The Wave

Introduction

Laurie

• Editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The Grapevine.
• Likes to chew pens.
• Cheerful, positive, smiles a lot.
• Best friends with Amy.
• A good student, used to getting A's.

Ben Ross

• Young.
• Doesn't wear a suit and tie.
• Could work with anything mechanical.
• Married to another teacher - Christy.
• Charismatic and creative.
• Uses different teaching methods.

Amy - blonde, petite, has curly hair, laughs easily.

David - Laurie's boyfriend, football player, tall and good looking.

Brad - A boy in class who likes to pick on Robert.

Robert - Class loser, a poor student (gets D's), doesn't come his hair or tuck in his shirt.

Strength through Discipline

Robert

• becomes engaged in the class
• his performance is exceptional
• is seen differently (as an example, as a "leader")
• tries to "clean up" his appearance

David

• feels the energy, the power
• wants to apply the idea to the football team

The Class

• become involved
• begin to to understand the value of team work
• are willing to work in the new format

Homework

Consider the different characters you've met so far. How does each react to The Wave? Why? Write about at least two.

Benefits and Problems

Benefits	Problems
Students like Robert - out casts benefit. They are now part of the group.	The class is moving ahead in the material, but are they learning?
The Wave fosters team spirit, which can help the football team.	The students aren't thinking.
Students who felt constant competition now don't need to compete.	Dissenting voices are being suppressed.
Even good students want to do their best, for and within the group, which means everybody studies.	Equality?!
Everyone works harder.
There is discipline and a better learning environment.
Equality.

Laurie's Reaction to The Wave

Initially, she's a bit confused (doesn't immediately fall into form). Next, she's wary (she stays seated while everybody else chants and salutes). The next day, she dislikes the membership cards (she's not a monitor, and it feels creepy). However, she doesn't want to condemn something that causes inclusion. She expresses reservations to friends, but they don't see problems and don't want her to express them. At home, her mother expresses reservations, but Laurie staunchly defends The Wave and Mr. Ross. From that point forward, Laurie's gut feeling is that there's something wrong, but she can't quantify or qualify what. Laurie is forced by the newspaper staff and her mother to confront the fact that despite being in The Wave, she can neither explain what it is nor justify its purpose. She begins to quantify what she dislikes, including the fact that too many people are "caught up in it". She questions why Amy, who is bright, has allowed herself to get caught up in it.

Questions That Arise from the Beginning of Chapter 10

1. "He hadn't intended it to be anything like this". What had he intended?

   Ben intended The Wave to be a small, self-contained social experiment that would remain in his control, and demonstrate to the students how the Nazi movement spread and rose to power. Originally, he thought it would be just his class. Ben's intended purpose was to install some discipline and learning habits. However, this was a bit of a by-product to teaching about dictatorship, mob mentality and brainwashing. Ben's original parameters and purpose shifted as he himself got caught up in the experiment.

2. He knew he would feel relief if the principal stopped the experiment. Why?

3. Ben is a bit afraid of how quickly The Wave spread, and the control and power it has over the school and its students (and the direction the experiment has gone/is going).

4. He is worried he isn't able to control and stop it anymore.

5. Ben is ambivalent. Despite his worries, he's caught up in the idea. He likes it. He's invested in it. If the principal ends the experiment, he won't have to let go of the idea.

Homework

p. 82 q. 25

The students were more focused on their assignments. They seemed to put in more effort to complete the assignments. They studied more at home and were ahead of other classes. Everybody participated. Even students who were previously uninvolved in class or couldn't (or didn't) follow or participate, including those whose work was poor, now did their work and participated in class. However, their work is shallow. They know the facts, but there is little to no in-depth analysis and understanding. Ben know that the students are doing the work, but not really thinking, and he is somewhat concerned. He knows it's not enough.

p. 88 q. 29

The principal doesn't like the mottos and salutes, and he's afraid it will get out of hand. Ben responds by saying it's all under his control.

The Wave Rally

Laurie's opinion of The Wave solidifies:

• She receives an anonymous letter saying a boy who didn't want to join was threatened.
• Brian and Deutsch fight (supposedly about football) and Brian shouts slogans.
• David has become a blind follower, and he becomes aggressive and offensive towards her when she doesn't agree and cooperate.
• Her father tells her about a Jewish boy who did not want to join and was beaten up.
• She discusses The Wave with Carl and Alex. She hears their opinions and she realises she's not done.

Chapter 14

Why did Laurie and her peers have to attack The Wave?

• They aren't attacking. They're defending.
• The Wave hurts other people.
• Laurie tried talking, explaining her point of view.

Perspective

Laurie isn't attacking from her point of view. She's reflecting or defending. Laurie has always wanted people to make their own decisions. For that, they need information. The Wave doesn't work like that. Its members like orders, a single leader deciding for them.

Despite being upset about the article, David still believes in freedom of choice and speech. He is concerned by the fact that Robert apparently isn't. Robert's whole world depends on The Wave. He cannot let anyone undermine that.

Robert's Future After The Wave

What will happen to Robert?

• He will go back to being alone and rejected. That's what he's used to, and that's what the other kids know.
• Even if the instinct leads back, everybody's changed. And even if someone starts to pick on him, it will be enough to have one person to defend him.
• All Robert's ever had is suddenly gone. People will try to help, but he'll give up.

Chapter 15

Christy tells Ben he must end The Wave. She says that it's not only to protect the students, but also to protect himself and her. Ben resists, but he knows she's right. Christy has seen the changes in the students' behavior, and she's worried. Ben has an idea, but he still wants to do things on his own terms.

Practice Questions

1. Do you think that the way Ben chose to end the experiment will cause the students to respect Ben more? Explain.

HOTS: Cause and Effect / Uncovering Motives / Predicting

The experiment's end will cause the students to respect Ben less. Ben compares them to Nazis, an extreme comparison. This is traumatic for the them, especially because they trusted him. As a result, they will also respect him less.

Another Answer: I think if Ben had ended the experiment differently without shocking them, it might not have ended. The students might have continued by choosing a different leader, because they would have seen him as weak, giving in to other authority. This way, he retained their respect. (Implicitly, the bottom line in this answer is that the ending the experiment the way Ben did caused the students to respect him more than in other cases.)

2. How does Laurie change throughout the experiment?

HOTS: Distinguishing Different Perspectives

At the beginning of the story, ... When Ben starts the experiment, … As the experiment continues, Laurie realizes that … until finally, she … (The blanks above need to be filled with specific details and information.)