. He married his wife in1948. He wrote his first book Now and At the Hour in 1960. He then wrote the novel The Chocolate War in 1974. It showed us the dark side to the Catholic Church inspired by the fire from his childhood. With this novel Cormier’s novels were always tied with controversy. Many states banded the book because of its content. He also wrote another novel called I Am the Cheese, which was about a boy’s father who testified against organized crime figures, but it still caused the family harm. He got the idea from the witness relocation program. He received many awards for his works. On November 2, 2000 Cormier died of lung cancer at the age of 75. He was a great author. He never compromised what he thought true just to please his readers.
3) Answer:
The Bully was a great story. Its what every little person in high school wants to do to his or her bully. I think he handled the situation with George well. He didn’t get hurt or had to use violence, he just undermined his intelligence with some quick thinking of his own. That’s how our moms always tell us how to handle bullies, just talk them down and they’ll leave you alone. I think bullying is wrong. The way I feel bullies should be taken care of is from everyone else to treat them the same way. That would show them how it feels to be hurt.
4) Answer:
When I was eight we were on the bus and this girl used to pick on me every day. It was never anything physical just mean names and stealing my things but it still bothered me. Finally it did get physical I was getting off the bus and she shoved me down the stairs. When that happened I was threw with being bullied. My older sister saw what she was doing and politely asked her to stop. She shoved me again. I don’t recommend the way we solved this because I should have went to a teacher instead. My sister punched her in the face and broke her nose. The girl started poring the blood and ran off. My sister didn’t get into trouble but to this very day that girl has never said one me thing to me ever again.
Reading Questions Part 1:
Chapters 1-13
1 What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it?
Answer:
The first sentence had a very strong effect on me. When I began reading I thought that they actually killed someone. Then when you read on in the novel you realize that they are talking about football. The author used this sentence to grab the attention of the reader as so as they open his book. With a sentence like that to start the novel it makes you want to keep reading to figure out what’s going on.
2) Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
Answer:
Yes I do feel that I have to stay on the good side of my stepfather. I have to stay on the good side of him because he has a strong temper. If you don’t stay on the good side of him he will go off. He does have a good side though. He’s just really hard to get along with.
3) What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (Like Obie’s notebook)
Answer:
I would be furious. I would feel like they were invading my privacy. That would make anyone mad. I would be telling the people off. I would also make them get rid of the information.
4) Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
Answer:
He is contemptuous of Jerry because of Jerry always staring at the group of people at the buss stop. He said that Jerry was missing a lot in the world because of his strict routine. He tells him that he is not seeing important things because of always doing the same thing. He called him a square boy. He also tells Jerry that he was already middle aged at 14 and better not miss that bus.
5) Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
Answer:
Brother Leon was a teacher at the school. He was in charge of the annual chocolate sale. He was next in line to be the headmaster. He had a thin high venomous voice. He would prey on the weak people in his classroom.
6) Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
Answer:
The Vigils are a gang that is in the Trinity High School. People ignore the gang so that they don’t have to deal with them. Even the teachers, if they say something about the gang they would destroy their classroom. If the kids said anything about the vigils they would be beaten up. Everyone just sort of kept the gang quiet.
7) Why does the Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Answer:
The goober had to comply with his assignment because everybody does what The Vigils say. The gang practically runs the school. I wouldn’t have done the assignment. I would have stood up for myself. I would have been the first not to comply with the assignment.
8) What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Answer:
Brother Leon is a mean teacher. He is always trying to find someone to pick on in class. I have seen a teacher pick on a student before. I have never picked on a teacher. The rest of the class just sat there in aw at what the teacher did to the student.
9) Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
I know a lot of people with Emile’s characteristics. My cousin Chris is one of them. He will go around and when people weren’t looking he would take their stuff. He would then tease you with it and you would never get your stuff back unless you told an adult. Then he’d give it back but call you some kind of name first.
10) Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
Answer:
They picked brother Eugene because he was an easy target. Archie even stood there and watched the whole thing. The Vigils were mentioned for doing it but were never punished. Brother Leon blamed Archie the most because of the chocolate sale. He thought that he did it to ruin the chocolate sale.
11) Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Answer:
Jerry could remedy the situation by trying to set down and talk to him. I do feel the same way with my stepfather. I don’t know how I would remedy the situation. I try to talk to him. I also want to hang out with him more.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
Answer:
I have had to sell candy for fundraisers. I did feel pressured to sell. The money we raised was part of our trip. It was very stressful. Brother Leon drives the pressure to sell in the novel.
13. Describe the coach in chapter. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
Answer:
The coach finally accepted Jerry as a player on his team. Even after he made the beautiful pass Jerry still was unsure of himself. The coach used foul language to dhow his appreciation. It was a very weird way to show it. Jerry really needed the confidence bust.
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
This is a great book so far. It relates to the kids of our school to a point. It also shows us the point of view of a school ran by a gang. I really like this book. It shows us how other kids deal with high school. I did fell it was odd that they never did anything about the Vigils. That was a little crazy. I would have to say my favorite character would be Archie. He is the leader of the Vigils and has the bad boy aspect to him. He’s the type of guy every girl wants but not one of them could handle him.
1) Robert Cormier started writing at the Catholic school he attended. A nun encouraged him to write after reading one of his poems. One day, while at the same school, he saw that his family’s home was on fire from the classroom window. The nun would not let him leave to check on his family, which developed his anger toward the church. This was an important to his writings because in The Chocolate War, he shows the dark of the Catholic Church. Cormier’s writings have been controversial. His use of profanity and sexuality has enraged some communities enough to ban them from being taught at the local schools. Cormier died at the age of 75 due to lung cancer.
2) “The Bully” is about an apparent wimp, named Keith, who is being bullied by a much larger and stronger, George. George and his cronies are picking on Keith. The fog around them had made it impossible for people who might have helped Keith. Keith knows what looms ahead. He is about to be beaten by George and possibly his four cronies would join in. Keith comes up with a plan that even he does not think will work. He tells George, “I know you can beat me, don't doubt it at all. But George, just remember one thing. When I hit the ground, so too will your front teeth. I'll get one punch in – you know I will – and that punch will be directed right for your front teeth. Is beating me up worth losing your front teeth?” George then backs down and walks off. The story is about how bullies are really just cowards and that standing up to them is the exact opposite of what they want. They will most likely back down just like George.
3) Just a few moments ago, the student sitting next to me was bullying me. He was calling me names like “douche-bag” and saying that I was “so stupid.” He also implied that my mother was a prostitute. He then attempted to give me a purple nurple. I said, “Looka here, boy. If you do not stop with the harassment then I am just going to have to kick your spleen in.” After that the bully backed off because he is a great big coward. Although, he pressed my space bar and called me “so stupid” again, you could tell that he was scared by the fear in his eyes. By the end of class, he apologized.
1. Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 1925, in Leominster, MA. He was one of eight children, and his father was a factory worker. Cormier attended a private catholic school, St. Cecilia’s Parochial School, and during this time was when he first considered being a writer. He then went on to attend Leominster High School, and then Fitchburg State College. Cormier’s first job was at a radio office, writing news briefs and advertisements. He then went on to marry Constance Senay in 1948, and together they had 4 children. His other jobs included working as a reporter for the Telegram and Gazette, the Fitchburg Sentinel, and then he started writing a human-interest column, which won the K. R. Thomson Newspaper Award for best column. Cormier’s first novel, Now and At the Hour, was published in 1960, and then he also wrote two more adult novels before he was known as a young adult author. In 1974, The Chocolate War was published, and the book caused great controversy in schools. Not only did this book, but also the next novel he wrote, I Am The Cheese. Cormier received many awards for his books and short stories, and then on November 2, 2000, he died of lung cancer, though his legacy still lives on through his books.
3. “The Bully” is a story about a teen that is standing outside of his school when he suddenly becomes surrounded by a group of bullies, very similar to The Vigils. They are similar but the group in this story is a lot more violent instead of just giving out assignments. The story continues by the group about to beat up the teen but he stands up to them by saying he is sure that they can win a fight. This instance occurs to him later in life at a business meeting to give him confidence. This story shows teens how standing up to your fears can help you overall in life.
4. I have been bullied with more than one instance, like all other teens, but one stands out more than any other. During my first year on the high school dance team, I constantly was verbally harassed by the older dancers on the team. I was constantly made aware of my inability to do certain parts in one dance. I took these derogatory comments and used them as inspiration to work harder at my dance. I now look back at this situation and work hard at all costs to avoid any verbal harassing I may encounter.
Reading Questions Part 1
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (Answer this question again after reading the whole book.)
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
Yes, I feel that I have to stay on the good sides of others, and some people in particular. These people would include my parents, my teachers and my coach. Sometimes you have to do something that you don’t think is right or don’t agree with, but if you don’t go along with what they want you to do, you end up being punished or they will start picking on you.
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (Like Obie’s notebook)
I would feel violated if I found out that someone was keeping tabs on me like how Obie had tabs on each and everybody in the school of Trinity. Knowing that someone knew personal things about me would also creep me out also. I probably wouldn’t do anything though, because I wouldn’t really know how to handle the situation.
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
The guy at the bus stop is disapproving of Jerry, because Jerry is always staring at them from a distance. The guy is someone who just lives life, not following any rules, but how he wants to. When he tells Jerry this statement, he is saying that by doing the same thing as everybody else, and following their rules, he is going to miss a lot in the world.
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
Brother Leon is a teacher at the school of Trinity, who teaches math. He is not a caring teacher, but one who picks on students. Brother Leon is the one who asks the Vigils for help, because he has gotten himself into so much trouble. He is manipulative and bullies the students that he has in class. He is over the chocolate sale, and he likes to have power, or control.
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
The Vigils are kind of like a secret society in the school of Trinity. It’s not a school recognized organization, but a hidden group that runs the school. Carter is the president, but Archie, the manipulator is the one who gives out the assignments; the main reason for the Vigils. They give assignments to see if the kids can handle the pressure of what they have to do, and if they can, they are accepted into that group.
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Goober has to comply with the assignment, because really, there is nothing else for him to do. If Goober would’ve refused to do the assignment that Archie had picked for him, the Vigils could’ve made Goober’s life a living hell. He wouldn’t have been accepted in the school and with the Vigils, which is the last thing you want to happen when you have a group that “runs” the school like that. I would’ve just went along with the Vigils and with the assignment, knowing there was nothing I could do to go against them and their influence over everyone.
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Brother Leon is the kind of teacher who manipulates the students into doing what he wants them to do, and picks on them, not really caring for them. Yes, I have seen a teacher pick on a student. This usually happens when the teacher will call out their name and then make fun of them or make them feel stupid if they get the answer wrong. I haven’t ever been picked on by a teacher.
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
No, honestly I don’t know anyone who has those characteristics. That might just be me though, and there might be people in other schools that have someone like Emile to deal with. These characteristics that are seen in Emile and other bullies are aggressiveness, assertiveness, and destructiveness. The bullies like this don’t care what they do, they just want to hurt somebody; they are looking for trouble.
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
They, mostly Archie, chose to pick on Brother Eugene because they knew he couldn’t handle the stress that one event could cause him. They wanted to see him suffer, and they knew that they wouldn’t get in trouble for doing that, because he wasn’t a teacher like Brother Leon.
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
If Jerry attempted to talk to his father about his mother’s death I think it would make the two be able to talk. I do not feel this way because I have many people of whom I can confide in.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
Yes, I have had to sell many things for school fundraisers. Usually the pressure to sell is not very great though, like it is in this novel. Brother Leon is the one who is pressuring them all to sell the chocolates in the novel, because if they don’t, they will get on Bother Leon’s bad side.
13. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
In chapter 12, the coach makes the younger students play against the older more experienced team. This is symbolic towards how teachers and other students teach each other at Trinity.
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
The first two chapters of the book cover a variety of different moments throughout a school called Trinity. Each chapter is narrated by a person different from the previous one. This allows Cormier to capture many different feelings from person to person. Also, it allows him to show cause and effect. For example, during Archie’s assignment for Renault many things are happening between the two character’s self. The switch between telling stories of different characters shows the reader each of the person’s feelings about the events occurring in the novel.
Since I attend a high school everyday and see these things happening on an average day, it makes it one of the easiest novels to relate to for me and any other high school student.
Pre-Reading Questions
1.) Robert Cormier was a controversial and award winning author. He grew up in a small town with his 7 brothers and sisters. His desire to write began in sixth grade when a nun at the catholic school he attended asked him to write a poem. From there his mothers encouragement and his teacher, who sent a copy of one of his stories to a magazine, helped to launch his career. He wrote articles and columns for a handful of different newspapers, and even had a stint of writing advertisements for a radio show.
His novels were inspired by the event s that happened around him. When his father died he wrote Now and At the Hour. The Chocolate war was written when his son didn’t want to sell chocolate bars for the catholic school he went to. A large part of his inspiration for this story is believed to come from his childhood experience at a catholic school, when they wouldn’t let him check on his families burning house. He wrote I Am Cheese when he read about the witness relocation program. The Chocolate War and I Am Cheese both sparked controversies due to their profanity and sexual content.
2.) “The Bully” was a classic David and Goliath story. The little guy stood up to the bully and won. The story teaches that you should always stand up to your “Goliath”. Keith, the underdog, faced his bully, even though he expected to get beat up, he walked away victorious. At the end of the story, Keith is in a meeting with his future on the line. And he thinks back to the time when he beat George by just doing the unexpected thing, which is fighting back.
3.) I have never been bullied at school. I’ve always gone to schools where everyone likes each other for the most part or tolerates them anyway. I do feel occasionally bullied when I go to my dads house. My step brother is pretty nice when he doesn’t feel the need to show off. But as soon as someone comes to visit he automatically starts pointing out anything and everything about me that he knows will make me mad. When he does this I usually just change the subject to one of the embarrassing things he has done that I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone and he turns dead silent.
Chocolate War reading Questions Part 1:
1. The first sentence set the mood for the rest of the book. When I first read it I wasn’t sure if someone actually died or if it was a figure of speech. Either way it foreshadows that bad things are sure to happen in the book.
2. I really don’t think I have to stay on anyone’s good side except my moms. Because if I do anything wrong I’ll have to hear about it everyday until she gets Alzheimer’s.
3. I would be a little freaked out if I found out someone was keeping close tabs on my personal life. I wouldn’t very happy with that person not matter what their excuse was. I can imagine that I would be paranoid for a while after I found out too.
4. The man at the bus stop is angry at Jerry because he stares at them everyday, just watching; treating them like a circus side-show. This makes the man think that Jerry is looking down on them, like he is better. He tells Jerry that he is missing a lot in the world because Jerry has the appearance of a sheltered person. With prep-school attire and over-scheduled dull lifestyle.
5. Brother Leon was assistant headmaster and algebra teacher at Trinity High school. He is manipulative and enjoys watching his students squirm under his overly watchful eye. He plays mind games with his students as a kind of test to single out the weak ones.
6. The vigils are a group, like a juvenile mafia, that runs Trinity High school. The book says that, “Without the Vigils, the school would have been torn apart like other schools had been.” The school chooses to ignore the existence of the Vigils because everyone knows that they are responsible for the survival of the school.
7. Goober has to do the assignment because it was given to him by the vigils, and according to the book, “The law of the Vigils was final”. I would not want to do the assignment, but the peer pressure forced on Goober made it seem like he had no choice. I like to think of myself as a stronger person than that and that I would refuse the assignment.
8. Brother Leon is a teacher who commands his students with an iron fist. He strikes fear into them and singles them out to maintain his harsh rule. I have seen teachers pick on students before, but it was always in a joking manner, and not serious at all. And usually this only sparks laughter. I have not been picked on or singled out by a teacher before.
9. I do know people who are similar to Emile Janza. They are sly people with a lot of charisma. He caused controversy because it gave him something to do. They are here to annoy and disturb the peace but do so in a way that sets them apart from others who do the same, like sitting in the front or siphoning gas in the middle of the day.
10. Brother Eugene doesn’t seem to show the same strength as Brother Leon. He was crying when all the desks in his room fell apart. In the book it says, “Brother Eugene would do. He was the peaceful type.” He didn’t want to grab conflicts by the horn he would rather sit back and just let things happen without any intervention from himself.
11. I think that if Jerry pictured his father differently he would be able to talk to him. In the book he pictures his mothers face on his fathers, and if he would stop trying to see her in him they would be able to communicate better. I feel this way with my stepsister. I feel that I might say something wrong and bring up the wrong subjects. If I knew how to fix this it probably wouldn’t be a problem, so at the present I have no idea what to do.
12. I have had to sell cookie dough, t-shirts, magazine subscriptions and beef jerky for school fundraisers. There is usually some pressure, even when you don’t care what you’re selling for. But when you do care it feels as if selling your quota is a life or death situation. Peer pressure is the only incentive for the Trinity boys to sell. When Jerry said “no” to selling, Brother Leon tried to make him guilty. He said, “You may pick up your chocolates in the gym gentlemen, those of you who are true sons of Trinity that is. I pity anyone who is not.”
13. I do not think that the coach likes the students at all until they do something great on the football team. He was ready to murder them at the beginning of the chapter because they weren’t playing good. But when Jerry completed the pass to Goober he acting a little bit more civil with them.
14. After the first 12 chapters I think that I will really like this book. It is interesting and every chapter has an event that pulls me deeper into the book. The characters are all deep and multi-faceted. They all have their own unique personality and that makes them seem realer and more relatable. There is not one main conflict yet but the many smaller conflicts foreshadow a big problem that is soon to show. I have to say that Archie is my favorite character so far. He is conniving, mischievous, and at the same time he is charismatic and able to influence many people. He stirs up trouble and makes future conflicts undeniable.
Response 1
Robert Cormier was a man who grew up in the great depression. He moved many times in his youth with his family so they could keep managing to pay rent. However, Cormier never moved out of his home town not even when he got his own house. Cormier also attended a catholic church as a youngster. All of these things helped shape Cormier as a person and writer.
The fact that Cormier had close ties to his home town showed in his writings. In most of his books the setting was in his hometown. The fact that he grew up and the great depression also sculpted him into the writer he became. With all of poverty, pressure, and struggle that came with the Great Depression Cormier’s writing reflects these things. He writes about the struggles of adolescence and the hardships of everyday life in stories such as “The Chocolate War” and “Now and at the Hour”. His experience as well as his son’s with the Catholic Church also played a big role in his book “The Chocolate War”. He wrote about the peer pressure caused by students and faculty members, about the individual against society. He often wrote material that caused controversy because of profanity and sexual content. Cormier refused to change his writing style to fit the views of the people this also set him apart as an author. However he died of lung cancer and was disappointed that people had labeled him as a young adult author, because he thought this would cause adults to not read them.
Response 2
This story was pretty interesting to me. First off anytime I hear or read about a situation like this there are always similarities in the stories that I find interesting. The most obvious common thread in most bullying stories is that there is never one bully. He always has cronies to back him up. This is to me a huge cowardice if I were ever a bully I would want no help it would make me seem weak. The second similarity is that if the bullies are challenged they will usually back down also cowardly. Thirdly the group searches out people weaker then them who are isolated from others help.
These three things all happened in the story “The Bully”. This seriously makes me wonder why people are so afraid of these groups of bullies. I mean yes of course there is a certain degree of fear because you’re outnumbered. But in my mind I see that these people are not at all brave or strong as they seem to put on or they wouldn’t travel in a group for protection. However things always seem different looking from the outside in. However it is painfully obvious who is the weaker of the two the bully or the one who stands up to them. I mean the kid in the story bluffed about one punch and they left. Bullies are weak people who do not do well against any form of resistance because it is something they do not expect from there prey so obviously they will be shaken as was shown in the story. Bullying is also seen as adults but is exhibited in more subtle ways.
Response 3
I can’t think of any circumstance where I have ever been bullied. As weird as this may sound I was actually the bully. I mean this was when I was in like elementary school not so much anymore. And I only had one other person with me as an accomplice. I remember one time when nameless person and I wanted to take this kid’s dollar in first grade. His name was Terry Pennington and we would usually take his dollar everyday and taunt him for a while and then give it back so I guess I wasn’t a hard core bully. However one day young little Terry Pennington decided to put up a fight and unlike most bullies who stop when they meet resistance I seized his arm and gave him a right nasty Indian burn pretty bad A for a first grader I thought while my accomplice took the dollar. However we were told on and sent to the principal’s office I am proud to say that neither of us cried. But I think that the fact that I didn’t back down and continued with my act of cruelty separates me from regular bullies. But I am completely reformed now but it would be wise not to provoke me (just kidding).
Answer 1
The first sentence is "They murdered him". This sentence i think is used mainly to instantly grab the readers attention. The affect it had on me was oh my gosh someone just died so i was like i have to keep reading.
Answer 2
Yes i guess there are certain people in life who you should stay on there good side. Such as your boss, parents and teachers. However there is a point where I draw the line in trying to please everyone. I really detest kissing up to anyone especially authoritive figures and i will certainly not kiss up to people around my age. If i had to pick anyone that i will try to remain in there good books it would be my parents for obvious reasons.
Answer 3
I would be pretty freaked out and want to know how they got it. I would also try and figure who that got it from and how much information they had. I would probably try and take it from them. I would watch myself carefully and be on the lookout for people watching i would definitely become a little paranoid.
Answer 4
I think he was reffering to the hum drum life that Jerry was leading. The life that Jerry even fears of falling into. He says he is missing alot in the world because Jerry has fallen into a routine way of life set down by the man and he isn't even looking for anything to break up the monotany of it. He also calls him a square boy.
Answer 5
Leon is a teacher at trinity He could be described as a person who tries to shock and scare students. Tries to establish a sense of authority but also of a loving nature toward students. But he is not very authoritative at all because he has to ask the vigils for help in the chocolate sale.
Answer 6
The vigils are sort of like the school mafia. They techniqually don't exist but yet everyone knows about them. They make sure certain aspects of trinity are upheld and control certain things.The teachers however turn a blind eye because they need the vigils to maintain "trinities traditions".
Abswer 7
Goober has to comply because in his mind the vigils run the place. Plus there all older then him and could beat him to a pulp if he didnt comply. It is also part of the traditions of trinity. I might do it only because it would be a very funny prank. However the things that might make me not do it would be the fact that i am not being bullied into something. I wouldnt take orders from this group who have no authority over me.
Answer 8
I think he is a weak man trying to appear powerful by intimidating students. Yes i have been picked on by a teacher because she didnt like my sister. I have also seen other students picked on. They sat there in silence and watched the unfair treatment of Bailey until the last minute of class.
Answer 9
I think so. He gets i sick pleasure out of being mean to kids. He loves just to tick people off. He also has this kind of wish to be caught in the act of breaking rules or being mean and pullng pranks. Realizes people want to avoid conflict so he can do whatever he wants almost.
Answer 10
Because he is a weaker brother. They knew he would take it the worst if a calamity struck him.
Answer 11
He could always just suck it up and talk to him anyway and get it all out in the open. He could confide in a friend or another adult. If he couldnt do that he could try and write it down just to get whatever he needs to say out and then give it to his dad or keep it. Yes i have sometimes felt like i couldn't talk to anyone. However once i reach my breaking point i will always seek someone to talk to and help me. I am not good at all at bottling things up. Talking about the problem or situation is the best thing you can do.
Answer 12
I have tried to sell cookie dough and candles. No i have never felt a pressure to sell. I hat selling anything and i have no motivation to do so. I will certainly not be bullied into selling anything. The vigils, the teacher, and the fact that everyone else is selling chocolates are all pressures to sell.
Answer 13
He just see'e them as players on his team. Nothing more or less. He also calls them and sob if he thinks they are worth anything this odd since calling some one an sob can be insulting.
Response 4
I am starting to like Jerry and i am not sure if a like Archie. I like the way Jerry doesnt want to sell and will not be convinced otherwise. I also like that he worries his lofe is to boring and will never be interesting. Because these are things i myself worry about. I like Archies air of authority and his plans. I think it is really stupid however that students at trinity listen to a band of students hardly older then themselves. I wonder why they just go with the flow and dont question the vigils authority(i believe they have none) or the plans. I also wonder how the teachers can turn a blind eye to such things. But so far i am likeing the story eager to see when Jerry will defy the vigils because i think he will.
PRE-READING QUESTIONS
1. Read a biography of Robert Cormier. Write a summary of no less than 100 words describing him and the things you learned about him from his biography.
Growing up in the Great Depression, Cormier’s family moved around quite a bit to afford the rent. With eight siblings, times were tough and they had to move more to occupy the family. These experiences with his family probably triggered Cormier to write about his feelings.
Cormier started writing young, he had dreams but never really thought anything of them because he was only the sun of a factory worker. However his mother and school teacher thought otherwise as they encouraged this passion of his.
In an experience early on in life, Cormier’s house caught on fire and the Sisters of his catholic school would not let him leave and check things out. This event caused Cormier to harbor resentment against the Catholic Church, which reflected in his writings. With all that he has been through, I think Cormier is a great person because he believed and made something out of himself.
3. Write a 100-word response to the story in which you consider the story and bullying in general.
I just finished the short story entitled Bullying. This story was sort of out of the ordinary for me because although I hear about it all of the time, it still does not seem real to me. This story triggered me to think of my ideal picture of a bully and what their character traits would be. Normally I would picture a huge intimidating guy, who chooses to prey on other people’s weaknesses. Although after thinking about it I realized that a bully could be anyone either emotionally or physically, who is smart enough to realize what hurts you. People, especially victims, never really stop to think of what the bully’s weaknesses are. As many bullies choose to attack at school, they are obviously not very intelligent, so you should try to outsmart them.
4. Write a 100-word response describing a situation in which you have felt bullied and how you dealt with it.
Until recently, growing up I never really had a backbone. I would let people walk all over me and either let people say whatever they wanted to me or even take me stuff (like gum). They could even be my friends and I just wouldn’t tell them how I felt. I have always cared a lot about what people think and I have always been afraid to tell people how I feel because I didn’t want to hurt their feelings. I have come to realize that unless you speak up for yourself, nothing will ever get solved. Another problem is that your bottled emotions eventually reach a breaking point and you explode. Now I am just working on sticking up for myself and I think I will build up to the rest.
READING QUESTIONS PART I:
Chapters 1-13
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
The first sentence of the book states “They murdered him.” Beginning this novel I had no idea what to expect and this statement drew me in. It was so surprising that it made you want to read this book. I questioned whether it was literal or metaphorical but decided I read and find out. This bold statement sets the mood and anticipation for “The Chocolate War.”
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
As shown by the vigils, everyone is going to have those certain people who you should probably stay on their good side. In most cases it would be people of higher power such as your authority or your teachers. Although in a different sense it is better to stay on the good side if you have a group of friends because everyone could easily turn against you.
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (like Obie’s notebook)
Because I am a very nosy person, it drives me insane either when I think someone is talking about me or there is some secret that I am missing out on. The pure fact that you cannot know something ignites your curiosity. In a case sucha s Obie’s notebook, I would go crazy trying to find out what it says about me. I would ask people if they have heard anything and definitely try to get my hands on it.
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
The bus stop is a very significant point in the novel for Jerry. He meets a man who has noticed Jerry staring day after day and this man confronts him with disdain. The man calls Jerry square because he notices that Jerry is acting middle aged instead of living his life. He thinks Jerry is thinking less of his people when in reality; he is admiring them for living life the way that they choose. When he tells Jerry that he is “missing a lot in the world” he realizes that they are right. He sees his life through a new perspective and notices that instead of his own will, he lives by routine.
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
Brother Leon is not only the assistant head master of Trinity, but a teacher as well. He could be described as creepy, and surprisingly shocking because of things he will say in the classroom. In a confrontation with Archie, however we discover a different side of him. He may be daring and optimistic, but he shows weakness. In being left in charge of the school he calls upon the Vigils for help. He also finds no shame in talking about the wealth of many parents of the school and accepts that they are just a school to prepare students for college.
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
The Vigils are the behind the scenes foundation at trinity. They are a secret organization who take care of problems and make sure things are running smoothly no matter what extent that they have to go to. The school ignores them because they cannot stop them and further more they would never want to because of the shape the school would be in without the Vigils.
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Goober is a Vigil who was given the task of loosening all of the screws in Brother Eugenes classroom. Goober has to comply with the assignment for one because it his his responsibility given to him by the assigner and two because Archie did not draw the black marble. If Goober rejected the assignment, he would have to deal with the Vigils and they are pretty powerful. I would most likely do it for the feeling of being in an important organization and furthermore performing an important mission.
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Brother Leon is a very odd teacher. He randomly will either curse or just use weird language to shock his students. Although his techniques seem rather weird, as I thought about them I realized that they have an underlying meaning and teach a life lesson. When picking on Bailey, he was teaching about what a dictatorship is like and applauded Bailey for standing his ground and shamed the others for not sticking up for him. Yes I have seen a teacher pick on a student before and it is really intimidating. You may not be able to tell whether they are laughing along with the teacher and you may be intimidated to speak for them.
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
Emile is a bully who is nearly as powerful as Archie, although most of the time Archies actions have better motives. Emile has a bunch of unique characteristics, all making him the bully he is today. He is one of those people who pay attention to detail so that he can pinpoint his prey and weigh the outcomes for success. Danger is what motivates him to continue on and he laughs in the face of fear.
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
The Vigils assigned Goober to the task of loosening all of the screws in Brother Eugene’s classroom. I feel that this was a statement of power and obviously a crucial part of the building that Archie is building in his head; I just have not discovered the purpose yet. I don’t think there were any particular reasons he picked Brother Eugene other than good timing and him being a weak subject.
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Ever since the sensitive father, son moments shared at the funeral of Jerry’s mother, Jerry and his father have become very distant. They have fallen into a normal schedule of being so busy, that they do not have time for their pain. They have left their old life behind and are trying to not relive the memories. To fix this problem I think Jerry and his father need to set out a certain time each day to spend time together and help each other. I do feel this way sometimes with my family because when they ask me about school, I constantly answer with four letter words.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
For school fundraisers I normally sell things from holiday gifts to cookie dough. Sometimes I don’t follow through, although when I know I’m needed in something such as band to raise money, I will try as hard as I can. In the novel, the students are selling boxes of chocolate for Trinity. They are driven by a reward of either no school or a field trip.
13. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
In chapter 12 the coach comes down on the players hardcore. In order to grasp their full potential, the coach sets up freshman against sat players. The freshmen however have plays designed to really test their abilities. The coach begins infuriated when they screw up the first play. However on the second play Jerry kicks but and earns the coaches approval. The coach seems very swift and has a purpose for every technique he uses.
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
I have recently read up to chapter 12 and loved every minute of it. This book is great because it not only intrigues you with a secret organization, but it hits you with reality and switches viewpoints. I love the story line of Jerry and him trying to figure out who he really is. The in-depth nature really makes you think about your future and being who you want to be now. All of the different roles in the story intertwine and leave you amazed. The chocolate fundraiser is a very unique idea and its awesome how it is the foundation of a mind boggling novel. I am only 12 chapters into the novel but I am p
Kala Brown
2nd Period
3-12-09
Mr.Parsons
Robert Cormier
Robert Cormier was a famous teen novel writer for many years. He was born in the year 1925, and then later died in the year 2000. He lived his whole life in Leominster, Massachusetts, in a northern central small town. Robert first began working for a radio station, as a writer in 1946-48, where he wrote scripts, and commercials. Then in 1948 after stopped working for the radio, he started at Worcester Telegram and Gazette and the Fitchburg Sentinel as a newspaper reporter, and columnist for 30 years. This is where he got his inspiration to want to write novels.
Throughout his lifetime he wrote up to as many as seventeen novels. He wrote one of the novels that we are getting ready to read in class, called The Chocolate War, published in 1974.
While Robert was still working as a reporter for the Fitchburg Sentinel, he had written a popular column, which received the national K.R. Thomason Award in 1974. For this Award it meant that it was the best human-interest column written that year. During that same year, he was recognized, and honored by the New England Associated Press Association for having written a good news story under pressure of deadline. From reading this bibliography, I found out that he was a very dedicated man to his work. In the year 1978, he stopped working completely to devote all of his time for writing.
Kala Brown
3-13-09
2nd Period
Mr.Parsons
The Bully
The story that we I just read in class was called The Bully. Graham Pockett wrote the story after he was grown up, and reflected back on his childhood days. The story overall was good, some parts it seemed like the author was tense in a few places, but good in details. The beginning of the story was talking about his life now, and how he could remembers the bully at his childhood school, named George. Four confederates, ranked George for the reason that he liked to prey on weaker, less defensive kids unlike him. They all had names for the students that they liked to pick on, for example Keith, the main character was called the four eyed toad.
Throughout the rest of the story, Keith explained to his readers how he should have stepped up and took up for those who were being bullied. Everyone thought that all the bullies needed to be put in their place by others. So one day during a cold winters’ morning, Keith was the lucky child this time, he was alone at this point, smoking a cigarette behind a certain. He tried to play it cool, while the bullies were making fun of him, trying to start a fight. He thought to himself that he was going stand up for him, and his other fellow classmates, and he did. The bullies left him after he told them that he would knock their teeth out if they touched him. Then at the end it came to a point in Keith’s life where he was in another situation like the one with bullies, but now he was older and so were they. He was the potential victim, in the case again, trying to fight for his life and also his families as well. Then soon enough he speaks up saying something to them. The very end, the story leaves you wondering about what happened or went down with them.
The Chocolate War Questions
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
The affect that the first sentence had on me was I thought that they really did murder someone. The author used it to catch the readers attention and draw them in so that they would want to read the book. Also to find out what goes on throughout the book.
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
Well it depends on who the person is that I need to stay on the good side of. Most of the time I would like to stay on the good side of my friends and others, while if it’s my brother or sister than it’s all good either way. I don’t like enemies but if that’s what it comes down to then that’s what happens.
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (like Obie’s notebook)
If someone was keeping private information about me, I would probably be very upset. Then what I would do is probably confront that person and ask them what the deal is and why they are talking or keeping secrets about me.
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
The man at the bus stop is contemptuous of Jerry, because he says that he is all the time starring at them, while he gets on the bus. The man means “missing a lot in the world”, because all he does is schoolwork, and zones himself out from others. Also meaning that he is missing others things going on around him.
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
Brother Leon is like the Head Master of the school that Jerry goes to, and also his algebra teacher.
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
Vigils, are things such as gangs that are at Jerry’s school. Everyone ignores them because they like to start trouble with people.
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Goober has to comply with the assignments because he wants to be part of the group, and be like others. If I was in this same position as Goober, I would probably also do whatever I could to be like the other Vigils, so that i could fit in as well.
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Brother Leon is the kind of teacher that’s seems like he picks on students sometimes and other times not as much. Yes I have seen a stundent be picked on by a teacher before, because the kid was annoying or aggravating the teacher. Throughout my life as a student I really can't say that I have been picked on, except for times when they joke with me other than that no. If there was a student is being picked on the rest of the class just sit there, because there was nothing we could do at the time to help the one in need.
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
Yes I know a few people who have some of the same characteristics as Emile. Some of Emile's characteristics is he is a brute, but don't really look like it, tries to be bold and scary to others to let them know not to mess with them, not only stundents, but also teachers. It kind of seems like he thinks that everything should revolve around him, and that nobody should bother him because he feels that he can do what he pleases. For example when he was first mentioned in the book, he was stealing gas out of another kids car, and Archie popped the qustion, what if Carlson saw you stealing his gas. in response Emile said, Carlson would'nt do anything about it, because he don't like getting into messes.
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
They choose to pick on Brother Eugene because
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Jerry could remedy this situation with his father by setting down and really telling him how he feels, and that sometimes he don't feel like he can't talk to him. By doing this he would let his father know what he thinks and feels, so that he can take it into thought of what he could do to make Jerry want to feel that he can come to him when he needs someone to talk to. Yes I do feel this way sometimes with my mom. I could remedy my sisution by doing the same way that I said Jerry could do for his father.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
I have had to sell many things for school fundraisers, for clubs such as FCCLA, FBLA, and BETA. Most of these fundraiser help get money for our club so that we are able to go on trips, and buy things that we need for a project. Yes I have felt pressure to seel things, because most of the students are required to sell so many things, and it can be very hard to seel stuff when others are competing amoungst you too. Brother Leon kind of puts the pressure on the boys to sell chocolate bars.
3. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
The coach in chapter 12 seemed to be very hard on his football players, and acts like he expects more out of them than they can give. His behavior suggest things about his views toward the students at Trinity is if he gives you are hard time about playing football, and you do exacatly what he tells you to then your fine. Also if he calls you a little son of a b*t*h, then thats when you know that you have made the team.
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
The book that we are reading in class, or individually is an ok book so far. I would rather read this type of book, because I understand and comprehend it way better than the books that we have read before this one. The Chocolate War is based upon teens, and describes somewhat of their way of life. My opinion is that, I can relate to how these teens feel, just as many others can too. So far I've liked the book, but I can't really predict wether or not I will like it as I keep reading it. Hopefully I will continue to like it more and more as I get further throughout the book. Let's just hope that after I finish the book, that my reviews will be the same as before.
Amanda Harris
3/12/09
2nd Period
Chocolate War Questions
Pre-Reading
Robert Cormier --
The author of the book titled, “Chocolate War” is Robert Cormier. Robert was born on January 17, 1925 in Leominster MA. His parents were Lucien Joseph and Irma Margaret –Collins. He had seven other siblings and he was the second oldest. So, he had one older sibling and six younger ones. Cormier’s family lived during the depression, and that caused them to move several times. Cormier was never that far away from home, when he was old enough to live by himself he only moved three miles or less from his own home.
Robert Cormier attended a catholic school; it was called St. Cecilia’s Parochial School. Some of the things he experienced and went through there was the cause and reasoning for the shapes of his work. This first time he wrote a poem was when he was in the sixth grade, that was the start of him wanting to become a writer. However, his eighth grade year something terrible and frightening happened. From the window of his classroom he could see that his family’s home was blazing with flames. However, the nun who was his teacher would no allow him to leave the classroom, not even to check on his family who could have been dying until he recited on the rosary. A rosary is (according to google) a popular traditional devotion. The term denotes both a set of prayer beads and the devotional prayer itself, which combines prayer and meditation. However, once he did recite the poem they allowed him to leave, and he found out that no one was injured. But, it left him with many hard feelings toward the church. And he kept those feelings with him for a matter of years.
After he left the Catholic school he attended Leominster High School and graduated top in his class of 1942. Then he went on to college and also graduated top of his class from Fitchburg State College in 1943-44.
His mother was the one who critiqued his work, and she was his motivator into becoming a writer. She told him that he would be one, and she knew that. However, he had a hard time believing that because in that time it depended upon his father’s profession. And his was only a factory worker. And in his mind true writers only came from wealthy families.
Robert got the inspiration for his novel “The Chocolate War” from his son Peter. He had refused to sell the chocolates for the Catholic school that he was attending. The novel in itself deals with peer pressure and even faculty pressure, and with the theme of the individual against society. It is said that is shows the dark side of the Catholic Church. And it was published in 1974. However, the book itself caused such a big controversy. People were trying to get the book banned.
3) In the short story “The Bully” the guy they called four-eyes was faced with a big boy that threatened to beat him up. The guy had already beaten many kids previously, and he had his eyes sat on the narrator. However, the boy was no going to run. He was so scared that he couldn’t run, so he decided that he was going to stand up to George the bully. He told him that there was no doubt in his mind that he would beat him up, but he said that he would at least get one good punch in that would cause George to lose his front teeth. After hearing that, George the bully backed off. And made it seem like the boy they called “Toad Face” wasn’t worth his time.
4) Many times in my earlier years I have felt bullied. But, it always came out right. I remember one instance in fourth grade; I was being bullied because I was growing up faster than the rest of the girls in my class. Many of them called me a freak and things like that. It was pretty stupid, however one day I stood up for myself against this girl named Rachel and she ended up slapping me in the bathroom. So, I learned then and there that you have to be meaner than the person bullying you. It ended up to being a knock down drag out, and we were both sent to the office. But, after that no one ever bullied me again, and she and I became friends shortly after. Even though fighting was wrong, it helped in that one instance. And still to this day, I will not let anyone boss me around or try to bully me like they did. It’s not right and they have no reason for doing it. But, I also learned that many times the people who are doing the bullying are the ones that are jealous of their victims. So, they try to make them feel like they are nothing but dirt underneath their feet. I made a vow that day, and I have stuck by it. That vow was to let NO ONE make me feel like I am beneath them
Pre-Reading Questions
1. Robert Cormier was known for his writing style. It is different and is moving with controversial ideas. Robert Cormier was born into a large family and he grew up in French Hill, Leominster. Cormier went to a catholic school growing up. From the school he could see hi house. One day his house was on fire and a nun wouldn't let him leave to check on his family until he said a prayer on the rosary. This incident caused mixed feelings and hatred towards the catholic church. Growing up he was encouraged to continue his writing. Cormier had a college professor who sent in one of Cormier's writings to a magazine. Cormier was paid 75 dollars and his work was published. He continued with his writing after this.
3. In the story "The Bully," it talks about how one kid gets picked on by a group of kids. This is relevant to today because it isn't always one kid picking on another kid. It usually is one kid being backed up by a group of kids making him look like he is the one in control. In order to write a story like this, you would have to have some form of inspiration and I think Cormier's inspiration came from his own experience with a bully.
4. When I was about ten, my cousin James was only about an inch taller then me. He thought that he could take advantage of me due to the fact that he was six weeks older than me. He was always shoving me around and calling me names. Finally I became tired of all this and I shoved him back yelling at him. All it took was that one time. He left me alone for a while. Then wen he started talking to me again we became close friends and we still are today.
Amanda Harris
Chocolate War Questions #1
3/19/09
1) To catch the reader’s attention the author wrote the sentence “They murdered him.” That there was an attention grabber from the start However, no one was truly murdered.
2) Yes, most times I feel the need to stay on the good side of people just because you get more out of it. You are respected a lot more, and you can talk to more people. However, if they hate you then you don’t have a prayer to survive, especially if EVERYONE hates you.
3) I wouldn’t like if someone was keeping a private file about me. Especially if the only things it has in it is horrible things that have happened in my life or that I’ve done. It’s not right and no one has the right to do that to someone else.
4) He wants to know why that Jerry stares at him constantly. When he says “Jerry’s missing a lot in the world.” He means that Jerry is missing out of the fun of life because all he does is his homework.
5) Brother Leon is Archie’s algebra teacher, and is pretty much just the headmaster of the school like Dumbledore in Harry Potter.
6) There is a gang in the story called The Vigils, they complete little assignments or mission that their leader, Archie makes up. No one stands up to them because they are to afraid of them, and none of the teachers punish them because they continue to keep the school running.
7) He is trying to fit in. And in order to do that he has to do exactly what they tell him to do. It’s sad really, but honestly I would probably do the same thing just because everyone wants to fit in. And if you don’t you just feel like an outsider. And no on wants that.
8) Brother Leon is a mean teacher, he enjoys picking on the students. And he is just super rude, he and I would NOT get along at all. Yeah, after reading about him I instantly pictured a couple of teachers that I could not stand. One was my fifth grade teacher who absolutely hated me. She purposely tried to fail be and then she’d blame it on the computers. And then another was a teacher that I encountered last year for algebra two. He did not teach, he just expected you to know EVERYTHING before walking into his classroom. However, he would encourage you to ask questions if you didn’t understand what he was doing, but then the instant that you did he would jump all over you screaming that you should know the answer to that question or you shouldn’t be in his classroom.
9) Emile has the snotty characteristics of wanting to be the center of attention. I know so many people that are like that and it kills me. I cannot stand people like that that think that the world revolves around him. It’s not right and it just makes people hate them even more.
10) The reason that the bullies target Brother Eugene is because he is nice. And he shows a sort of weakness. He will not stand up to them, he has the authority, however he just doesn’t know how to use it.
11) In the book, Jerry feels like he cannot talk to his father about some things. I frequently feel that way about my parents. But, in the end I always either end up telling them or I find someone that I am comfortable with, be it a teacher, friend, or family member. I know that someone will always have my back. And that’s what he could do to make the situation better.
12) Yes, I have had to sell many fundraisers for school. And there is always pressure now to sell them. Whenever you were little you got prizes for how ever many items you sold. But, now there is not reward, but if you do not sell enough you have to pay the rest for whatever it is that you are selling. And a lot of the pressure comes from the people who are in charge of the fundraiser; teachers, parents, and coaches.
13) The coach in chapter 12 is a very strict coach. He expects so much out of his players, and he also doesn’t let them be lazy or weak. He pushes them constantly, and will not let them give up.
14) The book so far caught my attention quickly. I can relate to many of the characters in the book because I have been there. I’ve been the bullied, and at some points in my life I was also the bully. I am not proud of what I’ve done in my life, and from then on I have spent most of it trying to make up for the things that happened. Reading about the gang of kids that keep secret files of everyone in the school angers me. Who are they to invade someone’s privacy that way? It’s not right at all. And it further more just makes me hate their characters. But, it does keep the box interesting because you are waiting to see what exactly they do next. And also reading about the teacher who likes to pick on students also upsets me because I have also been there and in that situation. And the teacher that I mentioned in the previous question above, my fifth grade teacher, got fired for purposely trying to fail students.
Kala Brown
2nd Period
3-12-09
Mr.Parsons
This is my complete finished questions.
Robert Cormier
Robert Cormier was a famous teen novel writer for many years. He was born in the year 1925, and then later died in the year 2000. He lived his whole life in Leominster, Massachusetts, in a northern central small town. Robert first began working for a radio station, as a writer in 1946-48, where he wrote scripts, and commercials. Then in 1948 after stopped working for the radio, he started at Worcester Telegram and Gazette and the Fitchburg Sentinel as a newspaper reporter, and columnist for 30 years. This is where he got his inspiration to want to write novels.
Throughout his lifetime he wrote up to as many as seventeen novels. He wrote one of the novels that we are getting ready to read in class, called The Chocolate War, published in 1974.
While Robert was still working as a reporter for the Fitchburg Sentinel, he had written a popular column, which received the national K.R. Thomason Award in 1974. For this Award it meant that it was the best human-interest column written that year. During that same year, he was recognized, and honored by the New England Associated Press Association for having written a good news story under pressure of deadline. From reading this bibliography, I found out that he was a very dedicated man to his work. In the year 1978, he stopped working completely to devote all of his time for writing.
Kala Brown
3-13-09
2nd Period
Mr.Parsons
The Bully
The story that we I just read in class was called The Bully. Graham Pockett wrote the story after he was grown up, and reflected back on his childhood days. The story overall was good, some parts it seemed like the author was tense in a few places, but good in details. The beginning of the story was talking about his life now, and how he could remembers the bully at his childhood school, named George. Four confederates, ranked George for the reason that he liked to prey on weaker, less defensive kids unlike him. They all had names for the students that they liked to pick on, for example Keith, the main character was called the four eyed toad.
Throughout the rest of the story, Keith explained to his readers how he should have stepped up and took up for those who were being bullied. Everyone thought that all the bullies needed to be put in their place by others. So one day during a cold winters’ morning, Keith was the lucky child this time, he was alone at this point, smoking a cigarette behind a certain. He tried to play it cool, while the bullies were making fun of him, trying to start a fight. He thought to himself that he was going stand up for him, and his other fellow classmates, and he did. The bullies left him after he told them that he would knock their teeth out if they touched him. Then at the end it came to a point in Keith’s life where he was in another situation like the one with bullies, but now he was older and so were they. He was the potential victim, in the case again, trying to fight for his life and also his families as well. Then soon enough he speaks up saying something to them. The very end, the story leaves you wondering about what happened or went down with them.
The Chocolate War Questions
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
The affect that the first sentence had on me was I thought that they really did murder someone. The author used it to catch the reader’s attention and draw them in so that they would want to read the book. Also to find out what goes on throughout the book.
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
Well it depends on who the person is that I need to stay on the good side of. Most of the time I would like to stay on the good side of my friends and others, while if it’s my brother or sister than it’s all good either way. I don’t like enemies but if that’s what it comes down to then that’s what happens.
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (like Obie’s notebook)
If someone was keeping private information about me, I would probably be very upset. Then what I would do is probably confront that person and ask them what the deal is and why they are talking or keeping secrets about me.
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
The man at the bus stop is contemptuous of Jerry, because he says that he is all the time starring at them, while he gets on the bus. The man means “missing a lot in the world”, because all he does is schoolwork, and zones himself out from others. Also meaning that he is missing others things going on around him.
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
Brother Leon is like the Head Master of the school that Jerry goes to, and also his algebra teacher.
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
Vigils, are things such as gangs that are at Jerry’s school. Everyone ignores them because they like to start trouble with people.
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Goober has to comply with the assignments because he wants to be part of the group, and be like others. If I was in this same position as Goober, I would probably also do whatever I could to be like the other Vigils, so that I could fit in as well.
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
Brother Leon is the kind of teacher that’s seems like he picks on students sometimes and other times not as much. Yes I have seen a student be picked on by a teacher before, because the kid was annoying or aggravating the teacher. Throughout my life as a student I really can't say that I have been picked on, except for times when they joke with me other than that no. If there was a student is being picked on the rest of the class just sit there, because there was nothing we could do at the time to help the one in need.
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
Yes I know a few people who have some of the same characteristics as Emile. Some of Emile's characteristics is he is a brute, but don't really look like it, tries to be bold and scary to others to let them know not to mess with them, not only students, but also teachers. It kind of seems like he thinks that everything should revolve around him, and that nobody should bother him because he feels that he can do what he pleases. For example when he was first mentioned in the book, he was stealing gas out of another kids car, and Archie popped the question, what if Carlson saw you stealing his gas. In response Emile said, Carlson wouldn’t do anything about it, because he don't like getting into messes.
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
They choose to pick on Brother Eugene because he his weaker than all the other brothers. They also liked to antagonize him, because they figured that they could get away with it easily.
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Jerry could remedy this situation with his father by setting down and really telling him how he feels, and that sometimes he doesn’t feel like he can't talk to him. By doing this he would let his father know what he thinks and feels, so that he can take it into thought of what he could do to make Jerry want to feel that he can come to him when he needs someone to talk to. Yes I do feel this way sometimes with my mom. I could remedy my situation by doing the same way that I said Jerry could do for his father.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
I have had to sell many things for school fundraisers, for clubs such as FCCLA, FBLA, and BETA. Most of these fundraiser help get money for our club so that we are able to go on trips, and buy things that we need for a project. Yes I have felt pressure to sale things, because most of the students are required to sell so many things, and it can be very hard to sale stuff when others are competing amongst you too. Brother Leon kind of puts the pressure on the boys to sell chocolate bars.
3. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
The coach in chapter 12 seemed to be very hard on his football players, and acts like he expects more out of them than they can give. His behavior suggest things about his views toward the students at Trinity is if he gives you are hard time about playing football, and you do exactly what he tells you to then your fine. Also if he calls you a little son of a b*t*h, then that’s when you know that you have made the team.
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
The book that we are reading in class, or individually is an ok book so far. I would rather read this type of book, because I understand and comprehend it way better than the books that we have read before this one. The Chocolate War is based upon teens, and describes somewhat of their way of life. My opinion is that, I can relate to how these teens feel, just as many others can too. So far I've liked the book, but I can't really predict whether or not I will like it as I keep reading it. Hopefully I will continue to like it more and more as I get further throughout the book. Let's just hope that after I finish the book that my reviews will be the same as before.
Ashley Barlow
Chocolate war
Reading Question Part One Chapters 1-13
1) I think the author wrote, “They murdered him.” As the first sentence to catch the readers attention. As you read on you learn that no one has been really murdered, but he wanted the reader to think his so they would keep reading on through the novel.
2) I feel like I have to stay on the good side of everybody. I don’t like to have enemies; I have very few people that I don’t like. I try my best to get along with everyone. Because when people like you, they are nice to you, you get more out of niceness the hate.
3) I would be so ticked off if someone were keeping private information about me. It would really creep me out. Especially if it was someone I did know, like Obie was keeping. Its weird how they know more information in the notebook than anyone else.
4) The man wants to know why Jerry stares at him all the time when he gets on the bus. When the man said Jerry’s, “he is missing a lot in the world.” He is meaning that all Jerry does is go to school and do his homework when he could be out there doing other things with his life.
5) Brother Leon is archive’s algebra teacher. He is also practically headmaster of the school because the real headmaster deadly ill. Leon is a teacher at Trinity school.
6) The vigils are sort of like a gang at trinity. They do little assignments that the leader Archie makes up. Everyone ignores them because they are what keeps the school going. I also believe that most people are sacred of them because of his power.
7) Goober complies with the assignment because he is a freshman. He wants to be apart of the vigils because he just wants to fit in. If I were in the same situation, I would also do the same. I would want to be liked.
8) I believe Brother Leon likes to be in power of his students. It seems like he is always trying to be in control. Yes, when I was n the second grade, Miss Pass hated me. She only likes a couple girls in the class. As u knows I am not a girly girl. The only reason she didn’t like me is because I played with boy. If I was in the same spot now I would tell her to shove it but I was only in second grade. I thought it was very distasteful to act like she did. No matter what I was ever good enough for her. It didn’t matter who was talking, I was still the one who got in trouble.
9) Emile is a bully practically. He knows he can be feared but at least he got noticed. He likes to make people fear him to get what he wants. The only person I can think of with characteristics is, believe it or not one of my best friends. When we were kids I was always scared of her because I saw her punch this boy right in the face, so from then on I wanted to be her friend because I thought it was freaking awesome.
10) He is an easy target and he would be upset over his room being messed up out the yen yang. Plus all the brothers were going to be gone. Making it easy access.
11) I know a lot of kid’s feel they cant talk t their parents, especially their fathers. I don’t know how to remedy the issue but to get some courage and tell his father that he has a hard time talking to him. I would suggest Jerry and his go have some father son bonding on a fishing trip or something like that.
12) I’ve had to sell lots of things for basketball. I had to sell clothes and launderers for basketball last year. It was so much pressure because you had to sell a certain amount and then I had to make sure everyone got the right order. The pressure of selling chocolate was out of competition. Anyone would work harder to beat somebody else.
13) To me the coach sounds like a very stern and over powering person. When the novel uses the word “ chew a freshman up and spit him out” it doesn’t paint a very pretty picture of him. He sounds to be a very intimidated coach.
14) I think the Chocolate War is a very good novel. It defiantly surprised me though. I didn’t think this novel was going to be any good at all. In the story there is always something happening. I hate novels that take forever to get started. From the very begging the author grabs your attention with saying “they murdered him”. I really like the way the story kind of relates to my every day life. Even though I don’t think I wouldn’t ever get that excited about chocolate bars. Thus far I really enjoyed reading the first 13 chapters of the Chocolate War.
Haylee VanHoose
2nd period
3/12/09
Robert Cormier Summary
Robert was born January 17, 1925. He was the second child out of eight. They moved frequently but never out of their hometown, French Hill, because of the Depression and also because of their family growing.
Robert had attended St. Cecilia’s Parochial, a private catholic school. Going to school had shaped his life in many different ways. One of the nuns had encouraged him to write, so he wrote his first poem in the 6th grade. Cormier attended and graduated at Leominster High School in 1942. He then attended Fitchburg State College.
His mother pushed and encouraged him to write, and she would read his works without criticizing unlike many other teachers he shared his work with. His mother did always predict he would become a writer. Robert’s first job at WTAG radio office, which was in the same building as “Worcester Telegram” and “Gazette”, the places he did want to work at.
Cormier’s first novel, “Now and At the hour”, was published in 1960. Cormier’s father had just recently, and for Cormier to deal with it, he began to write. Cormier became inspired to write “The Chocolate War” when his son, Peter, refused to sell chocolates for the catholic school he attended. He then became to ponder the question “what if?” The book deals with peer pressure and even faculty pressure, and with the theme of the individual against society, and it really brings out the dark side of the church, which could of also been inspired by what he dealt with when his house caught on fire. The book caused a great controversy in schools because of the profanity and sexual content. While many teachers thought the book would teach valuable lessons, many parents objected to the content. Many cities banned the book. Cormier even visited a city in Massachusetts that was going to vote on banning the book.
The Bully was an interesting short story, that teaches you a lesson. In the short story the bully, George, was finally confronted instead of him confronting other students. He is surprised at first, but than he realizes that he can’t go around picking on other people just because he feels like it then expect to get away with it. At some point in your life, which everyone goes through, you may become the bully and bully other people, or be complete opposite. You could be the bully, then turn around and be bullied by some one else. Bullying is something that happens constantly in schools. The story relates to real life perfectly. Somewhere there’s a kid hoping and praying that the bully will leave him alone or not be there. Bullying is a bad thing that needs to be stopped. To me, bullying is a way some children deal with stress and their emotions. They are either mistreated at home or they just don’t fit in very well at school with other students. Mainly, it’s because of someone being jealous of another. I have been bullied once, and it was over a guy, I didn’t even know. Girls can be kind of crazy psycho when it comes to their men, and it was a hard time for me. I was being stalked everyday at school; I would get phone calls at my house, and random text messages telling me to watch my back. I felt very violated, because that’s my personal space they were in, and the situation didn’t even have anything to do with me, they just assumed it.
But, i also am a bully, which i will admit to. I have a younger sister and i constantly pick on her every single second of the day. Which is normally common for siblings. The oldest always picks on the youngest, it's just natural to us. I really don't even mean to do it sometimes, it kind of just slips out.
Allison Rowe
Mr. Parsons
Questions 1-13
March 13, 2009
1.) In the Chocolate War he first sentence was ‘They murdered him.’ This sentence effected me by making me wonder many different things. It made me think who got murdered, why, who murdered them, and how. I believe that Cormier chose his sentence to really draw the reader’s attention and make them wonder all the same things I did and the only way they can learn these things is by reading his book. It was a great first sentence to get the viewer’s minds into the novel.
2.) In my life I do feel like I should stay on the good side of few people, but this is something I do not always accomplish. There are people in life who know everything about everyone and these people are usually the ones who tell that everything. I feel like I should stay on the good side of these particular people so they will not tell anything that is secretive in my life. I do not always stay don’t heir sides though because I honestly do not care if anyone knows anything about me, I have few secrets that I do not care if they get out because if I have ever done something I can’t change that; I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t. Another reason I feel like I should stay on some peoples’ good sides is to have many people on my side as well when it may come to a certain incident or argument.
3.) If someone was keeping private information about me I would be either angry or not care at all, depending on who it was. If it was like Obie’s notebook and held by the Vigils I would be very upset. This mob, so to say, holding information about me actually has a little bit of the right to hold this information I believe because somehow they found out and somehow it was myself who told them. They do have the right to do this, I would just feel very insecure of what I told anybody anymore and what I did and where.
4.) The man at the bus stop feels contemptuous of Jerry because the man is homeless and has a rough life, when Jerry has a nice home along with many assets. By saying ‘missing a lot in the world’ he means that Jerry is too caught up with having his perfect life at school and home and that he needs to think about the people around him and consider their feelings as well.
5.) Brother Leon is the teacher and he has a personality as wicked as Archie’s. He is a very manipulative person and is unconcerned about the consequences of any of his actions. Brother Leon enjoys using others like Archie for protection and loves watching Archie pick on students. Leon has basically complete control over all teachers, students, and other staff members.
6.) The Vigils are a gang in the school that consist of a lot of students. The students that are not part of the Vigils keep clear of the members because they are scared off by the commandments and torturing of other students that they have viewed.
7.) Goober agrees to unscrew many things so those things will fall because he doesn’t want the Vigils to have anything bad on him to spread out to the world. He could not let them think of him as a coward. I would definitely not unscrew anything because he could get in major administrative trouble, which to me is worse than trouble with a school gang.
8.) Brother Leon is a very corrupted teacher; by being a jerk and a bully none of his students like him. He makes fun of his students if they do something the wrong way or if they do something their way and he just thinks it’s stupid. He is a teacher that a student goes into class just fearing he will pick on someone else that day. It is impossible to learn from a teacher like this, unless a student simply doesn’t care. I have seen teachers pick on students before, but not this severely. When I view this it is usually just because a student has said something either irrelevant or completely obvious and the teacher knows that the student will not care to be a little bit embarrassed. A teacher has also picked on me before and I didn’t mind. The other kids in the class simply laughed. This didn’t bother me because I love when others are happy even if it means being embarrassed yourself to provide this joy.
9.) Emile is a bully, otherwise known as a trashy thug. I think that he is much worse than a bully because he makes up his own forms of being mean to others. The things that he thinks of are on a whole other level of bullying to both students’ mental and physical health. He is a mean person and doesn’t let anyone tell him what to do, except for Archie. I do not know anyone with Emile’s characteristics because bullying isn’t a problem in my life that I face and if anyone shows any signs of being a bully I steer clear of them completely.
10.)Like any victim to a bully, Brother Eugene is a physically weak person. Being an older man Eugene doesn’t know much about modern-day bullying as well as pranks and they are much stronger than him. Overall, they think that Brother Eugene is an easy target.
11.)Jerry could remedy his situation by simply building up the courage to confront his father. He could also perform such an action that his father would have to talk to him. I do feel like I cannot talk to my parents sometimes. This is because I either have a private situation that I am worried about or I don’t want to get into trouble. I could remedy the situation by first of all not performing the action I did or by eventually confronting them when I have no other options.
12.)I have done many school fundraisers before for my school activity of cheerleading. I have had to sell poinsettias, candy bars, spring flowers, shirts, buttons, and other random items. I have felt much pressure to sell these things because my parents cannot supply everything I need. I need to sell as much as possible when I fundraise to help support myself. In the novel the want to sell the chocolate bars was for The Vigils came from Archie. He wanted to never be on their bad side as he knew what actions they could perform. He said that they should be proud of Leon for asking for their assistance.
13.)The coach is very aggressive. He would do anything to win even if it means hurting several others on his team or the opponent’s. His behavior suggests that they are all week and are not near as good or strong. He wants his players to think that they can do much better and be the best.
14.) I feel that the first twelve chapters of the novel were very detailed. I love reading lots of detail, that way there is nothing for me to be unsure of or confused about. I feel that Robert Cormier must have had some serious bullying issues growing up as he writes of these people. I feel like I know the characters, both students and teachers. The first twelve chapters really open a story, which can be compared to realistic life today. I do not man my life, but the life of student sand teachers and civilians that are tortured. I see many terrible stories of bullying on the news and it makes me feel sorry for the victims, but makes me understand why these bullies do what they do.
The chocolate war pre reading
1. Robert Comier was born on January 17, 1925, in Leominister, MA. Robert was the second of eight children. His father Lucien was a factory worker, and the family, like so many others during the depression were struggling with the rent and had to move many times during his life at home. He attended St. Cecillia’s Parochial school, a private catholic school, in which he wrote his first poem in the sixth grade, but he was also traumatized as he saw his house burn down from the classroom window, and couldn’t leave to check on his family, because a nun said he could not leave until he had recited on the rosary. This gave him bitter feelings toward the Catholic Church for many years to come. Of his many works, The Chocolate War is the most notorious due to the fact that it is number two on the most banned book list.
3.The short story, the bully was a very good example of the bullying and such that went on in old schools and that still goes on today. I think everyone feels like the author at some point in their lives, especially when he says that no one would stand up to him because they were scared they would get it too. I know there have been several times that I have seen a fellow student be pushed around or beaten, for some bully’s enjoyment. No one wants to help someone they don’t know and then be prosecuted for it. I think that the author showed in the ending how he thinks bullies should be dealt with; non-violently.
4. My eighth grade year there was a boy who continuously taunted me on the bus ride home from the middle school. He had said very specific things not only about me but my family also. Then on one day in March he started trying to push me off the bus faster than I was going. I told him to stop but he then resorted to calling me names, which only angered me, further. I then said, “say that one more time” and he did so I turned around and punched him square between the eyes. That was probably not the smartest thing to do because I broke his nose and knocked him backward into the bus driver. So at this point his nose was bleeding profusely and I was escorted off the bus and to my mother’s car upon which my mother was told that I had hit another kid and I was suspended from school for three days, with the other kid only receiving one day of in school suspention.
1. The first sentence had a sort of shock factor to it, from looking at the book you would not expect the first words to be they murdered him. it also shows some of the "in your face" later in the book.
2. yes i do think i have to stay on some people's good side, like my parents and teachers due to the fact that if i am not they could make my life miserable. Much like Jerry having to stay on the coaches good side.
3. It would bother me to say the least, to know someone had that much information about me. It would probably make me paranoid and cautious when i was around whoever had the information about me.
4.i think that the man at the bus stop sees jerry for what he is, a kid who is only absorbed in what he is doing, which in Jerry's case would be football. He means that Jerry is only seeing a small sliver of the world around him and is rushing through life to get where he is going.
5. Brother Leon is a teacher at trinity high school, who i think is after the job of the administrator. Why else would he mention the sick administrator and try to double the money raising efforts this year? He comes across as sly and manipulative, and i think he has the out look of the end justifies the means.
6. The vigils are like a gang within trinity high, and in my opinion have more control over the school than the teachers do. They show this by destroying brother Eugene's room. They also have a initiation which is very gang like.
7. He complies because he is scared of the vigils and i can see why. If Archie is having a teacher come to him and asking for help, it means that he runs the school and could make his life miserable. If i was him i probably would have argued over the assignment because i don't like to be pushed into doing something i think is a stupid idea.
8. I think brother leon is a bad teacher, he apparently picks on his students and just the way he walked through the class room gives the impression he thinks he is better than the people in his class. Yes i have seen teachers pick on students but not to the same degree as Brother Leon picked on Bailey.
9. Yes i know plenty of people like Emile, who will do things like tap their foot in class or even do things just to get attention or just to embarrass some one. Heck i've even done it before, just for a good time, but i don't think any of them would siphon gas out of a car.
10. They pick on Eugene because he is easy to anger or humiliate. Much like lions picking the weakest gazelle, in other words, its easier to pick on him than say Leon or some on higher up the food chain.
to be continued...
Tania Waller
3rd Period
Part 1 Questions
1.) The first sentence caught my attention and made me want to continue reading. I think that’s why the author chose this sentence. The first sentence is usually the sentence that is supposed to grab your attention.
2.) Well, I kind of feel like I have to stay on the good side of my mother. Plainly because she is the one who decides what I can and cannot do, and if I was on her bad side, then almost everything I ask would be a no.
3.) If I found out someone was keeping private information about me then I would be furious. It is one thing when people talk about you behind your back, but when it is written down like Obie’s notebook, I wouldn’t be too happy about it.
4.) The guy from the bus stop is contemptuous of Jerry because he says Jerry is a middle-aged boy at only fourteen. He is saying he is missing out on things because he is in a routine and all he does is go to school then come home and do homework. Most teenagers should be having fun and getting into trouble.
5.) Brother Leon is a teacher at Trinity. On the outside he looks like a pushover but in his classroom he was different. He was sarcastic and could hold anyone’s attention with his voice.
6.) The Vigils are an organization within the school that kept things under control. The Vigils controlled the school so you didn’t even act like they were there.
7.) The Goober accepted the assignment because it was what everyone else did. There was no way out and the laws of the Vigils were final.
8.) Brother Leon is the type of teacher that all of the students were terrified of. I have personally never seen a teacher pick on a student nor have I ever been picked on by a teacher.
9.) I do know a few people who have Emile’s characteristics. He is the type of person who never played by the rules and knew exactly how to get on everyone’s nerves and drive them crazy.
10.) They chose to pick on Brother Eugene because he is weaker than most of the teachers at Trinity. He is more vulnerable and emotional which would make him an easier target to pick on.
11.) Jerry feels he can’t talk to his father because when his mother died he felt abandonment from his father. He could remedy the situation by trying to talk to his father. I have in a way felt this way before, but not exactly. On some subjects I feel uncomfortable talking to my parents about things. The way I would remedy the situation would be to try and overcome that and talk to them more and I will eventually become more comfortable talking to them.
12.) I have had to sell for school fundraisers but not anything like the chocolates they had to sell in the book. In the book, they don’t really have an option on whether or not to sell the chocolates. I didn’t have to sell for my school fundraiser. It was voluntary. The pressure in selling the chocolates is that they are asked every morning how many boxes they have sold. The students are terrified of the teachers which puts more pressure on them for selling the chocolates.
13.) In chapter twelve, the coach is very impatient with all the students. In my opinion, his behavior suggests that his view towards the students at Trinity is that he wants them to be the best, and they are not.
14.) So far in the first twelve chapters of the Chocolate War, I personally really like the book. The school is not like other schools. There are similarities between our school and Trinity. We both have the bullying and there are students in our school that act like the students at Trinity. The schools are also different too. There are organizations like The Vigils at Trinity. There are teachers who pick on the students and give them special assignments to do. There are characters who are completely different from each other. When I read the book, I kind of feel like it is happening at our school, which helps me really get into the book.
Pre-Reading
1. Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 1925, in Leominster, MA. He was the second child of Lucien Joseph and Irma Margaret Cormier. During the depression, his family moved several times. Even as he moved out on his own, he would never live more than three miles away from the house he was born. Robert attended a private school, in which it shaped is life in more ways than one. He wrote his first poem in sixth grade; a nun at the school encouraged him to write. That’s the first time he considered to be a writer. Robert’s mom was always there for him and encouraged him to keep writing and never criticized his poems like his teachers did. What I learned about Robert was that he was a very nice and intelligent man. Many people liked him; in college he was president of his senior class. He was an amazing author, even at a young age.
2. The Bully was an interesting short story, that teaches you a lesson. In the short story the bully George finally being confronted instead of him confronting somebody else. He’s surprised at first, but than he realizes that he can’t go around picking on other people and expect to get away with it. At some point in your life you may become the bully and will be bullied. Bullying is something that happens constantly in schools. The story relates to real life perfectly. Somewhere there’s a kid hoping and praying that the bully will leave him alone or not be there. Bullying is a bad thing that needs to be stopped.
3. I personal feel like I was bullied all most every day by my older sister when I was younger. Now she still picks on me but she’s also my best friend. But everyday I would wake up and pray that she would be in a good mood. I believe the worst bully is your sibling. They know how to push your buttons more than anybody you know and trust me, they will. She would pick on me to the point where I would cry. They only way I knew how to deal with it was to tell mom and dad. That didn’t always work; sometimes it would make situations worse. Sooner or later I decided I needed to stand up for myself. So when she was picking on me, I stood up and pushed her. Needless to say, it worked. Well she didn’t pick on me as much!
Reading Questions
1. The first sentence of the book made me think somebody actually died and that there was going to be a huge war scene in the first chapter. I think the author used that sentence to get the readers attention.
2. No I do not feel like I have to stay on the good side of anybody in my life. The way I feel is if somebody doesn’t like me than they don’t like me. I’m not going to change who I am for them.
3. I’d would personal feel violated, because that’s my person information and my business not somebody else’s. If that ever happened to me, I don’t know exactly what I would do. I would probably talk to somebody in charge and get to the bottom of why he or she had that information and how they got a hold of it.
4. The man at the bus stop in contemptuous of Jerry because Jerry was staring at him and his friends. Though that’s what it says in the book I believe he said something to Jerry because he’s jealous that he has a better life than what he does. In the text he says, “You stand here and look at us. With your homework books and your nice shirt and your blue-and-white tie.” By talking about his clothes you get the impression that he doesn’t have those nice things. I think when he says “missing a lot in the world,” I think he means like he hasn’t lived life on the edge or he hasn’t done anything bad.
5. Brother Leon is as evil as Archie. He’s manipulative and unconcerned about the consequences of his actions. Brother Leon uses Archie for power and protection. He enjoys watching Archie pick on the other students. Brother Leon controls everyone including the teachers, administrators, and students.
6. The Vigils is a gang at the school consisting of a bunch of students. Students not apart of The Vigils stay away from them because the scare them by commanding and torturing other students.
7. Goober has to complete the assignment because if he doesn’t than The Vigils will just torture him. When the give you an assignment and Archie pick the right marble you have to complete it no matter what. If I was in that situation I would probably complete the assignment they gave me.
8. Brother Leon is one of the teachers at the school, but not a good teacher. He’s a jerk and bullies his students. He manipulates and taunts them. He isn’t one of the teachers that you can actually learn from. I’ve seen teachers pick on students before right in front of the class. It makes me extremely made to when that happens, I always wanted to say something or tell someone but I never did. I personally have never been picked on by another teacher.
9. I’ve known plenty of people with Emile‘s characteristics, but not all. Emile is a bully and known as a thug. He’s actually beyond a bully; he uses his own form of cruelty, physical and mental. He’s mean and doesn’t care what people think, he will do anything Archie tells him to.
10. I think they chose to pick on Brother Eugene because he’s an emotional person, bully’s pick on people are emotion and have low self-esteem. In the book Obie says, “In the meantime, Brother Eugene would do. He was a peaceful sort, made to order Archie, naturally.” Archie chose to do that to his room because he knew it would cause a ruckus and Brother Eugene wouldn’t know what to do.
11. In chapter 9, you see that Jerry can’t really talk to his father and when he does all he says is, “fine.” He feels like his father sleep walks, as in not really there. I think if Jerry talks to his father about how he feels he may be able to get through to him. For me that’s not really a problem, I know my dad doesn’t understand a lot of things but he will sit there and listen to what I have to say.
12. When I was in middle school we had to do fundraisers. During the time I had to sell, I was very stressed out. We had to sell so much and we would get a prize. I wanted that prize so much, but my parents wouldn’t buy anything from me. In this novel, the drive to sell the chocolates was for The Vigils was Archie. He told them they should be proud for Brother Leon to ask for their help.
13. Coach to me seems like a real jerk. By reading chapter 12, coach wasn’t much for smiling or giving complements. He was more like a drill sergeant. He don’t show any emotion at all. I really don’t think he likes the students at Trinity, or he just doesn’t care.
14. The first 12 chapters were very interesting to me. At the beginning of book I was automatically intrigued by the first there words, “They murdered him.” Those first three words made so many thoughts run through my head. At first I thought somebody had actually been killed and the whole book was going to be like a crime scene. And than I thought there was a war going on. I was wrong. The first chapter wasn’t anything I expected, but it was good. Then in chapter 6, I was totally shocked at the way Brother Leon was treated his students. But this only made me want to keep reading. I think this is going to be a great book.
Hillary Johnson
3/12/09
Honors English ll
Pre-Reading Questions
1. Robert Cormier was born on January 17, 1925, in Leominster, MA. In his family, there were eight children, and he was the second oldest. He grew up during the depression causing his family to move a lot, due to the fact that they could no afford to live in the same place for a long period of time. Though, they never moved out of the same area called French Hill. He attended a private catholic school, where he wrote his first poem, which was in 6th grade. This was when he first considered himself as being a writer. He attended Leominster High School and Fitchburg State College, where he graduated as the President of his class. His first novel was published in 1960, after his father had passed away. This encouraged him to write. He wrote about a man who had lung cancer who knew that he was dying, but hid that fact, so he wouldn’t be a burden on his family. He wrote, “The Chocolate War,” when his son refused to sell chocolate for his school, because Robert took it as peer pressure, and that is where he got his idea for the book. On November 2, 2000, Cormier died of lung cancer.
2. –Read “The Bully”
3. The short story, “The Bully, “ by Graham Pockett seemed like something that every little boy would dream of. Every little boy always dreams of standing up to the bully in every school, and that is what happened in the story. Keith stood up to the school bully, and it actually worked. Bullying is something that everybody goes to growing up, and it’s something that everybody has to deal with. When I was in elementary school, you were considered as the “hero” if you stood up to a bully, but in the story Keith couldn’t be considered as that, because nobody would believe him. I really liked how the author told the whole story as when he was a little boy, and then he related it to his life when he is older. That was a very good technique.
4. Starting at the beginning of my sophomore year, a lot of stuff happened to me, socially. My reputation just kind of went down the drain, causing most of the seniors in my school to not like me. The fact that they do not like me does not bother me, but the way they act about it does. I can walk down the hallways at school, and they call me names, and whisper about me, loud enough for me to hear them, when most of the time, they have no idea what they are talking about. Through the middle of the school year, I would always avoid the areas that they were always at, so I wouldn’t have to deal with the bullying, or name calling, but then I really thought it out. Why should I have to go out of my way to not be around them? Why should they have the right to ruin my sophomore year? I finally came to the conclusion that I don’t care what they say about me anymore, and now I actually find more ways to go around them, because I like the fact that they are always talking about me. I’m always on their mind. =]
Reading Questions Part 1:
1. When I first read the sentence, I thought that somebody had died. I thought that the book was going to start out in the big, violent scene of somebody getting murdered. I didn’t think that it was going to be about somebody getting hit at football practice. I think the author used this sentence to get our attention, and to make us think about the possibilities of what really happened.
2. There are certain people that I feel like I have to stay on the good side of. These certain people usually are someone who has authority in activities that I take place in. I feel like this in case I ever need help, that person will be able to help me. I only go so far with staying on their good side though.
3. If somebody were keeping private information about me, I wouldn’t care as much, as long as they kept it to themselves. I would want to know what was inside the notebook about me though, and I would want to know where they had gotten the information.
4. The man at the bus stop was so contemptuous of Jerry, because Jerry would stare at them everyday, like they were in a zoo. The man told Jerry that he’s “missing a lot in the world,” because he says that Jerry acts like he is middle-aged, when he is only 14. He means that Jerry hasn’t been able to live like a kid, and is already wishing his life away. He goes through the same routine everyday, when the man is just telling him to live outside of the routine.
5. Brother Leon was a teacher at their private school. He was a teacher who was always using the same pattern that the students had gotten used to, pretty early. He was a man who always shocked his students by using words like crap, and cuss words.
6. The Vigils are the group of bullies in the school. They are the students who always want to beat up everybody, and bully them. The other students in the school ignore them, because they are afraid of them, and do not want to be around them.
7. Goober had to comply with the assignment because the Vigils told him that it was a tradition at the school. Goober also felt like he had to go along with the assignment because the Vigils are bullies, so therefore he was probably afraid to turn them down. If I were Goober, I would have probably went along with the Vigils’ assignment, because I would be afraid to get a beating from them if I did not.
8. Brother Leon is the type of teacher that is always doing the same routine. The school year had just started and the students had already learned how every one of their assignments was, and what order. He was also kind of an unpredictable teacher, shocking the students with his language. The students always wanted to be on his good side, because he was also kind of scary. Any opportunity that he gets, he will pick on a student. I have a teacher right now, how kind of picks on me. Whenever I would ask a question about something, the teacher always acts like I am stupid, and she does this to the rest of the class also.
9. Emile’s characteristics seem to me to be the type of person that always wants to get into trouble. Throughout the novel, she is always doing something wrong, that could get her into a lot of trouble. I know a few students in my school that aren’t always looking for trouble, but just make wrong decisions and get into it anyways.
10. The Vigils choose to pick on Brother Eugene because he is just an old innocent man that can easily be picked on. He is the type of person that lets anybody run over him, and not say a word. He is just an old man, that doesn’t want any trouble, so he comes off as an easy target.
11. Jerry really wants to talk to his father, but he does not know how too. This is where Jerry needs to put all of his awkwardness behind him and just sit his dad down and just open up. He doesn’t need to worry about what his father is going to say, until he actually gets the guts to tell him the situation. I feel like this with my mother sometimes. I always feel as if she will think I am stupid and that she won’t understand. But then I just put the awkward stage behind me, and talk to her anyways, not caring what she is going to think.
12. When I was a cheerleader, I had to fundraise and sell a lot of things. Things from flowers, to candy, to t-shirts. When I sell things, I really don’t feel pressured until I have to start asking people to buy, and then I kind of get embarrassed. If I didn’t reach a certain quota, then I would get punished and then the pressure really got to me. I think that the pressure in the novel is when the students tried to sell things to the Vigils, because they were kind of intimidating.
13. In chapter 12, I saw a new side of the coach. The coach really brought out his mean side toward his players, and wasn’t letting them get by with mediocre practices. The coach yelled at his players a lot, but I believe that he was doing this so that his players would get better. He thinks that yelling at his players will push them more, and get them pumped up.
14. During the first 12 chapters of the book, I really started to get into the book. When I first started reading, I thought that the novel would be about some nerd trying to make it through high school, but now I realize that it is showing different sides of different cliques in a school. I really like how the novel shows different views of people, and how they cooperate with the Vigils, and how they deal with their bullying. The novel shows how the students deal with the bullying, then it shows how even the teachers deal with the bullying as well.
1.The first sentence in the book says “they murdered him.” This sentence, especially starting out a book, could allow the reader to wonder what kind of murder is in this book. Immediately after that sentence you soon find out that it is talking about a boy getting hit in football. The author, to create a sort of curiosity for the reader, used this metaphor. The reader will want to keep reading because this sentence is so mysterious.
2. Yes. I feel that everyone has someone in their life in which they always want to keep on their “good side.” In other words they always want this person to like them for a certain reason. Usually I want to keep someone on my good side if I want something from them (perhaps a grade or something of that sort). Also, I like to keep someone on my good side if I know that they can get mean. I hate to cause confrontation and fights so therefore I will remain on someone’s good side to stay away from conflict.
3. If I found out that someone was keeping a book full of private information about me, I would feel violated. My personal information is important to me, and so is my privacy. No one likes to be personal violated and that is what would happen. If I ever find this out, the first thing I would do is confront this person about it. If they denied having this information I would probably go find it myself and take care of the problem quickly.
4.The man at the bus stop seems to be very creepy and mysterious. He makes several comments to innocent Jerry as he walks by to the bus. The man may be contemptuous of Jerry because he wants something from him, or he may be a member of the Vigils. If he is a member of the Vigils then he is there to harass him and possibly pull him into some kind of trick. The man also says to Jerry that he’s “missing a lot in the world.” Apparently the man sees Jerry walk to the bus stop every single day. The man must realize that he has the same routine every day and always does the same boring things. So maybe the man wants Jerry to realize that there is a whole world out there to experience and he doesn’t have to have the same routine and do the same exact things every single day.
5. Brother Leon is one of the teachers at Trinity High School. He is a very unpredictable teacher and all of the kids are in a way afraid of him. He is one of those teachers you always want to stay on the good side. Brother Leon is sneaky and conniving. You never know what he will do next. In the book he accused Gregory Bailey of cheating; knowing that he hadn’t, just to see if his fellow classmates would stand up for him. Unfortunately they didn’t, but Brother Leon did this only to prove a point. Sometimes Brother Leon can be nice and innocent, and one of the student’s favorites, but other times he is unpredictable and scary.
6.The Vigils are a group of boys who in this day would be considered “bullies.” It is like a club that was started in the Trinity High School and the boys in this club go around constantly harassing people in a very weird way. Archie, the assigner, gives random students assignments in which he knows will either get them into trouble, or cause them humiliation. This is, to Archie, the worst kind of punishment/ bullying. Everyone in the school knows to ignore the Vigils. This is because the teachers know that there is nothing they can do to stop these boys from continuing the bullying and harassing. Other students always ignore them because they really don’t want to be the next victim of a Vigil assignment. They are also all afraid of the Vigils.
7. Goober is assigned by the Vigils to unscrew every single screw in Brother Eugene’s classroom. This is not only dangerous to do this in a school, because it is a big violation of the rule, but it also is creepy for Goober to be in the school after dark all-alone. He had to comply with this assignment because Archie drew a white marble from the bag. If he would have drawn a black one then the deal was that Archie would have had to complete the assignment himself. Archie has never had this happen to him. He has always conquered the assignment and the victim ended up doing it. If I were Goober, I would have tried my best to stand up for myself. Instead of being scared of the Vigils I would stand up for myself and tell them what I thought. I would tell them that none of the stuff they were doing is right at all. Everything is wrong, the bullying and harassing.
8. Brother Leon is the kind of teacher that everyone tries to be on his good side. He is unpredictable and kind of scary. He will do whatever it takes to pick on a student if it means slapping them with a pointer stick. I have never seen a student be physically hurt by a teacher, but I have seen a student be picked on by a teacher. If a teacher does not like a student it shouldn’t affect the way they teach them. I personally have never been picked on by any of my teachers. If this were to happen to me I would hope the class would take up for me if they were my friends. Although, when I have seen this done the class would either laugh or just sit there in silence.
9. Emile Janza is a kid in the story who seems to always be looking for trouble. When he was first introduced in the book, he was stealing gas out of another student’s car. I know a few people that have these characteristics. The characteristics in these people are sneaky, and nothing but trouble.
10. They wanted to pick on Brother Eugene because he was the type who could easily be bothered. He was innocent and old. Brother Eugene was devastated by the incident and it pleased the Vigils to see this. Also, in Brother Eugene’s classroom screws held every single thing together. It was the perfect room to do this too.
11. Jerry feels as if he can’t talk to his father. He wishes he could. A way he could remedy this situation is to just open up. If Jerry will just sit down and talk to his father about a problem that he has then maybe his father will begin to open up and talk as well. Yes, I have had this situation happen to me. The way I fixed it was going to that person and talking about the situation. If the person cares and is willing to help then their reaction will be opening up to you as well.
12. As a fundraiser I have had to sell multiple things. Some examples are candy, shirts, and cookies. When I have to sell things I always feel pressure because there is always a certain profit you have to have or a certain amount you have to sell. If you don’t sell this amount then there is always something to pay or consequences to face. The pressure in the novel to sell is the Vigils.
13. In chapter 12 of the novel, the coach was pushing the players to do what he wanted. All coaches have their own way of pushing their team to success and this coach yelled a lot. Even though he may have sounded angry, he still had pride and believed in his players. The behavior of the coach suggested that he had faith in them, and that he knew he could push them to their very last limit on the field, but they would still come off winners.
14. After reading the first 12 chapters of the novel, I found that the book related to me and was very interesting to read. I feel that the novel is a very good book for high school students to read because it talks about the same things that can happen in reality, and it relates to me as well. I also feel that the Vigils are absolutely wrong in what they do and what they believe I right. They are only bullies trying to rule the school and they succeed in doing nothing but harassing and treating other kids wrongly. What I feel strongly about is the way the teachers and officials in the novel react the Vigils. It angers me to see that these teachers are ignoring the fact that there is a club in the school that does nothing but bully. The teachers should do something about it and fix this problem. It is not only danger to the other students, but it is also ridiculous that it is allowed at Trinity High School and that there are no punishments or consequences for these students doing this.
(1.) Robert Cormier was born in January 17, 1925 in Loeminster, Ma. His father worked as a factory worker and he had 8 siblings all living together usually in small apartments. As a child he lived during a historical time period called the great depression, he went to a private catholic school called St. Cecilia’s Parochial school. After high school we went to college at Fitchburg State College and his teacher there really was impressed with his writing skills and published a writing he did over night without his consent to do so and won 75 dollars. After that his life took off he worked at different places during his life and got married and had 4 children and 10 grandchildren. He wont different awards in his life time for example best human interest story of they year along with others.
(2.)Bulling is uncalled for in general. There is no need to gain a mental and physical power over another human being. Bulling in the storey place a mental role on how the main character sees his life and his fellow student, he is scared to speak out or say anything to George and the other bullies. When the main character stand up for himself and bluffs the bully he gain his confidence and self pride along with his brave act of stand up for his self. Bulling in general is not necessary and could be avoided and the world would be a much better place with out it.
(3.)When I was a younger boy around 9 my older bother use to bully me around all the time just because he knew he could get away with it and didn’t want to do something very simple because it took up his time. At that time I was very timid and scared of my brother because he was older than me by bout 4 years and I knew in my mind I had no chance to standup for myself or id I would have gained the courage I would pay for it. I didn’t want that to happen to me so I stood down and let my brother control me.
(1.)The first sentence of chocolate wars was “ they murdered him.” The author used it because he wants the reader to wonder why he was murdered and what way he was using the word murdered.
(2.)In life I think you do because you will always have someone over your head in different cases suck as jobs, money, and others and if your on there bad side they will look at you less than what you really are.
(3.)If someone had privet information of my keep in a book I would feel very unsafe because they could use it against me for black mail and some stuff in my life I don’t want everyone knowing
(4.)At the bus stop the man tells Jerry to come over there because he always stares at him every day. When he tells Jerry he’s “missing a lot of the world”. He means going to school day after day going home and doing work and then going to bed he don’t see what’s in the world.
(5.)Brother Leon is a teacher at the privet school trying to get Archie and the secret group “ the vigils” to sell twenty thousand candy bars. Because the school don’t have the money to keep going.
(6.)The vigils are a secret society in school. The teachers ignore them because they need them.
(7.)His assignment was to loosen all the bolds in room 19, he did it because he always tried to please everybody and he is scared to say no to the Vigils. I would have not did it because I don’t have no one to please all the time.
(8.)Mr. Leon is a teacher that likes to prey on students that he knows he can scare and make them look foolish and embarrass them in front of other students.
(9.)Emile’s was a kid who loved to harass teachers by sitting in the front by whistling, grunting, belching, tapping his foot, and sniffling. He is a punk kind of kid and yeah I do know kids like that in our school.
(10.)They choose to pick brother Eugene is the weaker brother and because everything in his room is held up by screws
(11.)He could fix the situation with his father if Jerry would try to help build a bond with his father instead of feeling like they have nothing in common. I have felt that way with my step dad I could fix our situation if I could learn to listen to him and stop back talking.
(12.)I had to sell candles for a school fundraiser and I have not ever felt any pressure because when I was littler I never took the fundraiser serious. The board with the sellers name on it and the competition of selling to the candy bars to be 1st on the bored.
(13.)The coach is a typical football coach that don’t show any emotion to a player when he does something good and loves it he don’t congratulate them and when they do something bad he lets he player know about his mistake.
(14.) The first 12 chapters of Chocolate wars is ok. I like it for the most part sometime though the book really isn’t very exciting to me its like I am just reading words but, yet again in some chapters of the book I don’t want to put it down. Some small things I like about the book is it talks about sports and I can always read things about sports. Another is the chapters are really short so it gives me a chance to do other school related work. Over all I really do like the book and I really want to see what the outcome will be.
Pre-reading Questions
1)Robert Cormier was one of only eight children. He lived during the depression, and moved many times throughout his childhood, but always in the same general area. It must have been quite hard on Robert to have to move so many places. Your home is somewhere that you should feel comfortable in, somewhere that you can call your own, but a child can’t exactly do that when their “home” is always changing. Not only was Robert affected by where he lived, but where he was educated as well. It is said that Robert witnessed his own house burning through the school window, but the nun who was teaching him wouldn’t allow him to check on his family until after he recited the rosary. This could be very harming to a child, feeling as if your superiors don’t care about how you feel. However, his family and teachers all seemed to encourage his writing skills. His mother was always pushing him to do his best at writing. After graduating he was encouraged by one of his professors at Fitchburg State College, once she had read one of his compositions. He wrote a short story after her words of advise and allowed her to read it the very next day. Without his knowing, she sent the story into a magazine, and later gave him seventy-five dollars, as prize money for the publishing of his writing. He did work as a reporter, and wire editor for a paper, then associate editor, until he was asked to write a human interest column. In 1973 his column won the K.R. Thomson Newspaper Award for the best column among writers. He then continued on in writing any novels such as, “The Chocolate War” and “I Am the Cheese”. He may have had a seemingly difficult childhood, but nothing but good came of it. He progressed in his works throughout the span of many years, and has written many novels in his 75 years of life.
2)We have all had our encounters with people who don’t mind being mean to someone, whether we were just people standing by, or the victims ourselves. This story is an example of how other people find it okay to belittle someone else because of their differences, or just because they can. Instead of doing something productive with their time, they find entertainment in watching another human being cringe where they lie. It may start out with name-calling, but escalades when the victim defends them self. This is where the victim realizes that words can’t defend everything, when fists begin to fly at their “four eyes”. Bullying isn’t about making someone else feel bad, it isn’t about your reputation, bullies do what they do, for themselves. They don’t have enough self-respect, and they take that out on other people. Seeing someone else fall down makes him or her feel strong. Seeing someone else cower down gives the bully the confidence that they lack. Bullies are just like their victims on the inside.
3)I have felt bullied many times in my life. The time that stands out most in my mind was an incident that happened in the 5th grade. While sitting at lunch eating my food, my arch enemy Robbie Collins was sitting next to me. Earlier in class we had been calling each other names, but it progressively got worse while we were eating our lunches. I can't really remember the previous conversation, but what I do remember was what he called me. We were sitting there, and I was waiting for him to come back at me with something harmless, but instead he called me fat. At that instant I felt very embarrassed, as if I was the biggest person in the lunchroom and everyone knew it. I didn't want to let it show, so instead I decided to be dramatic about the situation and violently pushed my tray away from myself, instead of finishing my food. I thought that if people saw me pushing my tray away, they would assume that I didn't eat a lot, which would also think that I wasn't fat. Maybe it was just my 5th grade logic that caused me to think such things, but as I look back on it now, the whole ordeal was pretty stupid.
1) The very first sentence in "The Chocolate War" is "They murdered him." This sentence grabs the readers attention. When first reading this sentence you find yourself reading more and more to find out what exactly happened, or what the author is talking about.
2) I always feel like I have to stay on my parent's good sides. Simply because they control my life as of right now. I can't do anything I want to do without their approval. Lets just say things go much easier if they are happy with me. I can always find a way to do what I want if they are in a good mood, or if they are proud of me, but if I start acting up, I have no life outside of school.
3) If I found out about someone having information about me hidden away in some secret diary, I would feel an array of mixed emotions. First of all, I'd be upset with them for not being able to be upfront about all of the things that they had written about me. It would probably have a greater effect on me if the person talking about me was someone I was close to. It would make me feel as if I was being back stabbed, but if it was just some random acquaintance, I probably wouldn't be as concerned.
4) The man at the bus stop feels as if Jerry thinks he is better than him. The man talks about what Jerry is wearing, as if he is dressed nice compared to him and his "hippie" friends, and he believes that Jerry thinks this makes him better than the man. What the man means when he tells Jerry that he is missing a lot in the world is that, life isn't all about doing homework and being all dressed up, and what they are doing is experiencing life to the fullest, and because they don't care as much about the type of things that Jerry cares about.
5) Brother Leon is a teacher that everyone has a general respect for. Most of the students never know what kind of mood he is in, because he is always switching up the way he reacts to things. He is very tricky.
6) The vigils are a bunch of rough kids, that control the rest of the school. Kids at school don't usually associate with "The Vigils" out of fear. They give different "assignments", most of which are quite hard to complete, and if you are caught doing that "assignment" it could mean big trouble for you.
7) Goober agrees to do the assignment mainly out of fear. He is told by the rest of "The Vigils" that if he does not complete the assignment, bad things will happen for him. If I was put into Goober's shoes, I would not have fallen under peer pressure when it came to "doing as I was told".
8) Brother Leon is a very strange teacher. He uses a lot of trickery when he is teaching. I have had a few teachers that don't treat other students fairly, simply because of the way they act in class. I do believe that if you act like a child you should be treated as one, but some teacher take that too far. Most of the time, when a teacher can't stand a kid, neither can the rest of the class, so most of the time nothing is ever done or said. It's just the way things are.
9) I have been introduced to quite a few people that have the same characteristics as Emile. He is a very rude person, that doesn't seem to care about other people. He only cares about his wants and needs, and it doesn't matter what he does to receive those things.
10) Brother Eugene is a character that won't react harshly to what they have done to his room.
11) Jerry always seems to talk about the same things with his father. Nothing new ever comes up. Maybe his father has too much on his mind to recall anything interesting about his day at work, so Jerry could be the one to talk about things that happened to him at school or while playing football. I think everyone, myself included, always feels like someone isn't giving their all in a conversation. You just have to bring up more topics, or think of something comical. That always eases conversations up a bit.
12) I have had to sell candy and candles before to earn money to go on a BETA trip. I felt pressured to sell as much as possible, that way my parents wouldn't have to come up with so much money to support my needed funds. The students are expected to sell double the amount of chocolates sold in previous years. Brother Leon stated that they sold a sufficient amount of chocolate last year, and there shouldn't be any reason as to why they couldn't sell double that amount this year.
13) The coach is very hard on his players. He wants and expects the freshmen boys to show off all that he has taught them. He wants them to exceed people's expectations of the small flimsy freshman players.
14) "The Chocolate War", so far, is a novel about the hardships that go on in a school called "Trinity". This school consists of tricky teachers, harsh football coaches, and a bunch of students with sad lives. One boy, Jerry, has lost his mother, and conversation with his father rarely exists. There have been many occasions where someone has had to take up for themselves, or has lacked in self defense. A group of kids called "The Vigils", boss around students with ease. Nobody tries to stop them, and nobody goes against their rules. You do as they say or get punished. Then there was the incident with a student being accused of cheating by his teacher. The teacher hounded him and hounded him, calling him a cheater for many different reasons. He stood up for himself, but his classmates followed to defend him. I believe this book is going to be an example of life's hardships, and how we as people, should be able to take up for ourselves, because in times of need, you don't always have someone to lean on.
Megan Smallwood
3rd Period
1.The first sentence of the novel was "they murdered him". The effect was attention grabbing, and made me want to read on. The author used this technique for this purpose.
2.I do feel this way, but not often. I don't think someone should walk on egg shells their entire life just to impress people. I believe in being yourself and having the ones there that love you for that. However, there are some situations where you need to be on the good side.
3.I would be very curious to read the facts about me. I would feel very alarmed, knowing someone could leak into my privacy and find out personal information about me.
4.Jerry was very puzzled as to why the man always stared at him. The man was examining how much better Jerry's life was, although jerry was too focused on school and being perfect to see the great things in life.
5.Brother Leon was a very cruel professor at school. He often times singled students out to see if they would question his authority.
6.The Vigils are sort of a gang at the school. They complete the tasks that Archie gives them, and are mainly ignored because the start trouble and have power.
7.Goober has to do the assignment because it was given to him by the vigils. Goober had a large amount of peer pressure forced upon him with the assignment, I would like to think I would decline the assignment but pree pressure can be deceiving sometimes.
8.Brother Leon is a very intimidating individual. I have never witnessed a teacher picking on a student to this extreme, but i have seen this happen. I can think of a few times I've been kinda picked on, I don't get embarrased easily so I really didn't mind. The class found humor out of it, as i did too.
9.Emile is always looking for trouble, and finds it alot. Emile is often looking for attention as well, I know many people with these same traits.
10.Brother Eugene was very easily irritated and this is why they choose to pick on him. They wanted to see him suffer, and knew he didn't have the power Brother Leon did.
11. Confronting his father would be the easiest remedy. I can relate to this, I rarely tell my dad anything about my personal life. However, my mom knows everything about me, it's very frustrating.
12. I've gone through countless fundraisers all with the same attitude. I know if I don't see them all there will be some sort of consequence. The only motivation in the novel is that they will be on Brother Leon's bad side.
13. Although the coach gets anrgy and yells multiple times, it still shows that he cares for the team an wants them to do well. As any other coach would, he is trying to motivate his players by giving them thick skin.
14. The first 12 chapters of the novel ran many thoughts through my head. At a first glance it comes off as confusing, boring, and maybe have a lost meaning. But as you decode the novel you realize most people can relate to the novel with the peer pressure, bullying, and many other scenarios in the story. As the conflict continues and the trouble gets deeper readers get hooked, as if it were ones own situation. Cormier did a very good job at writing this novel so that many readers can personally relate. I am beginning to really enjoy reading this novel.
Haylee
Blogspot questions 1
1. The first sentence of the book made me think something bad happened to someone, which had led into a huge war scene in the first chapter. I think the author used that sentence to get the viewers attention.
2. No I don’t feel like I have to stay on the good side of anybody in my life. The way I feel is if somebody doesn’t like me than they don’t like me. I’m not going to change who I am for them, and honestly no one else should change neither. You are who you are. It would make me feel very uncomfortable, just because that would be my person information and my business, not somebody else’s to go share, or do whatever, with the world.
3. If that ever happened to me, there is only one way to really solve it, which is just talk it out with the person, see why they are saying things and how they received their information.
4. The bus stop is a very significant point in the novel for Jerry. He meets a man who has noticed Jerry staring day after day and this man comes and confronts Jerry. This strange man calls Jerry square because he can tell that Jerry is acting a lot older than what he really is instead of living his life and making everyday special to him. When he tells Jerry that he is “missing a lot in the world” he realizes that they are right. He then realizes that he doesn’t do anything new or on his own pace, he lives his life by routine.
5. Brother Leon is as evil as Archie. He’s manipulative and unconcerned about the consequences of his actions. Brother Leon uses Archie for power and protection. He enjoys watching Archie pick on the other students. Brother Leon controls everyone including the teachers, administrators, and students.
6. The Vigils is a gang at the school consisting of a bunch of students. Students not apart of The Vigils stay away from them because the scare them by commanding and torturing other students.
7. The Vigils had sent an invitation to Goober, and he must attend the meeting to see what the assignment is. Goober is to sneak into Brother Eugene's room after school and unscrew everything such as desks, handles, chairs, and doors. He must loosen all the screws until they are barely in the hole, so that when the students come in and sit down, everything will fall apart, and they will fall to the ground.
8. Brother Leon is one of the teachers at the school, but not a good teacher. He’s a jerk and bullies his students. He manipulates and taunts them. He isn’t one of the teachers that you can actually learn from. I’ve seen teachers pick on students before right in front of the class. It makes me extremely made to when that happens, I always wanted to say something or tell someone but I never did. Another teacher personally has never picked me on.
9. I’ve known plenty of people with Emile‘s characteristics, but not all. Emile is a bully and known as a thug. He’s actually beyond a bully; he uses his own form of cruelty, physical and mental. He’s mean and doesn’t care what people think, he will do anything Archie tells him to, which also makes him a follower, he wants to fit it so he’s willing to do whatever there is needed to be done.
10. They choose him because he is a very easy target.
11. Even though Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father, he needs to try anyway. The only way to get his fathers attention is to look him straight in the eyes and say, “Dad, we need to talk.” I have actually felt that way many of times with my family. I feel like they don’t understand what I’m going through, or they would just make fun f the situation, therefore I don’t want to even look at them. But yet, I have to get over the stupid little thoughts in my head and just talk. Normally 8/10 chances they help me a lot. So it’s best just to go for it.
12. When I was in middle school we had to do fundraisers. During the time I had to sell, I was very stressed out. We had to sell so much and we would get a prize. I wanted that prize so much, but my parents wouldn’t buy anything from me. In this novel, the drive to sell the chocolates was for The Vigils was Archie. He told them they should be proud for Brother Leon to ask for their help.
13. The coach in this chapter is brought off to be a rough mean guy/coach. But honestly, I think it is a good thing for the coach to be like this, he pushes his players to the max so they can succeed at what they are doing.
14. So far, I enjoy the book. It’s different, and I like how it’s mainly about kids are age and what they go though. It talks about how kids go through football and being bullied by older kids. Which is just like any typical high school. Here at Greenup, we have students that experience this all the time. We have our football players, and the bullies, and just students. I really enjoy some of the chapters, but then sometimes it’s really hard for me to stay focused on.
1. What affect did the first sentence have on you? Why did the author use it? (ask this question again after reading the whole book)
I thought that someone was actually murdered and I wanted to know what happened.
It grabs the readers attention and makes them want to continue on.
2. Do you feel you have to stay on the good side of anyone in your life? Why?
I feel like I have to stay on my uncle Tim's good side because everyone in my family is afraid that he will leave and won't show up for a couple of years again.
3. What would you do/how would you feel if you found out someone was keeping private information about you? (like Obie’s notebook)
I wouldn't like it. The information may only be from a particular time and many not even be accurate. They could have the horrible things instead of good things about you.
4. Why is the man at the bus stop contemptuous of Jerry? What does he mean when he tells him he’s “missing a lot in the world?”
He wants to know why he is always staring at them before he gets on the bus. He says"missing a lot in the world?" because all Jerry ever does is his school work.
5. Who is Brother Leon? Describe him.
Brother Leon is the assistant head master and a teacher. In the class room he comes over as sarcastic, but outside the class room he is described as more of a pushover. He shows weakness in as the Vigils for help.
6. Who are the Vigils? Why does everyone in the school ignore the Vigils?
The Vigils are a gang of students at Trinity. Everyone stays clear of them and acts as if they don't exist because they are afraid of them.
7. Why does Goober have to comply with the assignment? What would you do?
Goober has to do it in order to fit in with the other vigils. The Vigils are powerful and he wants to fit in. Archie didn't draw the black marble so he doesn't have to do it.
8. What kind of a teacher is Brother Leon? Have you ever seen a teacher pick on a student? Have you ever been picked on by a teacher? What did the rest of the class do?
He uses weird language and different techniques to get his lesson across. He is a bit sarcastic too. When Brother Leon was picking on Bailey he is teaching on dictatorship. He praises Bailey for staying his ground while getting on to the other students for not sticking up for him.
Yes I have seen a teacher pick on a student like when they call on them and then makes them feel stupid for not having the correct answer.
9. Do you know anyone with any of Emile’s characteristics? What are they?
My cousin seems to show some characteristics that Emile has. He is very aggressive and destructive. These are some of the characteristics that Emile has.
10. Why do they choose to pick on Brother Eugene?
Brother Eugene comes over as a pushover who is kind at the heart. This makes him the perfect target to pick on. It is like he is inviting them to do so.
11. Jerry feels like he can’t talk to his father. How could he remedy the situation? Do you ever feel that way? How could you remedy the situation?
Though Jerry feels like he can't talk with his father maybe he could find something they are both interested in. That way they could have something to talk about. This may lead to them becoming closer and then he might feel like he could talk to his father about other things as well. He could just tell his dad how he feels. His dad may understand and try to work things out. Sometimes I feel as if I can't talk to my dad about somethings he talks about. My dad and I are close and I found that it is easier to tell him and work things out.
12. What have you had to sell for school fundraisers? Have you felt any pressure to sell? What drives the pressure to sell in this novel?
I have had to sell suckers, chocolates, magazines, cookie dough, T-shirts and other sorts of food items. Some were for school trips so that is where the pressure came from. The pressure in the novel comes from peer pressure. Brother Leon said that the sons of Trinity were the ones selling chocolates, that they were gentlemen after he had refused to sell.
13. Describe the coach in chapter 12. What does his behavior suggest about his views toward the students at Trinity?
He comes over as a rude man who doesn't like anyone who doesn't accomplish something great on the football team. He treats them like he hates them if they don't.
14. Write a 100-word response in which you discuss your feelings about the first 12 chapters of the book.
I think that I will really enjoy this book after reading the first 12 chapters. I really like Jerry for denying to sell chocolates and I'm not sure about my feeling about Archie. The characters are all really easy to relate to in this book. It makes the book more realistic to me due to this. this book has me very curious about thing like if Jerry will defy the Vigils. I
hope that he does because I think that it is stupid for students at Trinity to just go along with them because they are afraid.
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