THE WAVE

by Todd Strasser
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1
1. What is the setting of the novel?
The story mostly takes place at
Gordon High School which is in a
small, suburban community of
middle-class families. The novel is
based on a true story that took place
in Palo Alto, California in 1969.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1
2. Describe the following characters:
– Laurie Saunders:
• Main character
• Pretty, short light-brown hair
• Editor-in-chief of The Grapevine
• Smart, good student
• Serious, deep-thinker
– Amy Smith:
• Laurie’s best friend
• Petite, thick curly hair
• Feels she has to “compete” with Laurie
– Ben Ross:
• Well-liked history teacher at Gordon High
• Not good with technology
• Charismatic
• Concerned about his students
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1
– Christy Ross:
• Ben’s loyal and loving wife
• Music and choir teacher at Gordon High
• Understands that her husband get very “focused” on
things
– Brian Ammon:
• Quarter back on the football team
• Big appetite
– Robert Billings:
• “Class loser”
• Lives in the shadow of his overachieving brother
• Doesn’t care about school
• Unkempt, social outcast
– David Collins:
• Tall, good-looking
• Good student
• Running back on the football team
• Laurie’s boyfriend
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 1
3. Name three examples in this chapter that
indicate that some students and/or
teachers at Gordon High lack self-
discipline.
– Some teachers at Gordon High are
resentful of Mr. Ross because he works
hard (and makes them look bad because
they don’t)
– Students were late for class
– Many students didn’t do homework and
those who did it, did a messy job
– Some students don’t pay attention in class
– The Grapevine staff didn’t turn articles in
on time
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
4. Describe Hitler’s background and rise to
power.
Hitler, a house painter, turned to politics
after WWI. Germany had been defeated in
the war and thousands in the country were
homeless, hungry and jobless. Hitler saw
this as an opportunity to rise quickly
through the political ranks by claiming that
the Jews were the destroyers of German
civilization. He believed and preached that
the Germans were a superior race. He told
the people of Germany, who were
desperate for someone to bail them out of
poverty, what they wanted to hear. He
manipulated and used the people to gain
power.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
5. What was the “final solution to the
Jewish problem” according to Hitler?
The “death camps” were his final
solution. He sent everyone that he
thought was not part of his “superior
race” to concentration camps where
they were worked, starved, tortured or
put to death.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
6. What were the students’ reactions to
the film?
The students were shocked and
stunned by the film. Some were close
to tears. Several questioned how
and/or why this could have happened.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
7. Mr. Ross was asked why the Nazis
(only 10% of the German population)
were not stopped. What were the
possible reasons?
The German people claimed they
knew nothing about the concentration
camps or killings, but the real reason
was probably that they were afraid to
speak up. The Nazi party was highly
organized and feared. Anyone who
questioned or rebelled could also be
killed.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
8. How did the students react to these
reasons?
One student said that he would never
let such a small minority rule the
majority. Another said that he
wouldn’t let a couple of Nazis scare
him into submission.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
9. How did some Nazis try to excuse their
behavior?
After the war many Nazis tried to
excuse their behavior by claiming
they were only following orders and
that they would have been killed
themselves if they hadn’t.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
10. What did the students say about
these reasons?
They said it was no excuse. They
could have fought back or ran away.
They should have thought for
themselves.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 2
11. Why was Robert Billings a poor
student?
Robert lived in the shadow of his older
brother who had been a model
student and very popular. Seeing that
he could never compete with his
brother’s achievements, he decided it
was better not to even try.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 3
12. Compare and contrast Laurie’s reaction
to the film with David’s reaction. Cite at
least three similarities and three
differences. (6 pts.)
Same:
a. They both thought it was a horrible incident in history
b. They were both bothered by the film
c. It made both of them think about the past

Different:
a. Laurie lost her appetite, but David didn’t
b. David said that it’s over now and people should move on
c. Laurie couldn’t stop think about the film
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 3
13. Why were Laurie and Amy not truly
close friends?

The constant competition between them

kept them from being really close.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 3
14. Describe the following characters: (2
pts.)
a. Carl Block – The Grapevine’s
investigative reporter

b. Alex Cooper – The Grapevine’s music

reviewer
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 4
15. What question is Ben Ross trying to
answer in this chapter?

Why didn’t the majority of German’s who

were not Nazis try to stop what was
happening?
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 5
17. What were the new class rules?

a. Everyone must have pencils and note

paper for note-taking.
b. When asking or answering a question,
you must stand at the side of your
seat.
c. The first word you say when asking or
answering a question are, “Mr. Ross.”
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 5
18. Describe these characters’ reactions: (4
pts.)

a. Brian – very enthusiastic about it

b. David – felt power of a unit
c. Brad – thought it was no big deal
d. Robert – was seen practicing in the
bathroom
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 6
19. What did Mr. Ross add to “Strength
through discipline”?

“Strength through Community”

 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 6
20. What was Mr. Ross’ definition of
“community”?

The feeling that you are a part of

something that’s more important than
yourself. You’re a movement, a team, or
a cause.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 6
21. Who were the last students to join in
repeating the mottos?

Laurie and Brad did not join at first, but

finally rose from their chairs and
participated.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 6
22. What was the symbol of the class
movement? Why?

The symbol was a circle with the outline

of a wave inside it. A wave is a pattern of
change. It has movement, direction, and
impact.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 6
23. Describe the salute.

Cup your right hand in the shape of a

wave, tap it against your left shoulder, and
then hold it upright.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 7
24. Christy Ross makes three observations
about Ben’s experiment. What are they?

The students are afraid of being

unprepared, they don’t have to think for
themselves, and they are acting superior
to students in the rest of the school.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 8
25. What three things are added to The
Wave movement? (3 pts.)

a. Membership cards
b. Monitors
c. “Strength through Action”
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 8
27. Who is the first student to become
uneasy over The Wave?

Laurie Saunders
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 9
28. What disturbing discovery did Ben make
about the students’ preparation for class?

Although his students seemed prepared

for class because they could spit back
answers, they didn’t seem to be analyzing
or questioning anything. They weren’t
thinking!
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 9
29. What is Mrs. Saunders’ opinion of The
Wave?

She thinks The Wave is like a cult and

that people who are unhappy with
themselves and their lives join such
things. She is worried that everyone at
school is taking it too seriously and that
someone may eventually get hurt.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 10

Take a break - No questions!! : )

 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 11
30. What four things occur in this chapter
that reflect negatively on The Wave? (4pts.)
a. The letter to The Grapevine editor from the
boy being threatened by Wave members.
b. Robert wants to be Mr. Ross’ bodyguard.
c. Mr. Ross is hearing about “orders” he had
given for the Wave to do things, but he didn’t
give the orders!
d. The pep rally was changed to a Wave rally
without school authorization.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 12
31. Why does David think Laurie is against
The Wave?

He thinks she’s against it because it

makes her equal like everyone else
instead of the best and most popular
student.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 12
32. What does Carl’s statement, “Looks like
I’ve stumbled into Anne Frank’s attic,” refer
to? Explain.
It is an allusion to The Diary of Anne
Frank. Anne and her Jewish family hid in
an attic to avoid being taken to a
concentration camp by the Nazis. Carl is
comparing Laurie hiding out in The
Grapevine office to avoid The Wave to the
Frank family situation.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 12
33. What do Laurie, Carl, and Alex plan to do
to discourage The Wave?

They decide to put out an issue of The

Grapevine to question the purpose and
intentions of The Wave.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 12
34. What incident takes place that causes
more concern to Laurie and her father?

Laurie’s father tells her that a boy was

beaten up after The Wave rally when he
refused to participate. Mr. Saunders also
told her that he is concerned that The
Wave also targeted the boy because he is
Jewish.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 13
35. Describe Laurie’s conversation with Brad
about the salute.

Laurie tries to go up into the bleachers at the

football game, but Brad won’t let her pass
unless she does The Wave salute. She refuses
and they argue until finally he tells her to go
ahead up, but people would be “watching” her.
She realizes that Brad seems afraid of what the
other Wave members will do if he doesn’t go
along with them.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 13
36. What did Laurie say in her editorial?

It condemned The Wave as a dangerous

and mindless movement that suppressed
freedom of speech and thought and ran
against everything the country was
founded on. She said that The Wave had
already begun to do more harm than
good.
THE WAVE – CHAPTER 14&15
37. What incident occurs as a result of
Laurie’s stand?

First she and Amy argue and hurtful

things are said. Then Robert says that
Laurie is a threat to The Wave and must
be stopped. Brian tells Robert that he and
David will take care of it. The plan is for
David to meet up with Laurie after school
to tell her to “cool it”!
THE WAVE – CHAPTER 14&15
38. What incident is the turning point in
David’s feelings about The Wave?
David confronts Laurie about her
criticism of The Wave. They argue and he
ends up grabbing her and throwing her to
the ground. He realizes at this point that
he has let The Wave control him and now
he feels “almost as if he were coming out
of a trance.” He knows he could have hurt
someone because of The Wave, including
his girlfriend!
THE WAVE – CHAPTER 14&15
39. How was The Wave successful?

The Wave had originally been conceived

as a way to show Ross’ students how
frightening life in Nazi Germany had been.
When David and Laurie explained to him
how scared some of the students were,
he knew his experiment was a success.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 16

No questions – almost done!! : )

 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 17
40. Mr. Ross finds what he considers a
natural inclination of people. What is that
inclination?

He realized that it is a natural inclination

for people to look for a leader; someone
to make decisions for them.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 17
41. What do the students learn from The
Wave experiment?

They learn that everyone is responsible

for their own actions and that you must
always question and not blindly follow a
leader. You must never allow a group’s
will to overtake your individual rights.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 17
42. What does David mean when he says,
“Let’s try and forget it…I mean let’s try not to
forget it…but let’s forget it at the same time”?

He was trying to say that everyone should

forget the specific Wave incidents, but
don’t forget the lessons that were learned
from these incidents.
 THE WAVE – CHAPTER 17
43. What do you think Mr. Ross intends to
say to Robert as this novel ends?

Mr. Ross will probably tell Robert that it

really wasn’t The Wave that gave him the
ability and drive to improve his life, but it
was something inside of him. He has self-
confidence now that he can continue
without The Wave.
YOU’RE FINALLY FINISHED –
GREAT JOB!!