Hey guys!
Here are your questions for the final 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.
Assuming that you do not have an excused absence before then, the final set of notebook questions will be due the Wednesday directly before Spring Break.
Good Luck!
Mr. Parsons
English II Honors
READING QUESTIONS
1. Who or what gives the Vigils such power?
2. Do you think Jerry should begin selling the chocolates? Why?
3. Carter punches Rollo when he talks back to Archie. What can we do when faced with the threat of physical violence?
4. Is the quote “All schools [have] animals” true? Explain your response.
5. What would you do if someone sabotaged your work?
6. Should Jerry tell his dad what’s going on?
7. What’s the difference between a spirit of brotherhood and what the boys of Trinity have?
8. Have you ever been in a fight? Did it solve the problem?
9. Did Jerry have to go to the field for the fight? What would you have done in Jerry’s situation?
10. Has Jerry really given up?
11. To what lengths would you go to stand up for something? Relate your experiences to the novel.
12. How do you feel after the ending?
13. What does the novel suggest about disturbing the universe? Does this story leave us with any hope at all?
POST-READING QUESTIONS
1. Write a 150-word response in which you consider your final thoughts on the novel. Include your analysis of the ending - those reading the posts should have read the ending themselves and come to their own conclusions.
2. Robert Cormier wrote a follow up to the novel, called Beyond the Chocolate War. Why might he have written another book? What might it be about? Write a 150-word response hypothesizing about the next novel and what it might be about.
20 comments:
Brad Fyffe
Questions 3
1) The Vigils give their selves their power. They bully kids and scare them into following and doing their assignments. Also, Brother Leon aids The Vigils. He supports The Vigils and their control on the school because they can directly manipulate the students and have more of an impact on them than the teachers can. For example, he allows them to control the chocolate sale and he allows the fight.
2) No, Jerry should not begin to sell the chocolates. He should keep standing up for what he believes in and stand up for what he wants to do. Defying his bully, The Vigils, can only help him, not hurt him. If he stands up to The Vigils, he will gain confidence about standing up to bullies. This could help him later in life, like the story, “The Bully.”
3) I think that if we are threatened with physical violence we should not retaliate. In the story, “The Bully,” the main character lets the bullies know that they can win a fight against him. The group of bullies let him go because bullies look for a fight. If the victim does not give them one, then they are not satisfied and they will go to their next victim.
4) Yes the quote, “All schools (have) animals,” is true. This is especially true with high schools. Every teenage clique has a certain person, or group of persons, that are like Emile Janza and Archie. This is especially true with guys because they normally lean towards violence. Every school, even GCHS, has animals.
5) Depending on the severity of the sabotage, would fuel my reaction. If I were in Jerry’s shoes and someone sabotaged my work, I would do nothing. Jerry’s reputation of being a punk and not selling chocolates would only infuriate the other students if he tried to react. So I would probably do nothing.
6) Jerry should not tell his dad what is happening. If his dad found out what was going on, he would probably go to the schools and Brother Leon and inform them. This would only worsen Jerry’s mess because Brother Leon works with The Vigils. The Vigils would find out about Jerry’s dad and they would do even worse things to Jerry.
7) The spirit of brotherhood would be more authentic. The spirit that the boys at Trinity have is forced upon them by the teachers. If they had spirit of a brotherhood, they would want to do the chocolate sale instead of being forced to do it.
8) I have been in one fight in my life, over a game of Yahtzee. My friend hit me with the dice so I gave him the ole 1, 2. Fighting does not solve anything. It only prolongs hateful situations and creates tension between the two people. It also prolongs grudges between two peers.
9) No, it was his choice. I think I would have done the same thing as Jerry because it was his chance to stand up against Emile Janza. Standing up to his bullies was what Jerry was trying to accomplish all along. In the end, he tried his best to conquer Janza, but failed. I would have done the same as Jerry.
10) Jerry has not given up. He still did not sell the chocolates in the end of the novel. He has also stood up to The Vigils and proved that he is not scared of bullies. I believe that Jerry has won instead of given up.
11) I would not go to lengths as Jerry did to stand up to my enemy. I would like to think that I would, but when it comes down to me being in a ring with a guy like Janza, I would back down from my defiance. I have stood up verbally to bullies in my life, but never to the extent of fighting.
12) The ending of the novel leaves me bitter towards bullies. How they destroyed Jerry really makes me cringe. Also, how Brother Leon knew what was going on the whole time makes me angry too. It shows how there are bullies no matter where you are and how old they may be.
13) This novel starts us out wondering on the thought, “Do I dare disturb the universe?” which is posted in Jerry’s locker. This novel that no one man can disturb the universe. The ending shows how if you do try to disturb the universe, you will not succeed. I think the novel leaves us with a little hope of Jerry standing up against The Vigils. But at the end, it destroys hope of standing up for yourself against the world.
Post-Reading Questions
1) After reading The Chocolate War, it has left me with many feelings. The feelings left were envy, anger, and frustration. In the beginning of the novel, I started out anticipating what The Vigils would do to Jerry. I was envious of how Archie got away with everything and could manipulate people to get is way. I wondered what his fate was after him disturbing the universe. When I read the ending, I grew very angry with The Vigils and how a ruthless group of people can rule a high school. Also, I was very frustrated how Brother Leon let The Vigils run the school and how he let the boxing match go on. I believe that the only reason he does this is because the match got the chocolates sold. Earlier in the novel, it told that Leon bought the chocolates before he could get the capital to pay for them. This ending shows how even administrative people can let bad things go on. This allows us to conclude that with fear and anger, groups like The Vigils can run our society with out being punished because people like Leon, our government, will allow it to happen if they get the right things done.
2) Robert Cormier’s follow up on The Chocolate War was needed. The ending of The Chocolate War was too unclear. It left the reader wondering what happened to Jerry. What happened to Jerry and his father? Will The Vigils still rule after this stunt? Does Archie still rule The Vigils?
This ending was too ambiguous for the reader. It was a cliffhanger that made the reader draw too many conclusions. I believe the next novel will be about Jerry’s life after the match against Janza. I think it will follow up on his emotional damage from The Vigils. I hope the novel shows what happens between Jerry and his father. Also, I wonder if Brother Leon ends The Vigils rule or keeps them going, to get what he wants done (like the chocolate sale), after he saw the boxing match. The novel may reveal secrets that will explain to the reader why Archie is ahead of the game. Maybe the black box was a scam? Also, clues from the novel makes Archie seem like a senior, or an upperclassman. Maybe it is time for him to hand The Vigils over to someone else. Obie perhaps?
Melissa Jackson
5th period
READING QUESTIONS
1. Who or what gives the Vigils such power?
Archie, Brother Leon, the students giving into the Vigils, and their strength all give the Vigils their power. Archie tells them how they are going to do everything, Brother Leon lets the Vigils get away with everything they do. The students give into them and do whatever they say so the Vigils run the school and that gives them power.
2. Do you think Jerry should begin selling the chocolates? Why?
Yes and no. I think that it should be his choice to sell them or not. He shouldn’t feel like he has to sell the chocolates.
3. Carter punches Rollo when he talks back to Archie. What can we do when faced with the threat of physical violence?
You can tell an adult when you are faced with a threat of physical violence. The adult may be able to stop it. You can talk it out with the person. That may get the person to see what they are doing. Or, like what happens most of the time, you can fight back and defend yourself. It is human nature to do that.
4. Is the quote “All schools [have] animals” true? Explain your response.
Yes it is. Students at school act like animals. They destroy things, act like animals do, students can be wild. Students also fight. Immature students run their mouth and start fights, they can’t behave themselves.
5. What would you do if someone sabotaged your work?
If someone sabotaged my work I would find that person and ask why they did it. I would probably yell at them and make them feel bad. I don’t think I would seek revenge but I would be thinking of revenge but never carry it out.
6. Should Jerry tell his dad what’s going on?
Yes and no, if Jerry told his dad what was going on his dad could help him out and possibly stop it. Then again if he told his dad it could make things worse for him.
7. What’s the difference between a spirit of brotherhood and what the boys of Trinity have?
The spirit of brotherhood is helping each other out, being brotherly, and nicely helping your brother out. The boys at Trinity do help each other our, and they are brotherly but they beat people up to get them to do what they want. They were not being brotherly towards Jerry.
8. Have you ever been in a fight? Did it solve the problem?
Yes I have been in a fight. It did not solve anything. The problem still remains.
9. Did Jerry have to go to the field for the fight? What would you have done in Jerry’s situation?
No, Jerry did not have to go to the field to fight. If I was in Jerry’s situation I wouldn’t have went to the field, not because I’m chicken but because I think it is really stupid to fight over chocolate.
10. Has Jerry really given up?
Ni, Jerry has not really given up. He does back down finally because he sees that it isn’t worth getting killed over not selling chocolate. He finally sees that all you have to do is do what your told.
11. To what lengths would you go to stand up for something? Relate your experiences to the novel.
I wouldn’t go as far as hurting someone to stand up for something. I would voice my opinion and try to change some things. I haven’t had any experiences like the novel.
12. How do you feel after the ending?
I like the book. I feel like you should stand up for your beliefs and do as you want. Do as your heart tells you to.
13. What does the novel suggest about disturbing the universe? Does this story leave us with any hope at all?
The novel suggests that you don’t disturb the universe because things could get out of control. It leaves us with some hope that one day the world will change but other than that no it doesn’t leave us with any other hope.
POST-READING QUESTIONS
1. Write a 150-word response in which you consider your final thoughts on the novel. Include your analysis of the ending - those reading the posts should have read the ending themselves and come to their own conclusions.
My final thoughts of the novel are that it was amazing. The book was wonderfully written and I enjoyed reading it. This has to b e my favorite book we have read in this class. The book kept me reading and wondering what was going to happen next. Did someone finally overtake Archie? Did someone finally show him up? Did his luck with the black box run out? Those are all questions running through my head. I liked the characters. I would recommend people to read this book. Cormier grabs his audience by ending the novel in a cliffhanger. What happened to jerry is what I would like to know. The novel reminds me a lot of teenage books. It is a brilliant book and written very well. The boys hated Jerry because he wouldn’t sell the chocolates and Jerry didn’t want to sell the chocolates because they told him it was optional but made him feel bad about not selling the chocolates.
2. Robert Cormier wrote a follow up to the novel, called Beyond the Chocolate War. Why might he have written another book? What might it be about? Write a 150-word response hypothesizing about the next novel and what it might be about.
He might have written another book so that he could write more about the chocolate war. He could have written what happened after the chocolates were sold and answered the unanswered questions of the first novel. I might be about what happened to Jerry or what is going to happen to him. I think in the follow up novel Archie may get what he deserves. The black box might not work and his luck may have run out. Someone could have finally showed Archie up and Archie could have turned into the bad guy. Everyone could have finally stopped listening to Archie. It could be about the school returning to its natural order. Everything could have gone back to normal. The follow up could help explain the themes of the novel. It could be about what happens to the Vigils or Goober anyone else in the first novel. I think It would be interesting book to read.
The Chocolate War Questions #3
1) Who or what gives the Vigils such power?
Answer:
The Vigils get their power from fear. The students are afraid to stand up to the Vigils. They kids respect the fear the Vigils invoke. The teachers also give the Vigils their power. They never make the gang stop what there are doing. The Vigils practically get free run of the school.
2) Do you think Jerry should begin selling the chocolates? Why?
Answer:
I think that he shouldn’t have to sell the chocolates. That is his one way to stand up to The Vigils. I also feel selling the chocolates should be for free will. Kids should not be forced to do it. That lessens the school spirit if the Brothers force the kids to sell every year.
3) Carter punches Rollo when he talks back to Archie. What can we do when faced with the threat of physical violence?
There are many options when faced with the threat of violence. You could either run away from the person in fear. You could also stand up to them and face the problem. You could also try talking to the person. If you can get them to calm down you wouldn’t have to deal with the violence.
4) Is the quote “ All schools [have] animals” true? Explain your response.
Answer:
That quote is very true. No matter what school you go to you will always find bullies. Any place can have the kids that don’t listen and get out of control. No one is perfect. In our very own school we have a bunch of animals.
5) What would you do if someone sabotaged your work?
Answer:
If someone sabotaged my work I would be very upset. I would probably track the person who ever did it down and ask them why did they do it. Then I would make them redo my work. If they didn’t then I would have to explain what happen to my teacher. Or I would just try and fix it myself.
6) Should Jerry tell his dad what’s going on?
Answer:
Jerry should tell his dad what’s going on. His father can go down to the school and help him to straighten out the mess. He can also be less stressed out over it because he can talk to his dad. His dad would be a big help to Jerry. With his assistance Jerry could go one step farther in the fight to stand up against the Vigils.
7) What’s the difference between spirit of brotherhood and what the boys of trinity have?
Answer:
The spirit of brotherhood is invoked with friendship. The Trinity guys are boded together with fear. The Vigils brought them together because they make every one do what they want. If there were a brotherhood at the school there wouldn’t be the Vigils. The Brotherhood would be a very good thing for the kids at Trinity.
8) Have you ever been in a fight? Did it solve the problem?
Answer:
I have been in a few fights actually. They were with my old friends from my freshman year. It really didn’t solve the problem. I ended up with the guy. The only problem was she never talked to me again.
9) Did Jerry have to go to the field for the fight? What would you have done in Jerry’s situation?
Answer:
He went to the boxing ring for the fight. I would not have gone to the fight. I would just stayed home away from the trouble. He did what he thought was right. I just think I would have gone over my options better.
10) Has Jerry really given up?
Answer:
Jerry did give up a little bit. When the Vigils kept calling him through the night he finally just told his dad to take the phone off the hook. Any person would get tired of the constant harassment from the Vigils. That would really make someone give up. It was like no one else cares how Jerry felt.
11) To what lengths would you go to stand up for something? Relate your experiences to the novel.
Answer:
That would depend on how much I believed in the cause. If it were something I truly believed in I would take it to any length. For instance the way Jerry felt about the chocolate sale. I would have done the same thing in his position. Someone needed to stand up against how that school was ran.
12) How do you feel about the ending?
Answer:
I really didn’t like the ending. After all that Jerry fought for the Vigils still got away with what they had done. At the fight when the Brothers turned out the lights you was lead to think that the Vigils were going to be punished. When actually they were let off free and clear. The worst part you find out later when Obie actually sees Brother Leon watching the whole fight for his enjoyment. I think the brothers should have stepped up and pulled their authority together to get rid of the Vigils.
13) What does the novel suggest about disturbing the universe? Does this story leave us with any hope at all?
Answer:
The novel suggests that the people of the universe should even try to change the way things are. No matter how hard you work at something to stand up for what you believe in someone else is always there to make sure you don’t succeed. This story doesn’t leave us with any hope. Jerry got beaten up and the teachers still wouldn’t do anything. It makes you wonder why people even bother to do anything.
Post Reading Questions
1. Write a 150-word response in which you consider your final thoughts on the novel. Include your analysis of the ending - those reading the posts should have read the ending themselves and come to their own conclusions.
Answer:
Over all I think the novel was a great book. This novel was one that students could connect with and share some of their experiences. I think that Robert Cormier did an amazing job on the character of Jerry. He portrayed him as very down to earth and that he had a strong belief system. Jerry never gave up no matter what he went through.
I really didn’t like the ending but it works well with the novel. Cormier shows us with this ending that no matter how hard you fight you can’t win at everything. It was a huge twist when the Brothers didn’t even punish the Vigils. I felt as I was reading the ending that Jerry was finally going to win over the school and the Vigils. It really makes you disappointed in the adult characters of the novel for letting the Vigils take over. It makes you wonder what kind of people the brothers were.
2. Robert Cormier wrote a follow up to the novel, called Beyond the Chocolate War. Why might he have written another book? What might it be about? Write a 150 word response hypothesizing about the next novel and what it might be about.
Answer:
He wrote another novel because of how the first one ended. In the next book Jerry might actually achieve what he believes in. With the first novel ending oddly it makes you hope that there is a next book. In the second novel I hope that Jerry finally gets rid of the Vigils. It would make the story be a lot better. Then again it could be about how the Vigils get rid of the Brothers. They run they school anyway so what do they need teachers for. With Robert Cormier the story could twist anyway. He’s a great author. The next novel will be just as good as the first. It will have a lot more twists to the story. In his writing Cormier never does what you would think happen next. That’s what makes his novels so good. It also builds suspense and makes the readers keep reading.
Haylee VanHoose
2nd Period
3/26/09
Blogspot Questions
1. They give themselves power, and the way students act around them influence them even more, because they know everyone is scared of them and that’s what they want.
2. I think Jerry shouldn’t sell the chocolates. If He does sale the chocolate he is obeying what the vigils told him to do. Jerry is sticking up for himself and not doing what they say to do. Archie needs to get off his but and sale his own chocolate.
3. I’ve actually been threatened before, and honestly the best things to do are walk away and ignore them. If you tell on them, it probably would make it worse. But if things don’t get better by walking away and ignoring them, then you should contact a teacher, family member, or just any adult before things get to serious.
4. Yes, in my opinion ALL schools have animals. That’s why schools have rules, to try and control the kids. Normally the “animals” don’t listen to the rules. To me, animals at are school are the thugs destroying the school or the crazy hillbillies running around screaming at the top of their lungs.
5. My work is my work. It something I take my time on and really appreciate. If someone was to come and destroy my work, then I would be highly upset. I would probably make them re-do it for me, or do it again myself.
6. I think Jerry should. Yes it would be like him being a tattle tell, but at least he isn’t trying to drag it on and make it worse. Maybe his dad could actually do something for Jerry and help him and his friends out.
7. The brotherhood is a group of people that actually respect each other, while the boys at trinity don’t really care about each other, they area always arguing and fighting with one another.
8. I’ve never been in an actual fistfight, an argument yes. But in the end everyone apologized and we realized it was stupid to be mad each other for silly reasons. Fighting over stupid things really never solves anything and neither does physically fighting. It always makes things worse.
9. Yes, Jerry did, but Jerry could of chose to in this situation. If I was Jerry I probably would of backed down and not showed up at all. It’s not cool to fight people.
10. Jerry really never gave up; he was just beaten very badly. It was a very gruesome fight. Jerry ended up passing out, and now has a broken jaw and possibly internal injuries.
11. If someone was kidding picked on, that was younger than me then I would stand up and help him or her and try to get him or her to stop. Now, if it were a physical fight then I would go get some older help. If he or her were a lot older than me then I would have no power in the situation. I would truly avoid it.
12. I was very upset with Jerry because he went to the fight, and also with Brother Leon. Brother Leon is an adult that should have helped stopped the event from happening and the students getting hurt.
13. No, I don’t think this novel had anything to do with disturbing the universe. It may have impacted a lot on the kids’ life, but that would be it. Yes there is still hope for the universe if everyone could grow up a little and not be so naive about everything.
Post Reading Questions.
1. I thought the novel was pretty good, and interesting. At times, it really kept me reading, but then at other times. The end really shocked me, as I would of never thought of jerry going to fight and getting hurt so badly. I really hoped Jerry would have been the good guy and not went to the fight. This novel is based on kids are age and things that happen in today’s world.
2. Robert Cormier will start this new book coming off with jerry in the hospital. He will talk about Jerry’s healing process and what is going on at school with the Vigils. The Vigils will carry on their non sense and jerry will re-challenge the fight and come back and kick butt
Reading Questions
1. The vigils are given much power by the student body. This is because the students are so afraid of them. When the vigils have fear over their peers, they are unstoppable. Also, people such as Archie and Brother Leon make the vigils powerful. They do this simply by outwitting people.
2. This question really depends on how far jerry is willing to take his pride. It would obviously be better for him to take the chocolates. Jerry doesn’t take them simply to stand up to them. Jerry is honorable, because he has the will power to not sell even after the torture. Considering Jerry’s condition at the end of the book, I think jerry should have sold the chocolates.
3. This is also a sense of pride. It is better for you physically to not fight back, in a case where you know you will be seriously harmed. People want to fight back to not be embarrassed by another. In Rollo’s case he should not fight back because it is a losing situation. Even if he gets a blow on Carter a greater beating is coming to him.
4. Yes, all schools have somebody who breaks the system. There is no such thing as a school with no trouble. These are the people considered “animals”. All schools have somebody who either mentally or physically rebels, so yes, all schools have “animals”.
5. I would be extremely angry if somebody sabotaged my work. It is mine and nobody should mess with what I’ve worked hard for. I would look for some sort of rebellion. I would hope to find revenge. If not I would just continue to be angered and look for a solution.
6. Yes, Jerry should tell his father. At an earlier point, I would say no. Earlier, Jerry could have handled the situation himself. Now his wellbeing is in danger. When he may be seriously harmed, this is the time to tell. This could have prevented Jerry’s “broken jaw and possible internal injuries.”
7. The spirit of a brotherhood is much different. This is when brothers work together to achieve their goals. This is not at all what trinity does. Trinity is bossed around by the vigils. They do not make decisions together, they do what they are told.
8. I have been in a fight before. It hardly ever solves the situation. It just leads to more hostile feelings. Both people still feel just as bad as or worse than before the fight. It can also sometimes lead to another fight.
9. No, Jerry didn’t have to go. Jerry would have received what was coming anyway if he didn’t go. I would have probably gone. I would not have wanted to live in fear until I got a beating. Also, the fight is a lot more likely to be broke up or less brutal, near all those people.
10. Jerry did not give up. He stood up for what he believed in the whole time. He was beaten down, and this is where he seemed to give up. I think he was just weak mentally and is still just as mentally strong as before.
11. I would stand up for something until I was in serious danger. I would have stood up past the pranks the vigils pulled. The point where I would have given in would have probably been the beatings. It is not worth being seriously hurt over your pride.
12. I hated the ending. It was so abrupt. A bad ending almost spoils the whole novel. There seemed to be no thought put into it. It gives people no hope. It just tells people not to stand out.
13. The ending is hopeless. It makes people feel that they can’t make a difference. I don’t like it at all. Actually, Jerry did make a difference. He changed the thoughts of many others. It makes me angry when it says it is better to not stand out.
Post Reading Questions
1. I liked the book. I loved the idea and thought it was very interesting. The book is perfect for students my age. Readers can relate to the struggles of standing out in today’s society. The constant action in the book keeps the reader interested. The book’s biggest downfall is its ending. I hated the ending. It takes a good novel and just cuts it off, instead of really connecting to the reader. I hate how the ending gives no hope at all. It basically says that people should not dare stand out, for fear of being rejected. This ending actually angers me. Maybe that’s what it’s supposed to do. The author may have wanted to really make readers think about the topic. Either way, I don’t like it. I think a lot more thought could have been put into the ending. Overall, I loved the book. I actually enjoyed reading. It was just interesting.
2. I think, coming from the title of the book, it could the author’s analysis of his own book. It just sounds like” beyond the chocolate war” could be some left over thoughts and ideas from the novel. I actually hope that’s what it is. It might give readers a better view of the book. People’s thoughts may completely change when they hear the author’s views on his novel. The book could infer on the ending. He could really explain what he meant at the end of the novel. This could actually make the book a lot better. “Beyond the chocolate war” might actually be something I’d be interested in reading. This book could also explain themes or motives in the book. It could tell about why the author used rebellion as a theme. It could also tell why it seemed like an “antiestablishment” book. This is what I hope and think the book is.
Allison Rowe
Mr. Parsons
Set #3 Book Q’s
March 24, 2009
1.)The Vigils get their power from themselves. By bullying students and teachers they make these others fear so being feared is their power. By using fear they get all of their assignments fulfilled. Also, by the teachers and other adults not taking any control over The Vigils they have no one who can stop them.
2.)I think that Jerry should not sell the chocolates. I think this because he needs to be strong and be different and fight for what he thinks is right. Even if he gets all these threats from the Vigils and they perform many bad actions against I think that he should still stand for his opinion and if he’s going to go down, he will do it the right way.
3.)Carter didn’t have to punch Rollo when he talked back to Archie he could have just told him not to say anything. When faced with a threat of physical violence we should either tell an adult or someone with authority or we could just handle it verbally. In this case Rollo couldn’t tell a teacher since half the teachers are bullies themselves.
4.)’The quote “All schools [have] animals” is a very true statement. Every school has their own clicks. Some people are ‘chicken’ or very fearful of everything and everyone. The people they fear are very savage people like bullies. Like in the animal world of predator and prey, every school is like this. The bullies are the predators and the victims are the prey and sometimes you have the people who just choose to stay out of everything altogether.
5.)If someone sabotaged my work I would be very angry. I am the type of person who spends very long on projects, especially artwork or computer generated work. If someone too the time to sabotage my work they would first of be a loser to even have the time to do this. I would confront them and ask them why they did and tell them I wanted them to redo it as perfect as it was before. I would be very agitated and might end up being a bully by threatening them or actually harming them.
6.)I think that Jerry should not tell his father about the problems he is having with the Vigils and other bullies including the assignment. I think this because I believe parents shouldn’t get involved with their children’s’ problems when it comes to being peer related. Maybe telling his dad would get him out of some trouble with few bullies who may fear his father, but it was cause even more problems in different ways. For example the bullies would make fun of him for crying to his father and not being able to handle it on his own.
7.)
8.)I have been into a mental and just a speech fight too many times to count, but never an actual physical fight. These fights did create many solutions for several things. By arguing for what I think is right I always seem to have better arguments and better ways to express myself to the other person who always sounds like a babbling fool. Fighting has solved very many problems for me and I will continue to be a fighter to get what I know is correct.
9.)Jerry didn’t have to go to the field to fight, he was given a choice. Archie pressured him very much to go so he did. If I were in a situation like this where I know I would become very much physically injured I would choose to go still. This is because I want people to think I am a strong individual and not afraid of anything or anyone.
10.)I don’t really believe that Jerry gave up. He did go to the field and actually physically fight for what he believed in. He did the most that he could to stand up for his belief and went down fighting. I do not believe that he gave up because he was injured horrifyingly by having his jaw broken and passing completely out. In this case he could no more.
11.)I would go as far as I could to stand up for something that I believe in. If I really believe in something, that it was right and that I was right I would do almost anything to prove my belief and myself correct. Unlike Jerry who didn’t want to get hurt too badly and just gave up I would fight to the end depending on the cause and possibly to my death or until I was severely injured. Jerry was a very courageous person to be the only one to stand up for himself, but I don’t understand why he would just give up after all of his fighting. If I had worked so hard just not to sell chocolate and to not be picked on I wouldn’t give up until I received what I wanted.
12.) The ending of the novel leaves me speechless. I thought that like most books that good would conquer all in the end, but like in the novel ‘1984’ evil wins in the end leaving good empty handed. In real life bullies hardly ever get rewarded, but when Brother Leon knew everything that was going on I wondered why that was. Also, when Jerry was ruined I felt a since of sorrow because the hero had been defeated.
13.) Disturbing the universe was written on a note on Jerry’s locker. It suggests that sometimes it is not going to end up with bad consequences. If you stand up and make a difference by changing something is not always bad, so disturbing the universe can be good. Then at the end my views about disturbing the universe completely change. When the Vigils shut Jerry down and showed him who’s boss. The novel leaves us with no hope at all, which I didn’t see coming. My views changed to saying that ‘The Chocolate War’ suggests that by disturbing the universe no one can succeed.
Reading Questions:
1. The reason The Vigils have so much power is because of their leader. Archie Costello is the leader of The Vigils. When Brother Leon asked Archie for help, it just gave Archie even more power. He gets away with everything and so The Vigils do to. People refer to The Vigils assignment but they know Archie is the leader and the one who makes up the assignments.
2. No I do not think Jerry should start selling the chocolates. He has the right to say no, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. Even though they’re bullying him and beating him up, I don’t think Jerry should give in. He needs to be strong and stick to it.
3. If I were faced with physical violence, as in somebody in my on purpose I would hit them back. I wouldn’t just stand there and take it, I’m going to stand up for myself and protect myself.
4. The quote, “All schools [have] animals” is true. At every school there are always those few kids that start trouble. The animals are also known as bullies. Bullies are everywhere, not just in schools. But that is where you see them the most.
5. If somebody deliberately sabotaged my work I would be extremely angry. I would go start to the teacher of the work that was sabotaged and tell them everything that had happened. Hopefully they would believe me and give an extension on the work.
6. If I were in Jerry situation, I would tell me dad what was going on. Though he may not be able to deal with the problem but he may be able to help solve it. If Jerry told his father about what was happening he could tell him what he should do or go to somebody at the school or call the authority.
7. What the boys have at Trinity and a brotherhood is totally different. A brotherhood is closeness to a group of people. The boys at Trinity are nothing of the sort. The majority of the boys are frightened of The Vigils and Archie. They don’t trust anybody and are forced to do things that don’t necessary want to do.
8. They only fights I’m in are the ones with my sister. But they do not solve anything; it only makes matters worse. When we were little and would fight the only way we solved it was by mom and dad making us stand in the corner. Now were old enough to get over what we were fighting about.
9. No, Jerry did not have to go to the field for the fight. I have to say if I were Jerry I would have done the same thing. It’s about the pride and respect. Jerry has a lot of pride and determination; he wasn’t going to give up. And that’s exactly what I would have done.
10. No, Jerry has not given up. He didn’t know the chocolates were involved with the fight. To me he hasn’t given up, he’s just getting revenge.
11. I haven’t really experienced something I really had to stand up for. When my sister would get in trouble by my parents I would stand up for her and than myself would end up in trouble. That’s nothing compared to what Jerry does in the novel.
12. After I read the ending of the novel, it reminded me of the first sentence of the novel, “They murdered him.” At the end Archie’s assignment nor Janza didn’t exactly murderer Jerry. Though it did come pretty close, Jerry could have died. I never imagined one boy, (Archie) can be so cruel.
13. At the end of the novel Jerry says, “Don’t disturb the universe, Goober, no matter what the posters say.” The novel suggests to you that you shouldn’t disturb the universe. I don’t think the novel leaves us with much hope at all. It shows you how this world could be or is already.
Post-Reading Questions:
1. At the beginning of the novel I was automatically drawn by the first sentence. Though throughout the novel I got a little confused about what was going on and it wasn’t as exciting. When it got closer to the end I couldn’t book the book down. It was full of exciting things and challenges the characters were being faced with. The ending was a totally shocked to me, by that I mean what Archie did to Jerry. Archie knew Jerry would get beaten up extremely bad. I do not like Archie at all. Jerry realizes that he cannot disturb the universe and fix things. He regrets not selling the chocolates. We also read that Brother Leon watched the whole fight, Archie paid him off. If there are really people out there that are like that, which I know there is, than what is our world coming to?
2. If Robert Cormier wrote a follow up called, Beyond The Chocolate War, there’s obviously unsettled things. The follow up could be about what happens to Jerry after he gets out of the hospital. It could tell if he got Goober to play football again. I hope the follow up lets us know what happens to Archie and/or Brother Leon. I want Archie to get in trouble for once over the things he has done. He’s able to get away with anything because he does have Brother Leon on his side. So I want Brother Leon and Archie to be blind-sided or get caught for the cruel things they do. It may be about Brother Jacques standing up against Brother Leon, want him to take him down. The follow up may also be about Obie and Carter. I want this novel to be all about bringing Archie Costello down.
1] The Vigil’s power comes from their secrecy, their leaders (Archie and Carter), and nonetheless, their followers. The organization would not run so smoothly without Archie being as quick-witted and manipulating as he is. The way Brother Leon goes along with whatever they try to pull, and how every student at Trinity follows in The Vigils’ footsteps.
2] Of course Jerry should have stood up for himself, and he did so. I was impressed with the way Jerry continued to not back down and pushed to be an individual. But there was definitely a point where Jerry should have agreed to sell the chocolates. Once other people, outside of The Vigils, got involved, all hell broke loose. That is the time when I would have backed down and sold the chocolates, as degrading as it would have been. If Brother Eugene would not have shut off the lights during the rally, there is no doubt in my mind that Jerry would have gotten killed. The whole school took the situation much too far and Jerry was in for more than he expected. Yes, he should have sold the chocolates.
3] I personally have never been in a situation where physical violence was an issue. If I did have to face a person who was willing to hurt me to get what they want, I would have to say I would either run away or scream very loudly. I’m not an aggressive person, but if I disliked the person wanting to hit me, I may able to gain enough courage to strike back. At least until I had a safe getaway. But I don’t think anyone should fight fire with fire.
4] Sadly, I believe that quote is true. All schools do have animals. Even the private schools and the Christian schools have teachers and students who are willing to do whatever it takes to be on top. As mentioned earlier in a discussion of The Chocolate War, there are two types of people in this world: those who dominate, and those who are dominated. Ever school beholds these characters.
5] I have actually had my work sabotaged before. In middle school and high school, boys tend to act extremely immature and annoying. They will do anything to get a laugh, gain attention, or make some one mad. The thing to do is to simply ignore the situation as Jerry did. A reaction is what they want, so ignoring the situation is always best.
6] Jerry is really a very strong boy, and he proves that by handling things himself, practically living alone, and wanting to keep his father happy. I envy Jerry for not wanting to get his father involved in The Vigils situation, but once again, there was definitely a time when Jerry should have changed his pace. When words turned into violence, Jerry needed to back down. It was he against all of Trinity, and there really was nothing he could have done besides back down. Jerry’s father needed to know what was happening; to give Jerry protection and end the taunting.
7] A spirit of brotherhood I believe I believe is supposed to be an innocent bond between the boys of Trinity that keeps them all close, makes them work together, love each other in the sense of family, and help out one another. The boys of Trinity took the brotherhood much to far and crossed the line-separating group from gang. Trinity’s students were lead by a horrible influence, The Vigils, which taught them to control the weak and make victims of them. They became a gang, a clan of monsters that wanted to see violence and death. Brother Eugene should have done something about it.
8] I have never been in a fight. I do understand how people can get so angry that they want to lash out and destroy everything in their path. But that feeling passes. The point is to just let the outrage pass and solve the problem when you are in a calm state of mind. Fights don’t solve the problem, they just release some rage. Smart people can learn other ways to express their anger other than hurting some one else.
9] Jerry had no idea that the fight he agreed to was going to involve so many people and be so popular. Of course Jerry didn’t have to go to the field for the fight, but he wanted to prove himself. Jerry was acting very insecure in The Chocolate War. He was constantly worried of what others thought of him and said about him. He wanted to prove himself to everyone and that’s why he agreed to the fight. Who cares what people think when you’re just a freshman in high school? Jerry should have realized that his reputation was not important enough to be almost killed over it. He shouldn’t have gone to the field to fight.
10] Jerry actually never gave up. He stood his ground from the beginning of the chocolate sell and even after the sell was complete. Never did Jerry surrender to The Vigils or Brother Leon. He kept fighting for his reputation and himself.
11] Being the hardheaded person I am, I take drastic measures when standing up for myself. I’m not a mean person; I just have a low tolerance of people who like to put others down. I would have done everything Jerry did in his situation; continue to not sell the chocolates, ignore the stupid phone calls and the ruining of his locker, but eventually I would have backed down. I wouldn’t have gotten in a fight with Janza after football practice, I wouldn’t have continued to not tell my father, and I definitely would not have agreed to fight anyone just to get my reputation back at that stupid school. Jerry took it too far, as did everyone else in the novel.
12] I was expecting the ending to be the complete opposite. It was very abrupt and disappointing, which may have been what the author was going for, but not what I wanted. I wanted Jerry and Goober to come out on top, I wanted The Vigils to be demolished along with Brother Leon, and I most definitely wanted Archie Costello to get what he disserved. But none of that happened. The ending makes me feel that if there is something bigger than I am, and I want to stop it, I cannot. In a way it made me feel weak, looked over, and unimportant. I disliked the ending of The chocolate War.
13] My interpretation of the “Disturbing the Universe” phrase is that the universe is set; it’s exactly how it wants to be and it will never change. There will always be people who constantly come out on top and there will always be those who are never noticed. Groups and organizations will always be bias and destroy those who do not follow. The non-followers are simply trying to disturb the universe. The Chocolate War proves that universe cannot and will not be disturbed, which ultimately really doesn’t leave us any hope. Does it?
1] The novel, The Chocolate War, is an excellent example of biased organizations and how things can be taken much too far. It definitely proved that pain isn’t simply physical, but can be inflicted emotionally too. We are often taught through our lives to be independent, stand up for yourself, and don’t follow the crowd just because you don’t want to stand out. This novel though shows the reality of what those three things could entail.
The Chocolate war really focused on the hardships of being different, the effect that once person such as Archie Costello can have on everyone else, the way that something as simple as a chocolate sale can become deathly. Though we all have hopes and dreams of becoming something unordinary and standing out, this novel proves how easily you can be shot down. Everyone has weaknesses and once a group like The Vigils finds your weakness, your life can rapidly go down hill.
I was really looking forward to the end of novel because I though Jerry Renault would end up being the hero and demolishing The Vigils. As he was fighting Emile Janza, I was anticipating a comeback, or for Janza or Obie to realize Archie was in the wrong. But nothing of the sort ever happened. Jerry was nearly murdered and Archie once again came out on top. Its sickening really, to know that the most horrible of people can go through life constantly getting what they want, and the best of people can be so horribly tormented. That’s why I hated the end of the novel; it leaves no hope.
2] I would love to think that Robert Cormier’s follow-up to The Chocolate War is and incident where The Vigils are finally shot down. A scene where Archie finally draws the black marble and his whole world is instantly turned around, Archie becoming “Vigil bait”: or possibly a scene where Obie and Emile gang up to defeat Archie. But realistically speaking, I know that is not probable.
The follow-up is probably about another kid who is teased by Archie and his friends until there is nothing left of him. Maybe this kid will tell his parents what is happening? Maybe teachers will get involved? In the end, Archie will always come out on top. It’s the law of the universe, right?
Robert may have written the sequel because Robert himself may have a bit of hope left. Robert may believe that people like Archie can be defeated and destroyed. I guess I’ll have to read and find out!
Reading Questions #3
1.)
Archie’s alliance with Brother Leon gives the Vigils a lot of their power. Since he is the schools highest authority and he uses their services to his advantage, he makes the Vigils almost unstoppable. They also have a sort of mob mentality that bands them together making them stronger and more powerful too.
2.)
I do not believe he should start selling chocolates now. He held is ground against daily physical and mental abuse. He fought Janza in a battle that he clearly couldn’t win, in front of the entire school. Just because his cause hit a few snags doesn’t mean he should throw in the towel. Its what he believes in and he shouldn’t let a negative response from his peers kill his beliefs.
3.)
I don’t think physical violence is a solution for anything. However defending yourself isn’t a bad thing at all. It there is no avoiding a physical fight, you should at least attempt to protect yourself.
4.)
I think this is a good quote. There is always going to be at least one kid who feels above the law and has an insatiable need to hurt others to establish their dominance. This does make them animals because they can not put their primal instincts behind them and act like a civilized humans.
5.)
My reaction to someone destroying my work would depend on how much effort I put into it. If I spent countless hours and really like something a made I would be crushed if someone sabotaged it. But if it was something that I didn’t try very hard on then I most likely wouldn’t be that mad.
6.)
I don’t think that telling Jerrys father would help him much. His father doesn’t seem like he would get riled up over anything, he doesn’t seem to care about anything. He seems like a very passive person, like when he didn’t seem to mind the phone calls all night.
7.)
A spirit of brotherhood is when a group of people share common beliefs that relate to the greater good. The boys at Trinity do not have this. They follow the beliefs of the Vigils because they would be tormented if they didn’t. The Vigils beliefs are not for the greater good either. Their beliefs are for the enjoyment of Archie.
8.)
I have never been in a fight. I have been in a lot of fairly harsh arguments though. They help to expose your feelings about a situation or problem, but really don’t solve anything. They always seem to make things worse for me.
9.)
Jerry didn’t have to go to the field and fight. He did it to get revenge on Janza and the Vigils and everyone who harassed him when he didn’t sell chocolates. I think that he took on the fight as one last battle that would bring him peace. Because Archie told him that it would all be over with if he did the fight, meaning if he threw some punches at Janza he would be allowed to sleep and live happily again. If I were in Jerry’s situation, I would have been enticed by the thought of revenge, but most likely would decline the offer anyway.
10.)
Yes, jerry did give up. I don’t think he wanted to but the Vigils finally broke him, physically and mentally. They crushed his spirit, and broke his bones. There is evidence that he gave up in the end when goober is holding him, and he is trying to tell him to do whatever they say.
11.)
When I get passionate about a cause I would be pretty much willing to do almost anything to fight for it. I’m a pretty peaceful person so I would do anything that doesn’t involve physical violence. I really don’t have in personal experiences that I can think of where I have stood up for a cause that I believed in whole-heartedly.
12.)
At the end I feel a little let down. Cormier defiantly left enough questions to write a sequel. It also made me think a lot about the kind of people who make up our world. Like when Brother Leon watched Jerry almost get killed, I thought that there most likely is someone that horrible out there. How horrible would life be if we all had a Brother Leon in our life? Or if we all knew an Archie Costello? Who was willing to endanger others just to make a few bucks or get a laugh. It also made me thankful that I don’t know anyone like that.
13.)
The Chocolate War advises against disturbing your universe. It makes you think that if you take a risk on something you believe in, bad things will happen and your cause will be shot down. Jerry disturbed his universe, and got the crap beat out of him on multiple occasions. His decision to resist the chocolates didn’t start a movement to defy Brother Leon and not sell the chocolates if you didn’t want to; instead it started a war against him. This book is really good at completely erasing all hope you ever had. If I ever want to disturb my universe and fight for a cause, I will probably think of this book, and then quietly wait for someone else to get destroyed.
Kala Brown
2nd Period
Mr. Parsons
4-01-09
READING QUESTIONS
1. Who or what gives the Vigils such power?
Nobody really gives the Vigils power, they just do as they please when they want, whether told to or not. The purpose of The Vigils is undermined if students do not fear them; The Vigils rely on being feared to function. This is what gives them power is letting others know that they really are not scared of anyone.
2. Do you think Jerry should begin selling the chocolates? Why?
Yes I think that Jerry should have to sell the chocolates because everyone in that school is doing it so should he. All the profit is going towards his school earnings so yes I do think he should have to also.
3. Carter punches Rollo when he talks back to Archie. What can we do when faced with the threat of physical violence?
When you are faced with the threat of physical violence I think you should just try to keep away from it as much as you can. Also if someone is threatening you, you should tell someone so that it can be stopped.
4. Is the quote “All schools [have] animals” true? Explain your response.
Yes I do think that all schools have animals. In the novels case the Vigils are the animals, and in other situations for schools is the bullies, and the farmers like our school because they are all so loud and obnoxious
5. What would you do if someone sabotaged your work?
If someone sabotaged my work, I would probably be furious. If it was work that I had been working on for a while or had it done then I would have a major problem with that person.
6. Should Jerry tell his dad what’s going on?
Yes I think that Jerry should tell his dad what is going on, because this could be another time for them to be able to talk to one another. It might not be the right time or conversation, but a time to talk. Also if he tells his dad then maybe he could help him sell the chocolates so that he would stop being picked, or beat on. In the novel Jerry decides that he doesn’t want his father to know what is gong on, mainly because he doesn’t want his father involved with it at all.
†7. What’s the difference between a spirit of brotherhood and what the boys of Trinity have?
The difference between spirit of brotherhood, and what the boys of Trinity have is different in a few ways. The spirit of brotherhood is the men that are in this club or organization actually respect and honor the other members. Then the boys at Trinity really don’t like each other all that much, but have to put up with one another because they go to school together.
8. Have you ever been in a fight? Did it solve the problem?
No I have never been in a fight. People have tried to start fights with me but it never did work. Fights never solve anything, other than letting the everyone know how stupid you look after fighting.
9. Did Jerry have to go to the field for the fight? What would you have done in Jerry’s situation?
Jerry really didnt have to go to the field to fight, it was his choice to go. I think that he went to show everyone that he wasnt scared of nobody. If i was in Jerry's situation I would probably do things a little bit differently, like instead of going to fight I would try in work things out. Also the beating was after a footballl practice, and all the boys gained up on him in which he was unable to fight back. So all Jerry could do was curl himself up in a ball and take his punishment.
10. Has Jerry really given up?
No he really hadnt given up, he just kept on pushing trying to prove to people that he was going to keep fighting for what he wanted.
11. To what lengths would you go to stand up for something? Relate your experiences to the novel.
I would go pretty far if I was standing up for something that I truly wanted or liked. For instance this might be silly but one time
12. How do you feel after the ending?
After the ending I feel somewhat the same as I did when I started reading it at first. It was a good book but I wouldn’t call it one of my favorites. Also relating back to talking about Greenup County, is now I do think that Trinity sort of has clicks, just not as many
13. What does the novel suggest about disturbing the universe? Does this story leave us with any hope at all?
Jerry was telling Goober that "They tell you to do your thing but they don't mean it. They don't want you to do the wrong thing, not unless it happens to be their ting, too." He was trying to warn him, by saying not to play, or get dragged into their games.
POST-READING QUESTIONS
1. Write a 150-word response in which you consider your final thoughts on the novel. Include your analysis of the ending - those reading the posts should have read the ending themselves and come to their own conclusions.
I had a few final thoughts about the ending of the novel, the chocolate war. It was a good book, but i didnt really like the ending of it, because it left me wondering, and curious to what had happened to Jerry after he had recooperated. Another thing that i really didnt like was how the vigilsor the boys at Trinity treated Jerry, mainly because he was a freshmen, and easy to pick on. It wasn't fair to him by them gaiging up on him after football practice one day, and getting him in trouble by not catching his passes. HIs wasn't able to fight back so all he could do was take was coming for him by not selling chocolates. I think that he should've had to help sell the chocolates, and since he didn't he could've recieved a less harsher, painful beating. One thing that I thought was good about Jerry, was he was wanting to warn his friend Goober, about what he might go through if he didn't do what the Vigils had told him to do.
2. Robert Cormier wrote a follow up to the novel, called Beyond the Chocolate War. Why might he have written another book? What might it be about? Write a 150-word response hypothesizing about the next novel and what it might be about.
The book that Robert Cormier wrote after his other novel The Chocolate War, was called Beyond The Chocolate War. In this book I think that it might be like a sequel to the chocolate war. In this book it tells how Jerry ended up after the beating, and how things out. Robert probably wanted to end the first book with a little twist leaving the readers wondering, like he did me and then decieded to write another book for them to read later. This book might also contain other things that really explain out events that happened in the first novel. It could also be a novel about Jerry and the Vigils after the had graduated and off out in the real world on their own. This could be how they look back on things when they where younger. You never know what books are going to be about until you read them, and as people say never judge a book by it cover or title, because you never know what it's going to be about.
1.) The vigils have such power basically because of the people running the school. This is because the faculty over look The Vigils so they can keep doing what they do.
2.) I think that Jerry should begin to sell the chocolates if that’s what he wants to do, not just because it’s what everyone else wants him to do. However if he doesn’t want to sell them then I don’t think he should.
3.) When threatened with physical violence you can at first go along with whatever that person is wanting you to do or you could walk away and try to avoid it all together.
4.) Yes. Because there are people in every school who do what they want and if someone attempts to stop them then they retaliate in an unruly way.
5.) If someone sabotaged my work then I would at first try to find out who did it. Then, in all honesty, depending on who the person was I would decide what to do from there.
6.) Yes. Because if things get too out of hand then he might not be able to handle it all himself.
7.) A spirit of brotherhood is when there is a bond between the people involved. At Trinity the boys are kind of forced upon each other because they go to the same school and it’s expected of them to get along and bond with one another.
8.) Yes, I have been in a fight. It didn’t really solve the problem at all because we talked about it and resolved the issues later.
9.) No, he didn’t have to go to the field for the fight. If I were in his situation I’m not sure if I would have went, especially if I didn’t know how it was going to end.
10.) No, he hasn’t really given up.
11.) I would stand up for something until it caused problems in different aspects of my life. Because the way I see it, why not stand up for something if you believe in it strongly enough?
12.)
13.) It suggests that everyone has their place in the universe and that if it’s disturbed then it sets everything out of order. I think it leaves us with hope because maybe changing some aspects of the universe isn’t such a horrible thought after all.
Sara Hardin
Mon. April 6, 2009
Honors English II
Reading Questions III
1. The Vigils seem to have the most power in the Trinity school. The teachers let them by with the wrong things that they do, and they can rule anyone without getting in trouble. I feel that the teachers are the ones giving them the power. If they would put their foot down and stop the Vigils then their power would lessen. It is the teachers fault for not enforcing some kind of rules on them; so therefore, the teachers are pretty much handing over the power to the Vigils.
Quote from novel: -page 26-
“The Vigils were the school. And he, Archie Costello, was the Vigils. That is why Leon had called him here that is why Leon was practically begging for his help.”
2. No. I don’t think that Jerry should begin selling the chocolates at anytime. He is standing up for himself, in a way, by refusing to sell. If he starts selling the chocolates now then it will look as if he is backing down and obeying the Vigils, doing just what they want him to do. He needs to continue refusing the chocolates and maybe it will eventually be something that will finally put down the Vigils.
Quote from novel: -page 96-
“Look up he called ‘Renault.’ The pause. ‘NO!’… Finally Brother Leon looked down. ‘Renault’ he said again, his voice like a whip. ‘No, I’m not going to sell the chocolates.” Cities fell. Earth opened. Planets tilted. Stars plummeted. And the awful silence.
3. When Rollo gets punched by Carter, Rollo is thrown out, and just lays there in his misery. If we are ever faced with physical violence that is very unnecessary, like in the novel, then we should avoid it. It is not worth it in the end. If you are faced with this one day, then walk away from it, and be the bigger person.
Quote from novel: -page 146-
“Simultaneously, his hand shot out and struck Rollo on the jaw. Rollo’s head snapped back—snap like a knuckle cracking—and he bellowed with pain. As Rollo lifted his hands to his face in tardy defense, Carter’s fist sank sickeningly into his stomach. Rollo groaned and retched, doubled over, clutching himself in disbelief, gasping for breath. He was shoved from behind, and dropped to the floor coughing and spitting, crawling on all fours.”
4. Yes. I feel that the quote, “All schools have animals” is very true. There are some extremely good students in every school. There are always going to be those students which always have good behavior, good grades, and all around just well. But also in every school there are going to be trouble makers, or in other words, “animals”. There will always be some, even if it is just a few, but every school does have “animals”.
5. I am very particular about my work, that it is turned in and neat. If someone sabotaged it, then I would be very upset and angry. I would want to find out who did it, and I would probably be very angry at that person, especially if it was work that was very essential.
6. No. I don’t think that Jerry should tell his dad what is going ton because I don’t feel that it is necessary. Sometimes parents just don’t understand the way other kids do. They may have been through the same things when they were in high school, but they don’t always understand as a parent. If Jerry can handle this situation on his own then I feel that he should not talk to his dad about it.
Quote from novel: -page 177-
“Compassion for his father welled in Jerry. Should he tell his father what it was all about? But he didn’t want to involve him.”
7. A spirit of brotherhood is when a school or group would come together and have spirit for their school together, as one. Instead, the school of Trinity has spirit, but not as a brotherhood. They all seem to make it a competition, or something that they just want to win over their classmates. This is not brother hood at all.
8. I have been in a fight before, but it was not physical. The way I ended up working it all out was by just talking it over. Violence is not for me, and I think that if you get into an argument with someone then it is best to just work it out by talking and compromising. Violence never solves anything.
9. Even though Archie knew that Jerry would agree to come to the field to fight, Jerry still had a choice. Archie didn’t force him, and there was nothing making him go to the field that night. He was influenced by Archie and the Vigils but it was under his own will that he went to the field to fight. If it were me I would not have went. Most people would think that it would be considered wimping out if you don’t go and face them, but to me it’s giving in to them. If I were to go then I am giving them what they want, and that is not good.
10. The moment Jerry agreed to fight he “gave up” in a way. He was giving into them when he agreed. When he said “yes I will go to the field to fight” he was giving Archie, and the whole school, just what they wanted. If Jerry would have stuck with what he believed in, and just kept on standing up for himself, instead of giving in, then I wouldn’t consider it “giving up.”
11. I would only let it get so far before I would just quit what I was doing and give in, but it would take an awful lot. If it got down to where someone could seriously get hurt or violence was the major part of it, then that is probably where I would draw the line. I have never had a violent experience like the one in the novel, but I have had arguments before. I would have drawn the line if it was taken too far.
12. After reading the ending I feel angry. Jerry did not deserve to be punished and brutally beaten like he was. Jerry was only standing up for what he believed in. He is only a freshman in high school and I think that the Vigils took the chocolate sale way to far. For Jerry to get beat up for stand up for the right thing is just wrong. Archie is wrong in everything that he did, and he should have stop before it got as far as it did. Nothing is worse than getting kicked while you’re already down, and that is exactly how Jerry felt. There was nothing he could do after he got in that ring, but he should have said no to fighting from the beginning.
13. In the novel, “disturbing the universe”, means to speak out for what you believe in, instead of staying quiet and not bothering anything. Sometimes people may think that it is just easier to not say anything at all. The poster said, “Do I dare disturb the universe?” In other words it says, ‘Do you dare speak out for what you believe in?” I think that the story does leave us with some hope. Just because there are bullies out there trying to always start trouble, we still have hope.
1. This was a very interesting novel and was connected with real life events as well. It was good because it related to many high school students who have experienced some of the same things as in “The Chocolate War.” The novel allowed the reader to have a sort of connection with the characters of the novel. After reading the ending I felt angry. Jerry did not deserve to be punished and brutally beaten like he was. Jerry was only standing up for what he believed in. He is only a freshman in high school and I think that the Vigils took the chocolate sale way to far. For Jerry to get beat up for stand up for the right thing is just wrong. Archie is wrong in everything that he did, and he should have stop before it got as far as it did. Nothing is worse than getting kicked while you’re already down, and that is exactly how Jerry felt. There was nothing he could do after he got in that ring, but he should have said no to fighting from the beginning.
2. Robert Cormier is the writer of the novel, ‘The Chocolate War”. He was very successful in writing this book. The novel is about bullies in a high school that end up taking things way too far. He writes the novel so that it relates to other high school students in real life. This is why the novel is so interesting to many students. Robert Cormier has written another piece which is considered a follow up writing to “The Chocolate War.” He probably wrote this writing for people who were curious to see what happens to Jerry or the Vigils. People who read the follow up writing probably want to know what happens to the characters after “The Chocolate War.” I would want to know what happens to Trinity High School. Do the teachers lay down the law? Are the Vigils still together? Are there any other students in the school who become bullies or a part of the Vigils? The follow up writing would answer all of these questions and would help relieve all of the reader’s curiosity.
Taylor Reed
1) The Vigils through out the story cause mayhem and problems for the teacher and students of Trinity. They have more power and control over the school then the teachers them selves. This is caused by fear of them; if you try to stand up to them they will basically give you “hell”.
2) No, I do not think that Jerry should begin to sell the chocolates. The reason for this is because Jerry believes that you should stand up for what you want and he does that.
3) When I am faced with physical violence I try to avoid the situation. In the story Jerry tries very hard to avoid physical violence when Janza is calling him a fairy and queer.
4) This quote “ All schools (have) animals” is definitely true; there are always kids in the school that like to cause to trouble.
5) If someone sabotaged my work I would obviously be mad. I might not get that mad if I didn’t care about the work. In the story when Jerry first discovers his poster and what someone had done to it, it almost seemed like he wasn’t so much mad but just thought it was childish.
6) I don’t think that Jerry should tell his dad what is going on because it seems like his dad is still having a hard time dealing with his wife’s death. I think this is the main reason that Jerry is keeping these things from his dad.
7) I think the difference in these is that the underclassmen are almost scared into doing things like selling the chocolates. Being a brotherhood the people enjoy doing the things they are asked to do, in the book they seem to be dreading the sell.
8) I have been in a fight once or twice. The first one was in 3rd grade over an argument which it solved noting, and the second was probably 7th grade and it was also because of an argument. Fighting is enjoyable to watch for me, but it solves nothing. It may prove some can fight well but it doesn’t solve the problem.
9) Jerry did not have to go to the field for the fight Archie basically tricked him into it. If I would have in Jerry’s shoes there is no way I would have went, I would have been afraid of getting in to trouble and I just really don’t like to fight.
10) I don’t think that Jerry had given up through out the entire story. Even when Janza was beating the crap out of him he still managed to get a punch in. Then when Goober was there before the ambulance came he was trying his hardest to tell Goober to not disturb the universe.
11) It all depends on what the thing I was standing up for was; if the subject was very important to me I would to some extreme things. Jerry in the story to me was pretty much die hard, he took some pretty gruesome beatings physically and mentally but still hung in there.
12) Well besides the fact that I want to kill Archie it was pretty good. I don’t see why the teachers didn’t put a stop to the Vigils. They had many chances to catch Archie but yet they did nothing. The part that bothered me the most is when Brother Leon just let Archie go after the whole boxing match.
13) I think that the novel is trying to say don’t mess up the universe. If things are going smooth like they where before Jerry refused the chocolates why try something different. This novel could give hope to some but not to others; people who are having a good life and things are going good might think this is a great book and take it in a good way. Others may think completely different and think that if they try to change something it could mess up everyone’s life.
To me this was a very good book from cover to cover. At times it got some what confusing with all the different characters, but you could toss at a lot of them. The ending of the story was very interesting. It kept me on the edge of me seat the whole time. I did think that he dragged it on for maybe a little too long but still it was good. Like I said before though I hate how they let Archie go again. The main reason that all these problems started with the sale was because of Archie and the vigils. If they would have not given Jerry the assignment then he would have not tried to rebel and everything would have been fine.
The book Beyond the Chocolate War is probably just a book that clears things up for some of the readers that might have gotten lost. It probably talks about some of the characters that were left out some like tubs and maybe have talked a little more about Ellen Barrett. I also would have liked to known who it was that was outside Jerry’s window that night pestering him so much.
1. The Vigils get their power from their selves. Also, Brother Leon aids the Vigils with their plans. Brother Leon aided the Vigils because they are the ones who can manipulate the students, and they have the biggest impact on the rest of their peers.
2. I do not think that Jerry should sell the chocolates, and give in to the Vigils. He should stand up for what he believes in and stand up for what he wants to do. This confidence that he gains could help him for later in life.
3. I think that if we are threatened with physical violence we should not retaliate. In the story, “The Bully,” the main character lets the bullies know that they can win a fight against him. The group of bullies let him go because bullies look for a fight. If the victim does not give them one, then they are not satisfied and they will go to their next victim.
4. The quotes, “All schools have animals,” is true. This is mostly true concerning high schools. There are always those cliques and those certain types of people like Archie and Emile. This is especially true with guys because they normally lean towards violence. So yes, every school has animals like seen in The Chocolate War.
5. It would probably depend on how severe they had sabotaged my work, which would depend on my reaction. If I were in Jerry’s shoes and someone sabotaged my work, I would do nothing. Jerry’s reputation of being a punk and not selling chocolates would only infuriate the other students if he tried to react. So I would probably do nothing.
6. No, Jerry should not tell his Dad what is happening. Probably if his dad found out, he would just go to the school and talk to Brother Leon about it. This would just make matters worse though because Brother Leon would talk to the Vigils about it. The Vigils would just torture Jerry more than they already do.
7. The spirit of brotherhood would be more authentic. The spirit that the boys of Trinity have, is forced upon them by the teachers. If the boys at Trinity had the spirit of the Brotherhood, then they would want to sell the chocolates for their school, not because they don’t want tortured by the Vigils and Brother Leon.
8. No, I have never been in a fight in my life because I was never that kind of person. I was the one who usually just ignores the other person or just walk away. Fighting though never solves any problems.
9. Jerry did not really have to go to the field to fight. I think I would have done the same thing as Jerry because it was his chance to stand up against Emile Janza. Standing up to his bullies was what Jerry was trying to accomplish all along. In the end, he tried his best to conquer Janza, but failed. I would have done the same as Jerry though.
10. Jerry never really gave up. He still did not sell the chocolates in the end of the novel. He has also stood up to The Vigils and proved that he is not scared of bullies. Even though he was beaten up and manipulated, he never really lost the fight of not selling the chocolates.
11. I would not go to lengths as Jerry did to stand up to my enemy. I would like to think that I would, but when it comes down to me being in a ring with a guy like Janza, I would back down from my defiance. I have stood up verbally to bullies in my life, but never to the extent of fighting.
12. At the end of the novel, I was angry at how the Vigils had still won. How the Vigils and Brother Leon treated Jerry and the other students at Trinity was awful, and it’s bad that those things really happen. The book showed the inside stories of bullying and what people are really thinking.
13. At the beginning of the novel, Jerry kind of gives us hope about the bullies, with him defying the Vigils, and that infamous question about disturbing the universe. The novel is pessimistic though and it shows that you should just follow the people that are manipulating you. The novel, The Chocolate War, leaves us with little hope in defying bullies and standing up for yourself.
Post-Reading Questions
1. After I read The Chocolate War, it left me with many thoughts about bullies and how Jerry tried to defy them. At the beginning of the novel, there was some hope that Jerry was going to successfully defy the Vigils and the chocolate sale. Though at the ending, it was kind of like 1984 all over again. There was no hope left for the victims, and it was rather pessimistic that they kind of gave in at the end of each novel. I was angry though too, at how everybody just let these kind of things happen in real life and in the book. Brother Leon didn’t do anything to the Vigils, but supported them in their bullying habits. It showed that these kinds of things not only happen in schools, like Trinity, but also in the bigger scheme of things; in the real world. There are victimizers everywhere that feed on the suffering of others.
2. The end of the Chocolate War was kind of indefinite. There was too many conclusions to draw. I believe the next novel will be about Jerry’s life after the match against Janza. I think it will follow up on his emotional damage from The Vigils. I hope the novel shows what happens between Jerry and his father. Also, I wonder if Brother Leon ends The Vigils rule or keeps them going after he saw the boxing match. The novel may reveal secrets that will explain to the reader why Archie is ahead of the game. Maybe is will reveal answers about the black box, or what will happen next when Archie has to leave the Vigils.
Book 3 Questions
12/1/08
Amanda Harris
Mr. Parsons
2nd Period
The Vigils have their power because of the teachers. Brother Leon helps them out as well just as long as they help him out. He gives them assignments just like they give their victims assignments.
No, I don’t think that Jerry should begin to sell the chocolates because I believe that it will make him seem like he’s a coward. If he gives in now, everything that he has done will be un-done. And that would not be good. He needs to stand up to the school and show them that they do not need to be pushing students around and forcing them to sell chocolates just because they are in financial need of it.
Well if you are faced with physical violence and you do not want to be a part of it then you can just simply walk away, or run depending on how bad you want out. However, if you can handle it, or you are assaulted first then I think you should have the right to defend yourself. If you want to stop it before it begins then you could let a teacher or a person of high authority know what’s going on. And they will try to help you.
Yes, the quote “All schools have animals” is very true. It doesn’t matter what school you go to or how high the school is ranked, there will always be rebels. And people who think they are better than everyone, and that they are gods or goddesses. And also you always have the troublemakers. The ones who feed off of bullying, and the ones who just like to be known for trouble.
If someone had sabotaged my work that I had been working hard on I would be furious. It would take everything in me not to go nuts on them. I don’t believe that I would be able to control my anger.
I think it would be a bit helpful for Jerry if he would tell his father. Your parents are supposed to be protectors of you. If there’s a problem you are supposed to be able to go to them. However, that could back fire on him and his father tell him to sell the chocolates and then he would seem like he was giving in. He just needs to stand his ground, and eventually it will all be over.
The spirit of brotherhood is like family. You stick together no matter what. That’s not what the boys at Trinity have. No one sticks together. They all just play as characters in the Vigils’ game.
Yeah, I’ve been in a couple fights. The first one I was defending myself, and it seemed to help because a few weeks later me and the person became friends again. And then the second time I jumped in to help a friend because no one would pull the girl off of her. And she was getting it really bad, and just as I pulled her off the girl started on me. So, we fought. It didn’t really solve anything, we both just got a few bruises.
No, Jerry didn’t really have to. He could’ve walked away. But, that would have probably been worse. Janza and Archie would’ve gotten him one way or the other. I would have probably went to the field just like he did. You would be to afraid not to if you were in his shoes. He knew what was coming, but then he also knew how bad it would be if he didn’t go.
I think he feels as if the fight was won, and he was defeated. Janza nearly killed him. And he realized that is was better to do what they say then to disturb the universe. However, I think he stood up for himself as much as he could. One person can only take so much.
It depends on what it is that I’m standing up for. If it’s something for my family I will do anything. I would even go to the extremes of violence for them. However, if it was for a law that I believe should be changed I would send letters in, and attend press conferences and let my feelings be heard.
I feel really sad for Jerry. I had such high hopes for him, and I am also kind of disappointed because the good is supposed to triumph of the evil. But, it didn’t in this book. And he tried so hard, it was just to hard for him. He nearly died, and there’s only so much a person can take. I also feel angered at the teachers for allowing that to happen. Especially Brother Leon I feel that he should be suspended or fired from his job. He was absolutely ridiculous.
The novel itself shows what can happen to a person who tries to get things changed, and who tries to shake things up. Jerry did so by refusing the chocolates however he almost lost his life. He was humiliated in front of the whole school, and he was beaten. And that is real for today’s times as well. It’s a major risk, but the book leaves us with people who at least try. As far as hope goes this book has none. The knight was defeated by the dragon, so all hope is gone.
Post-Reading Questions:
1) The ending of the novel “The Chocolate War” was disappointing for me. I had such high hopes for the character Jerry Renault. I wanted him to triumph over the Vigils and Brother Leon. I wanted him to hold his own. And for the most part he did that. I really believed that it would all work out for him and then at the end he gets beat by Janza. However, in all honesty it wasn’t a fair fight. There were more tickets that had Janza hitting Jerry than Jerry hitting him. So, if it was fair maybe it would have turned out differently. I also have no respect for any of the teachers at the school. How could anyone sit and watch that and just let it happen. No one tried to stop it. They just waited until Jerry had passed out. It’s wrong. I was highly upset with the ending.
2) The book that Cormier wrote called “Beyond the Chocolate War” could be about many things. Maybe he is going to right the wrong of having evil win in the original. Hopefully, Jerry comes back and still refuses the chocolates. But, in this one hopefully he doesn’t get beat to nothing, he didn’t deserve that. He wanted to change the school, and make things better. Instead it just laid him in the hospital. I hope that the good over comes evil and leaves the reader with hope of changing the world he or she lives in. Everyone needs that little push to do something, to stand up for their selves. They just have to have faith that it will work out for the better in the end.
Ashley Barlow
3rd 4/ 31/09
1. Nobody really gives the Vigils credit. They have no power. They just do as they please when they want, whether told to or not. The purpose of The Vigils is undermined if students do not fear them. The Vigils rely on being feared to function. This is what gives them power is letting others know that they really are not scared of anyone.
2. Yes I think that Jerry should have to sell the chocolates because everyone in the school has to and it to raise money for school. All the profit is going towards his school earnings so yes I do think he should have to also.
3. When you are faced with the threat of physical violence I think you should just walk away at first and if it continues than you should punch them in face.
4.Yes I do think that all schools have animals. In the novels case the Vigils are the animals, and in other situations for schools is the bullies. Our school has plenty of loud and annoying people.
5.If someone sabotaged my work, I would probably be furious. If it was work that I had been working on for a while or had it done then I would have a major problem with that person.
6. Yes I think that Jerry should tell his dad what is going on, because this could be another time for them to be able to talk to one another. It might not be the right time or conversation, but a time to talk. Also if he tells his dad then maybe he could help him sell the chocolates so that he would stop being picked, or beat on. In the novel Jerry decides that he doesn’t want his father to know what is gong on, mainly because he doesn’t want his father involved with it at all.
7.The difference between spirit of brotherhood, and what the boys of Trinity have is different in a few ways. The spirit of brotherhood is the men that are in this club or organization actually respect and honor the other members. Then the boys at Trinity really don’t like each other all that much, but have to put up with one another because they go to school together.
8. No I have never been in a fight. People have tried to start fights with me but it never did work. Fights never solve anything, other than letting the everyone know how stupid you look after fighting.
9. Jerry really didn’t have to go to the field to fight, it was his choice to go. I think that he went to show everyone that he wasn’t scared of nobody. If I were in Jerry's situation I would probably do things a little bit differently, like instead of going to fight I would try in work things out.
10. No he really hadn’t given up; he just kept on pushing trying to prove to people that he was going to keep fighting for what he wanted. He was kind of hard headed about it.
11. I would do whatever it takes if I was standing up for something that I truly wanted or believed in. For instance this might be silly but one time
12. After the ending I feel somewhat the same as I did when I started reading it at first. It was a good book but I wouldn’t call it one of my favorites. Also relating back to talking about Greenup County is now I do think that Trinity sort of has clicks. We don’t have as many bullies.
POST-READING QUESTIONS
1. The chocolate war was a pretty good book. I felt like it kind of dragged on a little bit. Other than that it was an ok book. I don’t think I would go and read the book for fun. It wasn’t that great but it was ok. I could relate to the book in some aspects but I really didn’t get that into it. I had a few final thoughts about the ending of the novel, the chocolate war.
I did like that The Chocolate War was about standing up. It also shows that there are bullies at all ages. They are all the same; they will just keep picking on someone till they stand up for themselves. Yeah, you might get punched in the face but that will probably be the end of it. I would much rather get hit one time than have to suffer through high school with a bully on my back.
2. I think the next book might be about how Jerry is doing. It never really says what happens to him after he goes to the hospital. The next book will probably be about more chocolate bars. I could also see it being about another bully that has been picking on him again. The next book would have to tell what happened to Jerry. Whether he wanted revenge or he just wanted t get away. In all I would like to think it would be mostly about standing up to people and taking up for yourself. It is probably another book about being pressured into doing something you really just don’t want to do. Just like in the book, The Chocolate War. It might go on about how things have changed since they gotten older and it night go on and talk about how the circumstances.
READING QUESTIONS
1. There is a combination of things that gives The Vigils power. The fact that the teachers know that they exist and ignore them gives them a lot of power. They don’t have to worry about getting in trouble, which means they practically run the school themselves. The fear and respect from the students empowers them as well.
2. I don’t think that Jerry should sell the chocolates. If he wants to change the way things are around the school and in his life then he needs to stand up for himself and attempt to change it. Obviously no one else is going to change it for him.
3. In school, everyone was lectured that when a problem turns to violence to “get help from a teacher or other trusted adult.” But that doesn’t always solve the problem. Teachers aren’t there in the situation so they don’t know exactly what is going on, so they can punish the wrong people or only get one side of a story. I believe you should stand up for yourself when faced with physical violence. You don’t have to fight back physically though. If everything gets too out of hand, someone should be brought into a situation to try to stop it before it gets too dangerous.
4. All schools have animals. Whenever you get a group of people, there will usually be someone that wants power. When you have a large group of teenagers, there will be some students that will do whatever they have to to get that power.
5. If someone sabotaged my work, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I usually put a lot of effort into anything I do, and for that to be for nothing would really upset me.
6. It’s understandable why Jerry wouldn’t want to tell his dad what is going on. But I think that since it resulted to violence, he should tell him. His dad might be able to give him some advice. And his dad might be even more upset if he found out without Jerry being the one to tell him.
7. A spirit of brotherhood is based on love. Giving to your school, community, and peers. What the boys at Trinity did is not based on love. They criticized Jerry for not selling chocolates because The Vigils manipulated them. The boys respected and feared The Vigils, so they followed them in what they said was cool.
8. I have never been in an actual fight with punching and blood, but I have been in a few fights with my friend, Ashley, which usually persisted of wrestling, slapping or spitting. It usually solved the problem for us because afterwards we would laugh at how stupid it was.
9. Jerry didn't have to go to the fight, but he felt that he needed to. If he didn't, then nothing would have been solved, and it might have got worse. I probably would have gone to the fight if I was in his position.
10. Jerry hasn't given up. The whole point of going to the fight was to stand up for himself. But he realizes that he was "not disturbing the universe but damaging it."
11. For me, it depends on how much that something mattered to me, but for somethings, I would go pretty far to stand up for. I don't know if I would result to fighting like in the novel. I have no problem confronting people with my thoughts if I feel very passionately about them though.
12. I was a little disappointed with the ending of the novel. They made it like everything as back to the way it was before the chocolate sale, so nothing that Jerry did mattered anymore. He did stand up for himself and not sell the chocolates, but it made no difference because all of the chocolates still got sold and The Vigils still did their thing.
13. The novel suggests that you can try to disturb the universe, but you're just going to fail. Everything is going to happen the way it's supposed to and there's nothing you can do about it. This story leaves us with no hope at all. We can try to change everything in our lives, but somethings will never change no matter how far you go to change it.
1. The Chocolate War started off as pretty interesting. But I was disappointed by the ending. There were so many questions unanswered. I also didn't like how everything ended. Jerry was set out to change his universe and went through so much, only to be beaten up and everything went back to the way it was. It leaves us with no hope at all. Overall, I didn't really like the novel.
2. At the end of The Chocolate War, we are left with many questions. Jerry leaves the fight in an ambulance, and Archie walks away as if nothing ever happened. Did Archie get in any trouble? Was Jerry ok? Beyond the Chocolate War would most likely answer some of these questions. The whole reason Jerry didn't sell the chocolates in The Chocolate War was to "disturb the universe." So did Jerry think that he did the right thing? His thoughts on how everything turned out might be revealed in Beyond the Chocolate War. The follow up novel would probably tell what happened to the characters and what happened to the school after the fight.
Reading Questions Part III
1. The Vigils get their power through lack of authority. They are able to carry out missions with no reprimanding, no matter how severe the situation may be.
2. I do not think Jerry should begin selling the chocolates. The selling of chocolates is supposedly “voluntary” and demonstrates school spirit. Therefore, despite the pressure, he should not be forced into selling chocolates. Especially after he has stood his ground for this long, despite peer pressure, he should not sell
3. I believe that when we are confronted with violence, we have limited options. You can not tell authority, as it gets you more picked on, or is handled incorrectly. Standing up for yourself can sometimes get you picked on even more. So the best strategy I believe is to avoid confrontation at all costs, and stand your ground without treading on others.
4. After Jerry finds his locker in shambles, he thinks to himself, “All schools have animals.” This quote is true, and is proved time and time again. At schools, there are bullies, the ones who push you around and take your lunch money, push you against the lockers, and tease you. But then, a step below bullies, are the animals, the ones who are even worse. They are the ones who start vicious rumors that tarnish reputations, sabotage homework, and mess with your mind. They get away with these underhanded tricks, and its hard to prove. Those are the worst kinds of victimizers you could deal with.
5. If someone sabotaged my work, I would not retaliate. I believe the more you show that stuff bothers you, the more it will be done. In that case, I would do my best to salvage or redo whatever it was, such as when Jerry’s picture was sabotaged. I believe he handles it the right way, by not arguing with the teacher, and just attempting to slide by with what he was able.
6. Jerry and his father receive phone calls with the other end laughing at all hours of the night, catcalls outside, and mind games, in addition to Jerry’s teasing, torment, and beatings that occur at school. Jerry has referred to his father as being in his “own world,” but I believe if he would have told him everything that was going on, his father could have advised him, and kept him from suffering at the end.
7. There is a spirit of brotherhood found in some schools with comradity and school spirit. However, the boys at Trinity had a social hierarchy. At the top are the Vigils, who run the school, and get away with anything. Next come the animals, who carry out all the dirty work. And then those who are left are either ordinary or victims. These boys live in fear, not in a spirit of friendship and brotherhood.
8. I have never been in a fight, nor do I plan on ever getting in one. I don’t think it solves problems, just creates new ones.
9. Jerry didn’t have to go to the field to fight. He went under false pretenses, although he did believe it would be away to clean up his reputation, and stand up to the guy who had beaten him for such a foolish reason. If he didn’t go, he would look like a wimp and the Vigils could think of an even more severe punishment. If he did go, he puts his safety and reputation on the line. In Jerry’s situation, I would have not gone to the fight. He had come so far, and I believe he could have resisted and used his willpower a little longer, to stand up for his beliefs.
10. Jerry never gave up. Even when he was about to be beaten senseless, he still stood his ground, as he had the entire novel. By this point, it wasn’t just about the chocolates, it was about freedom of choice, and Jerry refused to give up on that.
11. In the novel, despite everything, Jerry stood his ground and did not give in and sell chocolates. He endured peer pressure, torment from a corrupt teacher, sabotage, and beatings. Yet he stood his ground, and did not sell pathetic chocolates when he shouldn’t have been forced to. I am unlike Jerry. I have my beliefs, but I don’t think I could go that far to support my beliefs. For example, I have a strong belief against abortion. I am willing to argue that point whenever possible, and peacefully protest. But I don’t think I am strong enough to be beaten and tormented both physically and mentally for my beliefs.
12. I felt empty and disappointed after the ending. Archie and Brother Leon were both corrupt and got away with it. No one was punished for the ludicrous fight club Archie had going. It just goes to show you, the world never stops revolving around a select few who are able to get away with anything. It left me wanting so much more. What happened to Jerry, and what will become of him? Will the Vigils continue their antics? What is Brother Leon’s next step? How did a chocolate sale start such madness, and is that the end of it?
13. In the novel, Jerry disturbs the universe, after finding the true meaning of what it entails. He broke the mold, and stood on his own, with his own beliefs. Although people are standing still in the universe, and doing what is expected Jerry changes it by doing nothing at all. The novel paints Jerry as a hero for standing up for himself, and subtly encourages the reader to do so as well.
Post Reading Questions
1. The ending of The Chocolate War angered me. Despite my hoping that Jerry would be a school hero and Archie and Brother Leon were both corrupt and got away with it. No one was punished for the ludicrous fight club Archie had going. It just goes to show you, the world never stops revolving around a select few who are able to get away with anything. It left me wanting so much more, for the good guy to come out on top. The entire novel described the social hierarchy, the behind the scenes look most authors hope to capture, but Cormier did capture the true essence, not the best years of your life but of a hell overran with power hungry animals.
2. Since The Chocolate War, left you with a sort of cliffhanger ending, with the corrupt teacher and bully Vigils on top, I imagine Robert Cormier’s second novel, Beyond the Chocolate War, may have a shift in power. Perhaps the Vigils will come to an end, Brother Leon will be fired, and the students at Trinity will stand up against the two. Maybe, the Vigils will break apart and thus split power. Then again, the Vigils antics could grow worse and more people are tortured. Robert Cormier left The Chocolate War leaving the reader wanting more, and hopefully this wish will be fulfilled by the second novel.
1.) The teachers give them the power. They do not acknowledge them, therefore giving them the power to proceed with the assignments which keep the school “in order”. Also, some teachers like Brother Leon use the vigils to help their own personal problems at the school.
2.) No, I do not think Jerry should sell the chocolates because he could start a change at the school so the Vigils might not have as much power. Jerry could start a revolution. Unfortunately, Archie already knew how he was going to handle him. “Let me put it this way, Carter. Before the sale is over, Renault will be wishing he had sold the chocolates. And the school will be glad he didn’t.”
3.) Unfortunately, what we are taught by our parents and counselors is not always an option. The “just ignore the threats and everything will be fine” method loses its luster once you hear your jaw crack. So, then you basically you are left with two options: fight back or accept defeat. Situations like this are always lose-lose. Fight back and you are considered a brute. Accept defeat and you are a labeled a wimp. I, for one, think that it is very interesting that the famous line from Julius Caesar, “Et tu Brute? Then, fall Caesar.” carries so much weight in this discussion. Unless I am missing something and that is where the term “brute” originated and why there is a salad, the girliest of all meals, named after Caesar then that is a very interesting coincidence.
4.) Yes, the quote is true. Every school has animals, the kind of people who rely on their primal instincts rather then mentally figuring out the problem. These people are generally the ones who are failing their classes because they think “the lesson is dumb”, emphasis on the “b”. The animals are the ones who get satisfaction from a punch to the gut.
5.) The first answer that popped in my head was retaliation but an eye for an eye leaves us all blind. It depends on who it is but most likely, if it is a school assignment, I would hold their’s ransom until they made me another or just turn their’s in as my own.
6.) Jerry should tell his dad. For one, his father might be able to help him or give him some advice. On the other hand, it may take Jerry’s dad’s mind off of his wife’s death. Then again, since Jerry is all he has left, he might become overprotective and go to the school or to the police and start a huge ordeal. That would bring the Vigils out into the open and into the forefront of everyone’s mind. That would lead to an interesting sequel, though.
7.) The boys of Trinity have a relationship built on fear. A spirit of brotherhood is based on respect for your fellow brothers. There is no violence in a spirit of brotherhood. It is like a big family whereas the boys of Trinity are more like, well, students. There is no respect at Trinity. “You’re a real bastard,” Obie said (to Archie) finally, his frustration erupting. “You know that?”
8.) I have not really been in a true fight where I was out for blood but I have had a few skirmishes. It usually solved the problem because it was over something really small like “STOP POURING WATER ON ME!!!”. Other than that and in recent years, I have been in no fights.
9.) Jerry definitely did not have to go to the field for the fight because he should know by now that he cannot beat Archie. “The way he could dazzle you with brilliance-those Vigil assignments that had practically made him a legend at Trinity…” The minute Jerry picked up the phone and heard Archie on the other line, he should have hung up. That is what I would have done but maybe Jerry had changed his priorities. Maybe his battle is not with Archie anymore but with Emile Janza.
10.) No and I am basing this entire argument on the fact there is a sequel. Also, Jerry seems like the kind of guy who would never give up. He would just keep fighting. He was getting beaten black and blue at football practice but he did not pull a Goober and quit. “He had allowed to do this to him. A new sickness invaded Jerry…”
11.) It depends on what that something was. I guess I am technically standing up for animal rights by not eating them and joining PETA but I do not think I would ever have the gall to pour blood on someone in a fur coat. If I were Jerry, however, I would never stand up in the first place. Why would should I even care? They are just chocolates but I can see his point of view. The Vigils are oppressive and it is only a matter of time before they abuse their power.
12.) The ending of the book is very similar to the ending of “1984.” Both of the protagonists do not achieve what they set out to do. I felt happy at first knowing that this was no happy-ending Disney film. Those are just predictable. “The Chocolate War” ends with a defeat. I guess another reason for my happiness would be my admiration of Archie. Even though he is not the protagonist of the story, I see him as equal to Jerry. I prefer neither one but I do like watching them duel it out for my own amusement.
13.) The novel suggests the ups and downs of disturbing the universe. Most of it is the downside of going against the establishment. Surprisingly, I am left with a little hope that Jerry could change the school. I felt like he created enough of a stir to get people behind him which is what I thought he needed. With one or two students of significance behind him, he might be able to tear down the Vigils.
1.) The hero lost. Those words are rare in literature and popular culture which made this novel even more interesting. The hero was defeated. The villain won. Evil triumphs good. I really liked the book. It was definitely not as wordy as “1984” and the controversy of the book itself made the story even better. We need Disney like stories in our lives, the ones where things turn out okay but we also need novels like this. The ones that leave you with no hope at all. Literature is supposed to incite emotion. Not every story can end with “… and they all lived happily ever after.” What I am surprised by, though, is that both novels we read this year did not have a happy ending. I think it would have been interesting to contrast two different endings instead of having the same conclusion and theme with a different plot. I do not know how “Fahrenheit 451” ended but if it ended happily then perhaps I should have read it instead.
2.) “Beyond The Chocolate War” sounds like it might be about other battles, or wars, going on besides Jerry and Archie. “The Chocolate War” suggests and hints at other battles like Archie and Carter and Archie and Obie. The sequel could canter around Archie instead of Jerry. It also might even explain what exactly happened to Brother Jacque. “Beyond The Chocolate War” could even be a prequel, explaining how the Vigils came into power in the first place, what the school was like before they gained power, and who started the Vigil traditions such as the black box. Robert Cormier’s reason for writing a sequel/prequel could be to explain all of the above. There are a lot of questions left unanswered at the end of the first novel. Also, there are some very interesting characters in the novel which led it to being successful. A more pessimistic answer would be for money but I believe Cormier just loved writing about the boys at Trinity and had a few more plot twists up his sleeves.
Mark Austin
Questions 3
1) I think the vigils supply there own power in controlling the school. They build themselves by destroying the weakest kids and moving up. Another source of this manipulative ability is sourced from Brother Leon, he knows just who the vigils are and what they do yet does nothing to stop them, for example; the fight.
2) No, Jerry should not begin to sell the chocolates. He should keep standing up for what he believes in and defend what he wants to do. Defying the Vigils could turn out for the worst, but I think it’s important to never back down if it’s something you believe in.
3) Bullies are just looking for a fight. Therefore I feel that it’s best to try to avoid violence any way possible. First, because most of the time, if your not the bully your likely to get pummeled, and secondly violence would only hinder your efforts for overcoming your obstacles.
4) Of course, there is no disputing it. You will find bullies, or “animals” at every school. Humans are drawn to corruption and violence. Anything to make their lives seem easier, even if it means making it harder on someone else.
5)
6) Well, he probably should. But, since I don’t live my life like an after school special. I would not tell my dad what was happening. If Jerry’s dad found out what was going on, he would probably go to the schools and Brother Leon and inform them. This would only worsen Jerry’s mess because Brother Leon works with The Vigils. The Vigils would find out about Jerry’s dad and they would do even worse things to Jerry.
7) The spirit of brotherhood would be more authentic. The spirit that the boys at Trinity have is forced upon them by the teachers. I think that’s something that Jerry hates as well.
8) Not really. But in elementary school I was in a fight almost every week at recess. Of course it didn’t solve anything, but the reason we were fighting was probably ridiculous anyways, like, “He ate my crayons!”, or something.
9) No, it was his choice. I think I would have done the same thing as Jerry because it was still part of his initial goal. Standing up to his bullies was what Jerry was trying to accomplish all along. In the end, he tried his best to conquer Janza, but failed. Although, with my body type I’m sure I would have destroyed him… haha yeah right.
10) Jerry has not given up. He still did not sell the chocolates in the end of the novel. He has also stood up to The Vigils and proved that he is not scared of bullies. I believe that Jerry has won instead of given up.
11)
12) Ahhh! I loved it and hated it at the same time. Just like the author wants, I was really hoping Jerry would accomplish his goal. But of course, that’s not always the way things happen. The ending was actually more realistic.
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