1. Explain why Ben conducts the classroom experiment of The Wave.The Wave is set up initially as a response to students’ questions about how German people responded to the National Socialist Party and why they did not challenge the regime more. By setting up this movement, Ben hopes to illustrate by lived example how easily …
Todd Strasser, author of novels for children and young adults, was born in New York City in 1950. He studied at New York University and after dropping out he travelled in Europe. After returning to the United States, he returned to study, at Beloit College, and went on to work as a reporter.He is a …
“He was “contagious”, they’d say, meaning that he was charismatic. He could get through to them” p. 5 Ben’s ability to teach well and to ‘get through’ to the students is also seen to have a negative aspect as his charisma is described as contagious. This sentence suggests the power of the leader may potentially …
HistoryThe significance of history and the study of past events is a constant theme in this novel. The eponymous Wave originates in Ben’s history class, as he attempts to teach his students the most important lesson of their lives. By forming The Wave and making the students feel that they belong to it, he teaches …
Robert BillingsRobert symbolizes how easily a fascist group can co-opt people who have previously had no power or have been disenfranchised from mainstream society. Before The Wave is introduced, he is bullied and isolated and even characters the readers are supposed to empathize with, such as Laurie, treat him with little more than contempt.Once this …
Alex CooperAlex and Carl are students at the school and reporters on the school newspaper. Neither of them is attracted by the promises offered by The Wave.Amy SmithAs a friend of Laurie, she exemplifies how easily most of the students are caught up in The Wave.Ben RossBen is a history teacher and self-styled leader of …
Summary – Chapter SeventeenAs Ben walks to the auditorium for the rally, he thinks how it is incredible that before The Wave it would have taken a week to organize this many students. This rally only took a few hours to organize and thinks ‘so much for the positive side of discipline, community and action’. …
Summary – Chapter SixteenThe chapter begins the next morning in the principal’s office. Ben is reprimanded and is told the principal cannot tell concerned parents he has been conducting an experiment. Owens also says the rabbi of the boy who was bullied has been to see him and this rabbi spent two years in Auschwitz. …
Summary – Chapter FifteenChristy returns home and Ben is there already having left work early. He is reading about the Hitler Youth and says he wants to be alone to prepare for tomorrow. She insists on talking to him about The Wave and asks if his original goals are the same and he says he …
Summary – Chapter Thirteen and Chapter FourteenLaurie wants to talk to Amy about David and for the last three years they have watched football together. Laurie gets there just as the match is starting and spots Amy up near the top row.Someone yells ‘“stop”’ and she turns to see Brad. He says he did not …
