The Wave

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3,4

Are you a member of
any kind of club ?

Yes

No

Which is more important?

Individuality

Being part of a group

Does school create individuals or people who want to fit in to a group?

Individuals

Group members

Individual vs Group 

Obviously our novel has something to do with choosing whether to be part of a group or whether to be an individual...  Think back to a time when you were part of a group...

How does it feel? Why might this make people want to form groups and be part of a group?

Would you do things you don't agree with because your club wants you to?

Definitely not

Maybe

Probably

Main characters

1. Benn Ross
2. Laurie Saunders
3.  David Collins
4. Robert Billings

Discussing Chapter 1

Define the following vocabulary:

• Perpetual
  
• Inept
  
• Charismatic
  
• Naïve
  
• Lackadaisical
  

Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

• Discuss Ben Ross’ reputation as a teacher and what it reveals about him. 
• How would you react to a teacher like Ross?
  
•  What concerns does Ben Ross have about his students?
  

Discussing Chapter 2

Define the following vocabulary:

  

• atrocities
  
• emaciated
  
• permeated
  
• quintessential

What happened in Chapter 3?

p.13 

"How could the Germans sit back while the Nazis slaughtered people them and say they didn't know about it? HOw could they do that? HOw could they even say that?"

"All I can say is, I would never let such a small minority of people rule the majority."

p.14

"After the war, many Nazis tried to excuse their behavior by claiming they were following orders and that they could have been killed themselves if they hadn't"

"No, that's no excuse, they could have run away. They could have fight back. They could have had their own eyes and their own minds. They could think for themselves."

Answer the following questions in complete sentences:

• What is your impression of the quote describing Nazi atrocities on p. 16: “How on God’s earth could anyone make anyone else do something like that?”
• Did the students all react the same to the film? If not, how did their responses differ?
  
• How did the students in the history class feel about the apathy of the German people toward the Nazi atrocities?
  

Why did nobody stop them?

Discussing Chapter 3&4

Define the following vocabulary:

  

• facetiously
  
• regime
  
• inexplicable

Answer the following questions in complete sentences (1 per group)

1.Analyze the metaphor about Robert Billings, “Gordon High’s very own Untouchable.” What does it mean?

2. Contrast Laurie and David’s reaction to the film about Hitler.

3. Analyze the cliché, “History always repeats itself.”

4. What is bothering Ross, and what does he intend to do about it?

5. How does Ross’s wife describe him?

Discussing Chapter 5 to 8

Define the following vocabulary:

  

• Incessant (5)
  
• Astute (7)
  
• Appeased (7)
  
• Allegiance (8)

Answer the following questions in complete sentences (1 per group)

1. How does Ross plan to implement his idea to recreate a situation similar to Hitler’s control in Germany?
2. Discuss the significance of the statement about Robert Billings, “The new head of the class.”
3. Discuss why David wants to introduce The Wave to the football team.
4. Will the techniques of The Wave strengthen the football team? Make a prediction.
5. Note the allusion to Dr. Frankenstein and analyze why Christy calls Ross “Frankenstein.”
6. Analyze the motto and define it – Strength Through Discipline, Strength Through Community, Strength Through Action.