The destructors
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?
Trevor wants to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house because he and the gang resent the fact that Mr. Thomas' house is still standing. All the other houses are destroyed and collapsed. For example, "Blackie said uneasily, 'It's proposed that tomorrow and Monday we destroy Old Misery's house.'" (Page 169)
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
Trevor is jealous about Mr. Thomas' house. The house is a fairly nice house. For example, "T. said, 'It's a beautiful house,' and still watching the ground, meeting no one's eyes, he licked his lips first one way, then the other." (Pages 166-167)
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
Trevor thinks they are not thieves, they are destroyers. They are trying to destroy the house. Trevor and the gang are there to send a message. For example, "'We'll burn them,' he said, 'one by one,' and taking it in turns they held a note upwards and lit the top corner, so that the flame burnt slowly towards their fingers." (Page 173)
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
Trevor doesn't hate Mr. Thomas. If Trevor hated him, then destroying Mr. Thomas' house would be revenge. But, Mr. Thomas doesn't hate him. For example, "'Of course I don't hate him,' T. said. 'There'd be no fun if I hated him.' The last burning note illuminated his brooding face." (Page 174)
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
Trevor protests this because he doesn't think it is fair that they didn't get to finish destroying Mr. Thomas' house. For example, "He protested with the fury of the child he had never been, 'It isn't fair.'" (Page 175)
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
The gang wants to really destroy their house. They don't want any hope of rebuilding Mr. Thomas' house. They want every stone and brick in the house destroyed. Since they have to rebuild their houses, they want Mr. Thomas to go through the same situation. For example, "Streaks of light came in through the closed shutters where they worked with the seriousness of creators." (Pages 172)
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
The plan sounds cooler and it is very daring. The plan to destroy the house sounds much more cooler. For example,"'Free rides,' T. said. 'Kid stuff. You can stand down, Blackie, if you'd rather...' 'The gang's got to vote.' 'Put it up then.'" (Page 169)
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 after destruction, creation is required to rebuild things. (Page 172) Creation is after destruction.
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)
Trevor had a vision. He didn't just plan to destroy the house. He planned from the beginning to destroy the house. For example, "A kind of imagination had seen this house as it had now become." (Page 173)
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
They are oddly exhilarated because destroying the house was thrilling. It was an exciting thing and a thrilling thing. It is odd of how much they were capable of destroying the house. For example, "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (Page 174)
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote: "As the leader he had responsibilities. "Suppose we are?" he said ambiguously." (p. 165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): open to or having multiple possible answers or interpretations
Synonym: enigmatic, puzzling
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher did not clarify when she stated the directions ambiguously to the class.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze." (p. 168)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to make someone or something feel intimidated
Synonym: discourage, demoralize
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was daunted after her guarding scolded her heavily.
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." (p. 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unselfishly concerned for the well-being of others.
Synonym: charitable, generous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She had an altruistic personality, which attracted a lot of friends.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed." (p. 173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): existing/occurring at the exterior or surface
Synonym: outside, external
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The damage to the care was only superficial.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (p. 174)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the feeling of happiness or excitement
Synonym: elation, excitement, delight
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He felt a thrill of exhilaration upon the drop on the roller coaster.
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 gang
Trevor participates in voting in the gang (p. 168)
He responds and tells his name when they ask (p. 163)
He takes orders from Blackie (p. 164)
He suggests to destroy the house (p. 169)
He asserts his power and gives everyone a job to prepare for the plan (p. 170)
Separate from the gang
Trevor panics and the leadership goes to Blackie again (p. 175)
Burns the money without the gang's consent or knowledge, just with Blackie (p. 173)
Trevor never spoke or said much at the beginning while he was with the gang (p. 164)
He plans to destroy the house by himself and visits it alone without the gang (p. 166)
1.) Why does Trevor want to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house?
Trevor wants to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house because he and the gang resent the fact that Mr. Thomas' house is still standing. All the other houses are destroyed and collapsed. For example, "Blackie said uneasily, 'It's proposed that tomorrow and Monday we destroy Old Misery's house.'" (Page 169)
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
Trevor is jealous about Mr. Thomas' house. The house is a fairly nice house. For example, "T. said, 'It's a beautiful house,' and still watching the ground, meeting no one's eyes, he licked his lips first one way, then the other." (Pages 166-167)
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
Trevor thinks they are not thieves, they are destroyers. They are trying to destroy the house. Trevor and the gang are there to send a message. For example, "'We'll burn them,' he said, 'one by one,' and taking it in turns they held a note upwards and lit the top corner, so that the flame burnt slowly towards their fingers." (Page 173)
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
Trevor doesn't hate Mr. Thomas. If Trevor hated him, then destroying Mr. Thomas' house would be revenge. But, Mr. Thomas doesn't hate him. For example, "'Of course I don't hate him,' T. said. 'There'd be no fun if I hated him.' The last burning note illuminated his brooding face." (Page 174)
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
Trevor protests this because he doesn't think it is fair that they didn't get to finish destroying Mr. Thomas' house. For example, "He protested with the fury of the child he had never been, 'It isn't fair.'" (Page 175)
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
The gang wants to really destroy their house. They don't want any hope of rebuilding Mr. Thomas' house. They want every stone and brick in the house destroyed. Since they have to rebuild their houses, they want Mr. Thomas to go through the same situation. For example, "Streaks of light came in through the closed shutters where they worked with the seriousness of creators." (Pages 172)
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
The plan sounds cooler and it is very daring. The plan to destroy the house sounds much more cooler. For example,"'Free rides,' T. said. 'Kid stuff. You can stand down, Blackie, if you'd rather...' 'The gang's got to vote.' 'Put it up then.'" (Page 169)
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 after destruction, creation is required to rebuild things. (Page 172) Creation is after destruction.
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)
Trevor had a vision. He didn't just plan to destroy the house. He planned from the beginning to destroy the house. For example, "A kind of imagination had seen this house as it had now become." (Page 173)
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
They are oddly exhilarated because destroying the house was thrilling. It was an exciting thing and a thrilling thing. It is odd of how much they were capable of destroying the house. For example, "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (Page 174)
Vocabulary in Context:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote: "As the leader he had responsibilities. "Suppose we are?" he said ambiguously." (p. 165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): open to or having multiple possible answers or interpretations
Synonym: enigmatic, puzzling
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The teacher did not clarify when she stated the directions ambiguously to the class.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze." (p. 168)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): to make someone or something feel intimidated
Synonym: discourage, demoralize
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She was daunted after her guarding scolded her heavily.
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." (p. 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unselfishly concerned for the well-being of others.
Synonym: charitable, generous
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): She had an altruistic personality, which attracted a lot of friends.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed." (p. 173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): existing/occurring at the exterior or surface
Synonym: outside, external
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The damage to the care was only superficial.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (p. 174)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): the feeling of happiness or excitement
Synonym: elation, excitement, delight
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He felt a thrill of exhilaration upon the drop on the roller coaster.
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 gang
Trevor participates in voting in the gang (p. 168)
He responds and tells his name when they ask (p. 163)
He takes orders from Blackie (p. 164)
He suggests to destroy the house (p. 169)
He asserts his power and gives everyone a job to prepare for the plan (p. 170)
Separate from the gang
Trevor panics and the leadership goes to Blackie again (p. 175)
Burns the money without the gang's consent or knowledge, just with Blackie (p. 173)
Trevor never spoke or said much at the beginning while he was with the gang (p. 164)
He plans to destroy the house by himself and visits it alone without the gang (p. 166)