The Destructors
By: Graham Greene
Vocabulary:
1.) Ambiguously - p. 165
Quote: "Suppose we are?' he said ambiguously.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): uncertainty, or more than one meaning
Synonym: unexpected
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The winner of a lottery is ambiguous because the probability is low.
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 be overwhelmed with fear
Synonym: intimidate, discourage
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):The raccoon was daunted and stirred-up when the hunters shot the shotgun.
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 (based on context/in your own words): unselfishly devoting themselves for others
Synonym: charitable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):Selena Gomez was neither altruistic or sympathetic when aiding the Salvation Army only for attention and publicity.
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 (based on context/in your own words): pertaining to the surface
Synonym: external
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The magnitude of the 4.4 earthquake was a minor superficial shock to the house.
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): the feeling of excitement
Synonym: invigorating, stimulate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I shot an exhilarating buzzer beater on the last shot winning the game with one point to spare.
Quote: "Suppose we are?' he said ambiguously.
Definition (based on context/in your own words): uncertainty, or more than one meaning
Synonym: unexpected
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The winner of a lottery is ambiguous because the probability is low.
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 be overwhelmed with fear
Synonym: intimidate, discourage
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):The raccoon was daunted and stirred-up when the hunters shot the shotgun.
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 (based on context/in your own words): unselfishly devoting themselves for others
Synonym: charitable
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word):Selena Gomez was neither altruistic or sympathetic when aiding the Salvation Army only for attention and publicity.
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 (based on context/in your own words): pertaining to the surface
Synonym: external
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The magnitude of the 4.4 earthquake was a minor superficial shock to the house.
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): the feeling of excitement
Synonym: invigorating, stimulate
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): I shot an exhilarating buzzer beater on the last shot winning the game with one point to spare.
Thinking Map
Examples of when Trevor is part of a gang
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Examples of when Trevor is not part of a gang
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Interpretive Questions
1.) Why does Trevor want to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house?Trevor wants to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house because he and the gang despises the fact that Mr. Thomas' house is still standing while the other houses have turned into debris.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," which is why he's jealous of Mr. Thomas' house because it seems to be all fine and dandy compared to the other houses. For instance, "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 and the gang consider themselves as not thieves, but destroyers who are trying 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 necessarily hate Mr. Thomas because he would do it as an act of revenge if he hated Mr. Thomas. 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 "It isn't fair" because he did not completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house; therefore, leaving it as unfinished. 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 destroy their house every stone teared brick by brick destroyed. The gang doesn't want any sign symbolizing hope of rebuilding Mr. Thomas' house. The gang wants Mr. Thomas to go through the same demise as what the gang is doing. 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?
Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house because the plan seems to be more fun and daring to destroy the house. 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 the aftermath of the destruction requires the foundation of recreation to rebuild. (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 kind of imagination" representing that he had a vision 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)The gang is "oddly exhilarated" because destroying the house was stimulating. It was oddly invigorating of their capability of destruction. For example, "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (Page 174)
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," which is why he's jealous of Mr. Thomas' house because it seems to be all fine and dandy compared to the other houses. For instance, "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 and the gang consider themselves as not thieves, but destroyers who are trying 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 necessarily hate Mr. Thomas because he would do it as an act of revenge if he hated Mr. Thomas. 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 "It isn't fair" because he did not completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house; therefore, leaving it as unfinished. 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 destroy their house every stone teared brick by brick destroyed. The gang doesn't want any sign symbolizing hope of rebuilding Mr. Thomas' house. The gang wants Mr. Thomas to go through the same demise as what the gang is doing. 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?
Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house because the plan seems to be more fun and daring to destroy the house. 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 the aftermath of the destruction requires the foundation of recreation to rebuild. (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 kind of imagination" representing that he had a vision 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)The gang is "oddly exhilarated" because destroying the house was stimulating. It was oddly invigorating of their capability of destruction. For example, "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (Page 174)