"The Destructors"
By: Graham Greene
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 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)
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." (Page 165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unclear or inexact, more than one interpretation
Synonym: inarticulately
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He asked a question ambiguously.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze." (Page 168)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive
Synonym: discouraged
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The player was daunted by the fact that his opponent was very good.
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." (Page 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): showing a selfless concern for others
Synonym: unselfish
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The altruistic doctor cared for the disabled in the hospital.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed." (Page 173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): existing at or on the surface
Synonym: external
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The superficial damage on the enormous tower was caused by an earthquake.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (Page 174)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a feeling of excitement or happiness
Synonym: elation
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Exhilaration filled by whole body during the twisty and fast roller coaster.
Quote: "As the leader he had responsibilities. 'Suppose we are?' he said ambiguously." (Page 165)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): unclear or inexact, more than one interpretation
Synonym: inarticulately
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): He asked a question ambiguously.
2.) Daunted - p. 168
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, fell quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze." (Page 168)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): make someone feel intimidated or apprehensive
Synonym: discouraged
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The player was daunted by the fact that his opponent was very good.
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." (Page 169)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): showing a selfless concern for others
Synonym: unselfish
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The altruistic doctor cared for the disabled in the hospital.
4.) Superficial - p. 173
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed." (Page 173)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): existing at or on the surface
Synonym: external
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): The superficial damage on the enormous tower was caused by an earthquake.
5.) Exhilaration - p. 174
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (Page 174)
Definition (based on context/in your own words): a feeling of excitement or happiness
Synonym: elation
Sentence (underline the vocabulary word): Exhilaration filled by whole body during the twisty and fast roller coaster.
Thinking Map
Examples of when Trevor is part of the gang:
1. Trevor is part of the gang when he votes and proposes stuff they can do, just like the rest of the gang. (Page 168) 2. Trevor is part of the gang when he takes orders from the leader of the gang, Blackie. (Page 164) 3. Trevor is part of the gang when he suggests the plan to destroy Mr. Thomas' house. (Page 169) 4. Trevor is part of the gang when he tells everyone what to do and to bring to Mr. Thomas' house. (Page 170) 5. Trevor is part of the gang when he responds when his name is called. (Pages 163-164) |
Examples of when Trevor is not part of the gang:
1. Trevor is not part of the gang when he insists to keep destroying the house while the rest of the gang suggest they run away. (Page 175) 2. Trevor is not part of the gang when he burns Mr. Thomas' money only with Blackie. The rest of the gang doesn't know that they are burning the money. (Page 173) 3. Trevor is not part of the gang when he was quiet and never spoke at the beginning of the story. (Page 164) 4. He makes the plan himself to destroy the house. (Page 166) 5. Trevor is not part of the gang when he visits the house alone. He visits Mr. Thomas' house by himself. (Page 166) |