The Destructors
Interpretive Questions: Answer all questions in complete sentences, use quotes to support.
1.) Why does Trevor want to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house?
1.) Trevor wants to completely destroy the house because their houses are destroyed and his is perfectly fine. He says “Well destroy it.” (p. 168) because it will make everyone equal.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
2.) Trevor wants to destroy it because “it is a beautiful house” (p. 166) which makes him hate it even more that it survived and is a very nice house.
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
3.) Trevor burns them instead of stealing them because they aren't there to steal they are there to send a message. “Nobody’s going to steal anything from this house. I kept these for you and I a celebration.” (p. 173)
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
4.) Trevor says this because it is more fun if he got something out of it if he hated him it would be more for revenge than fun "there'd be no fun” (p. 174) if everyone else's houses were fine.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
5.) Trevor protests “it isn’t fair” (p. 175) because they didn't completely finish destroying the house before the old man shows up and feels like life isn't fair.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
6.) The gang is serious with the work of destroying the house because they want to give him what they gotten which is there homes are destroyed so they will give him what they gotten. They destroy the house with “the seriousness of creators" (p. 172) because they are doing the exact opposite of creators.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
7.) Trevor is able to persuade them because it is more daring then what they are used to doing.
8.) Why are we told that "destruction after all is a form of creation"? (p. 172-173)
8.) We are told this because destruction requires creation after something is destroyed. "destruction after all is a form of creation" (p. 172-173) because you have to create to destroy and destroy to create.
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)
9.) Trevor says this because his imagination has got him to destroy the house and his vision became real.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
10.) The boys have a “odd exhilaration.” (p. 174) because they are thrilled to be able to destroy the house but they are at odds after realizing the destruction they did.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote: "As the leader he had responsibilities. "Suppose we are?" he said ambiguously."
Definition: The definition of ambiguously is open to more than one interpretation
Synonym: arguable
Sentence: The question that was asked was responded ambiguously by many people.
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: The definition of daunted is to make someone feel intimidated
Synonym: discourage
Sentence: The man felt daunted after he insulted a stranger.
3.) Altruistic - p. 169
Quote: "Driven by the pure, simple, and altruistic ambition of fame for the gang, Blackie came back to where T. stood in the shadow of Old Misery's wall."
Definition: The definition of altruistic is showing care towards others
Synonym: concern
Sentence): He was altruistic towards his friend when he was hurt.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed."
Definition: The definition of superficial is occurring at the surface
Synonym: external
Sentence: The building sustained superficial damage.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house."
Definition: The definition of exhilaration is a feeling of happiness
Synonym: joy
Sentence: There was exhilaration when the amusement ride started.
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.
Trevor is another member
Trevor is a another member when he participates in regular gang jobs (p. 171)
Trevor is a another member when he helps destroys the house (p. 172)
Trevor is a another member when he lets Blackie step up as leader again (p. 176)
Trevor is another member when he votes with everyone about the plan (p. 169)
Trevor is another member when he responds and tells the gang his name for his initiation (p. 163)
Trevor is separate
Trevor is separate when he burns the money without telling anyone but Blackie (p. 173)
Trevor is separate when he come up with the plan to destroy the house (p. 168)
Trevor is separate when he panics and doesn't know what to do (p. 176)
Trevor is separate when he visits Old Misery’s house (p. 166)
Trevor is separate when he takes Blackie’s job as the leader (p. 170)
1.) Why does Trevor want to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house?
1.) Trevor wants to completely destroy the house because their houses are destroyed and his is perfectly fine. He says “Well destroy it.” (p. 168) because it will make everyone equal.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
2.) Trevor wants to destroy it because “it is a beautiful house” (p. 166) which makes him hate it even more that it survived and is a very nice house.
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
3.) Trevor burns them instead of stealing them because they aren't there to steal they are there to send a message. “Nobody’s going to steal anything from this house. I kept these for you and I a celebration.” (p. 173)
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
4.) Trevor says this because it is more fun if he got something out of it if he hated him it would be more for revenge than fun "there'd be no fun” (p. 174) if everyone else's houses were fine.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
5.) Trevor protests “it isn’t fair” (p. 175) because they didn't completely finish destroying the house before the old man shows up and feels like life isn't fair.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
6.) The gang is serious with the work of destroying the house because they want to give him what they gotten which is there homes are destroyed so they will give him what they gotten. They destroy the house with “the seriousness of creators" (p. 172) because they are doing the exact opposite of creators.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
7.) Trevor is able to persuade them because it is more daring then what they are used to doing.
8.) Why are we told that "destruction after all is a form of creation"? (p. 172-173)
8.) We are told this because destruction requires creation after something is destroyed. "destruction after all is a form of creation" (p. 172-173) because you have to create to destroy and destroy to create.
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)
9.) Trevor says this because his imagination has got him to destroy the house and his vision became real.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
10.) The boys have a “odd exhilaration.” (p. 174) because they are thrilled to be able to destroy the house but they are at odds after realizing the destruction they did.
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote: "As the leader he had responsibilities. "Suppose we are?" he said ambiguously."
Definition: The definition of ambiguously is open to more than one interpretation
Synonym: arguable
Sentence: The question that was asked was responded ambiguously by many people.
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: The definition of daunted is to make someone feel intimidated
Synonym: discourage
Sentence: The man felt daunted after he insulted a stranger.
3.) Altruistic - p. 169
Quote: "Driven by the pure, simple, and altruistic ambition of fame for the gang, Blackie came back to where T. stood in the shadow of Old Misery's wall."
Definition: The definition of altruistic is showing care towards others
Synonym: concern
Sentence): He was altruistic towards his friend when he was hurt.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed."
Definition: The definition of superficial is occurring at the surface
Synonym: external
Sentence: The building sustained superficial damage.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house."
Definition: The definition of exhilaration is a feeling of happiness
Synonym: joy
Sentence: There was exhilaration when the amusement ride started.
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.
Trevor is another member
Trevor is a another member when he participates in regular gang jobs (p. 171)
Trevor is a another member when he helps destroys the house (p. 172)
Trevor is a another member when he lets Blackie step up as leader again (p. 176)
Trevor is another member when he votes with everyone about the plan (p. 169)
Trevor is another member when he responds and tells the gang his name for his initiation (p. 163)
Trevor is separate
Trevor is separate when he burns the money without telling anyone but Blackie (p. 173)
Trevor is separate when he come up with the plan to destroy the house (p. 168)
Trevor is separate when he panics and doesn't know what to do (p. 176)
Trevor is separate when he visits Old Misery’s house (p. 166)
Trevor is separate when he takes Blackie’s job as the leader (p. 170)