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 the gang doesn't like that his house is the only one on his block that has not been destroyed.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
Trevor is jealous of Mr. Thomas' house and how beautiful it is.
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
Trevor burns Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them because he says that he's not a thief and burns them in celebration for their destruction. "'We aren't thieves," T. said. "Nobody's going to steal anything from this house. I kept these for you and me—a celebration."' (pg. 173)
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
Trevor says that there'd be no fun if he hated Mr. Thomas because then he would jist be destroying his house for the sake of revenge.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
Trevor says this because he doesn't think it's fair that he didn't get to do a thorough job of destroying Old Misery's house.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
The gang works to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators" because they don't want to just tear down the interior and just leave the wall because it gives people the chance to build it again and maybe even build a better house. The gang wants to tear down the whole house inculding the walls so this doesn not happen.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
Trevor is able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destory the house because he makes his plan sound adventurous yet dangerous at the same time.
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 something is destoryed, there is almost always something to replace what was destroyed.
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)
What the author means when he says that Trevor had "a kind of imagination" that "had seenthis house as it had now become" was that he hadn't just olanned to destroy the house, but he planned out exactly how he was goung to do it.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
An "odd ehileration" seizes the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house because they thought it was exciting.
Trevor wants to completely destroy Mr. Thomas' house because the gang doesn't like that his house is the only one on his block that has not been destroyed.
2.) If Trevor thinks the house is "beautiful," why does he wants to destroy it? (p. 166)
Trevor is jealous of Mr. Thomas' house and how beautiful it is.
3.) Why does Trevor burn Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them?
Trevor burns Mr. Thomas' savings instead of stealing them because he says that he's not a thief and burns them in celebration for their destruction. "'We aren't thieves," T. said. "Nobody's going to steal anything from this house. I kept these for you and me—a celebration."' (pg. 173)
4.) Why does Trevor say "there'd be no fun" if he hated Mr. Thomas? (p. 174)
Trevor says that there'd be no fun if he hated Mr. Thomas because then he would jist be destroying his house for the sake of revenge.
5.) When Mr. Thomas returns early, why does Trevor protest, "It isn't fair"? (p. 175)
Trevor says this because he doesn't think it's fair that he didn't get to do a thorough job of destroying Old Misery's house.
6.) Why does the gang work to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators"? (p. 172)
The gang works to destroy the house with "the seriousness of creators" because they don't want to just tear down the interior and just leave the wall because it gives people the chance to build it again and maybe even build a better house. The gang wants to tear down the whole house inculding the walls so this doesn not happen.
7.) Why is Trevor able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destroy the house?
Trevor is able to get the gang to carry out his plan to destory the house because he makes his plan sound adventurous yet dangerous at the same time.
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 something is destoryed, there is almost always something to replace what was destroyed.
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)
What the author means when he says that Trevor had "a kind of imagination" that "had seenthis house as it had now become" was that he hadn't just olanned to destroy the house, but he planned out exactly how he was goung to do it.
10.) Why does an "odd exhilaration" seize the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house? (p. 174)
An "odd ehileration" seizes the boys as they look down into the partially destroyed house because they thought it was exciting.
Vocabulary:
1.) Ambiguously
Quote: "'Suppose we are." he said ambiguously."' (pg. 165)
Definition: open or having several possible meanings/interpretations
Sentence: She was ambiguously concerned for all the people starving which made her want to make a change.
2.) Daunted
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, feel quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze." (pg. 168)
Definition: to overcome with fear, intimidate
Synonym: apall
Sentence: The group was daunted by the steep mountain.
3.) Altruistic
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." (pg. 169)
Definition: unselfishly concerned for
Synonym: benevolent
Sentence: The girl's altruistic attitude got her plent job offers.
4.) Superficial
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed." (pg. 173)
Definition: apparent rather than real
Synonym: apparent
Sentence: Fiction stories always show the superficial side of a person.
5.) Exhilaration
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (pg. 174)
Definition: a stimulating condition or feeling
Synonym: elevation, invigoration
Sentence: Exhilaration had overcome them once they had received the good news.
Quote: "'Suppose we are." he said ambiguously."' (pg. 165)
Definition: open or having several possible meanings/interpretations
Sentence: She was ambiguously concerned for all the people starving which made her want to make a change.
2.) Daunted
Quote: "Blackie gave a single hoot of laughter and then, like Mike, feel quiet, daunted by the serious implacable gaze." (pg. 168)
Definition: to overcome with fear, intimidate
Synonym: apall
Sentence: The group was daunted by the steep mountain.
3.) Altruistic
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." (pg. 169)
Definition: unselfishly concerned for
Synonym: benevolent
Sentence: The girl's altruistic attitude got her plent job offers.
4.) Superficial
Quote: "By the time Mike returned they were on the top floor, and by six the superficial damage was completed." (pg. 173)
Definition: apparent rather than real
Synonym: apparent
Sentence: Fiction stories always show the superficial side of a person.
5.) Exhilaration
Quote: "By the evening an odd exhilaration seized them as they looked down the great hollow of the house." (pg. 174)
Definition: a stimulating condition or feeling
Synonym: elevation, invigoration
Sentence: Exhilaration had overcome them once they had received the good news.
Thinking Map:
When Trevor Tries to be Part of the Gang1.) Trevor takes charge of the gang and tells them that they will destroy the house - "'We'll pull it down," he said. "We'll destroy it."' (pg. 168)
2.) Trevor gives orders to the gang - "T. was giving his orders with decision: it was as though this plan had been with him all his life, pondered through the seasons, now in his fifteenth year crystallized with the pain of puberty." (pg. 170) |
When Trevor Tries to Separate Himself from the Gang |