The Chocolate War Reading Questions
What is Jerry's tone towards the coach based on evidence in the passage?
Based on paragraph 17 Jerry feels the coach is great, for example he describes him as, "a helluva coach" conveying he had respect for the man and thought he was good at his job.
What is the over all tone of the passage?
Determination
What do you predict will happen to Jerry later in the text?
I predict Jerry will have ongoing battles with himself, but will overcome his weaknesses of fear and failure.
Why do you infer Jerry mentioned his father in paragraph 9?
In paragraph 9 of the selection the text describes Jerry coming to after a hard hit on the football field. The text says, "I'm all right, " he said to nobody in particular , or to his father maybe." Based on the passage I think Jerry was trying to make his father proud, and subconsciously didn't want his father to worry about him, hence the "I'm all right..." he spoke when he was coming to.
What are the opposite tones Jerry shifts between in the passage?
Jerry shifts from the tone of defeated to determined after paragraph 26 when he realized he had made it through the initial practice, "But he'd survived-- he'd gotten to his feet." also the coach showing an interest, "thinking he might try him at end" instead of quarterback. Since the coach hadn't given up on him, and he his own body was still working, this shows Jerry felt like he might have a chance at doing okay in the football tryouts.
What types of conflict is Jerry facing in the passage?
Man vs. Man while on the football field being hit; and Man vs. Self when convincing himself to show up for tryouts and to get up and keep moving after the physical hits.
What do you conclude the theme of the passage is?
Never give up no matter how bad things may be.
What Biblical allusion is given in the passage to describe Jerry in comparison to a disciple who denied Christ?
Paragraph 11 states, "-he had been Peter a thousand times and a thousand cocks had crowed in his lifetime." This allusion refers to the time Christ's disciple Peter denied him, in the same way Jerry weakly denied his own plans.
What type of figurative language is used in paragraph 2 of The Chocolate War?
Paragraph 2 states, "... a dam burst against the side of his head and a hand grenade." - hyperbole It also states, "like a lens focusing..." -simile
How does the figurative language in paragraph 2 contribute to the plot?
The figurative language in paragraph 2 contributes to the plot by showing the imagery and sensory details the main character saw and felt.
What symbols are used to reflect Jerry in the passage?
The toy boat caught in a whirlpool and the allusion to Peter to symbolize how helpless Jeffy felt and how he had never been true to himself or his word before.
In paragraph 26 of the selection it briefly mentions Jerry's mother, "He thought of his mother and how drugged she was at the end, not recognizing anyone, neither Jeffy nor his father"-- Why do you infer Jerry's mother is mentioned in this selection?
There is a possibility Jerry was seeking to make his mother proud of him, as it was possibly her dying wish.
What point of view is the passage written in?
Third Person Limited Point of View
Which synonym for the term SINEWS best conveys the context it is used in paragraph 4? Use a dictionary/thesaurus to identify a list of synonyms and select one that is the closest to the meaning of the term in the text.
a muscle
What is Jerry's over all tone in paragraph 4?
defenseless and defeated
What game can you infer was Jerry playing? Use text evidence to support your inference.
football
According to paragraph 9 what does the term LASSITUDE mean? Languor or fatigued?
languor
According to the text in paragraph 5 what is the best definition for the term PERVADED? 1) permeate; 2) riddle; 3) suffuse; 4) transfuse
permeate
rebel : mutinied :: pervade :
permeate
According the the text in paragraph 5, "But when he tried to get up, his body mutinied against movement." What is the best meaning for the term MUTINIED?
rebelled
