The Destructors by Graham Greene
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, use quotes to support.
1.) Why does Trevor want to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house?
They are jealous that the house survived, but theirs didn't.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
He is jealous that it is so nice
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
T. is against stealing, they aren't there to steal, they're there to send a message.
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
He doesn't want a reason for doing it.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
They can't even destroy the house.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
It is a personal matter and they want to give Mr. Thomas what they have.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
It's more darning than anything the boys have already done.
8.) Why are we told that "destruction after all is a form of creation"? (p. 172-173)
We are told that "destruction after all is a form of creation" because destruction creates rubble and despair.
9.) What does the author mean when he says that Trevor had "a kind of imagination" that "had seen this house as it had now become"? (p. 173)
He had a vision to destroy it, and he planned it as a mission.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
They have adrenaline, and it was a thrill and it was risky
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote:
"Suppose we are?" he said ambiguously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Open to suggestions or ideas
Synonym:
Openminded
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I looked further into the eye surgery ambiguously.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote:
"Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze.
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
To intimidate
Synonym:
intimidate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
The man's daunting glare frightened the kids off his lawn.
3.) Altruistic - p. 169
Quote:
"Driven by the pure, simple, and altruistic ambition of fame of the gang, Blackie came back to where T. stood in the shadow of Old Misery's wall.
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
One purposed and without concern of others
Synonym:
Selfless
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
His actions in the battle were altruistic.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote:
"By the time Mike returned they were on top the floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed."
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Existing or occurring in the front or on the surface
Synonym:
Main
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
His position in the gang was very superficial.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote:
"By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house."
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
A feeling of excitement after unusual emotional or physical occurrence
Synonym:
Rush
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
My kill streak on Battlefield 3 felt exhilarating.
Thinking Map:Use textual evidence to show examples of when Trevor is trying to be part of the gang or when Trevor is trying to separate himself from the gang. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Part of the Gang
Votes
Participates in gang activities (171-181)
Answers questions (168)
Takes orders from Blackie (179)
Participates in taking down the house (172-182)
Apart
Tells the gang what to bring (170)
Burns money in secret (173-174)
Calls that boys, boys (171)
Makes that plan to destroy the house (168)
Tells Blackie to stand down (169)
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, use quotes to support.
1.) Why does Trevor want to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house?
They are jealous that the house survived, but theirs didn't.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
He is jealous that it is so nice
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
T. is against stealing, they aren't there to steal, they're there to send a message.
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
He doesn't want a reason for doing it.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
They can't even destroy the house.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
It is a personal matter and they want to give Mr. Thomas what they have.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
It's more darning than anything the boys have already done.
8.) Why are we told that "destruction after all is a form of creation"? (p. 172-173)
We are told that "destruction after all is a form of creation" because destruction creates rubble and despair.
9.) What does the author mean when he says that Trevor had "a kind of imagination" that "had seen this house as it had now become"? (p. 173)
He had a vision to destroy it, and he planned it as a mission.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
They have adrenaline, and it was a thrill and it was risky
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote:
"Suppose we are?" he said ambiguously."
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Open to suggestions or ideas
Synonym:
Openminded
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I looked further into the eye surgery ambiguously.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote:
"Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze.
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
To intimidate
Synonym:
intimidate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
The man's daunting glare frightened the kids off his lawn.
3.) Altruistic - p. 169
Quote:
"Driven by the pure, simple, and altruistic ambition of fame of the gang, Blackie came back to where T. stood in the shadow of Old Misery's wall.
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
One purposed and without concern of others
Synonym:
Selfless
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
His actions in the battle were altruistic.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote:
"By the time Mike returned they were on top the floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed."
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
Existing or occurring in the front or on the surface
Synonym:
Main
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
His position in the gang was very superficial.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote:
"By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house."
Definition (based on context/in your own words):
A feeling of excitement after unusual emotional or physical occurrence
Synonym:
Rush
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):
My kill streak on Battlefield 3 felt exhilarating.
Thinking Map:Use textual evidence to show examples of when Trevor is trying to be part of the gang or when Trevor is trying to separate himself from the gang. Include 5 examples and support with page numbers and opinion for each column.
Part of the Gang
Votes
Participates in gang activities (171-181)
Answers questions (168)
Takes orders from Blackie (179)
Participates in taking down the house (172-182)
Apart
Tells the gang what to bring (170)
Burns money in secret (173-174)
Calls that boys, boys (171)
Makes that plan to destroy the house (168)
Tells Blackie to stand down (169)