The Chocolate War

1. The Chocolate War By: Robert Cormier

2. Think & Write • "Do I dare disturb the universe?" Interpret this question. What do they think it means? Reflect on how you might disturb your own universe, and whether it would be a good idea.

3. Robert Cormier • Grew up in Leominster, MA • He attended Catholic school • Wrote on the complexities of growing up • The idea for the book was inspired by his son

4. Background Facts • The Chocolate War has been one of the most frequently censored books • The Chocolate War has also won praise and awards • The book involves rebelling against conformity, overcoming guilt, dealing with violent teenagers and dealing with consequences of actions

5. Chapters 1-13

6. QuickWrite • Pick one character from the story • Write the character’s name in your notebook. • Write as many characteristics/personality traits as you can in two minutes.

7. Who is Jerry Renault? Jerry Renault is: • Main character and protagonist • His mother has just died • Best friend is Goober • Jerry is a day dreamer, wondering if he will make the football team or not • In the first chapter he struggles with self-confidence (Will I make the football team or not?)

8. Archie & Obie • Obie • Hates Archie but admires his for his cleverness, but is still his secretary • What does this say about Archie? • Archie • Psychologically controlling • He gives out assignments for The Vigils • One minute be very nice and the next be sinister • What assignment is planned for Jerry?

9. The Complexities of Jerry • Jerry looks at a Playboy in Chapter 3 • What is different or surprising about Jerry’s thoughts, while he is looking at the magazine? • He wonders if he will ever find love • This shows his sensitivity • How does this show Jerry is different from kids like Archie or Obie?

10. Brother Leon • Brother Leon • Teacher at the school • Consumed with the idea of profit • He is running the chocolate sale and has asked Archie and the Vigils for help • Bro. Leon is acknowledging the gang and giving Archie power

11. Identify • Emile Janza • The power of the Vigils • Room 19 • Jerry’s assignment • Questions to be answered • Who are the Vigils? • Why do they have so much power? • Why is Emile not a part of the Vigils?

12. Who really are The Vigils? • They work on intimidation • Goober gets his assignment from the Vigils; he does it because of fear • The Vigils want to gain control by collapsing the world at the school • Room 19 assignment is symbolic of this collapse

13. Brother Leon & Archie • Brother Leon and Archie are very similar in personality • Leon plays psychological games in his classroom • Leon, like Archie, humiliates students by intimidating innocent victims • Archie picks on Goober and Leon picks on Bailey

14. Emile Janza • Archie has power over Janza because of a picture • Janza is the muscle • Enemies or friends?

15. Room Nineteen • Goober loosens all the screws in the classroom • 9 hours • At first, the boys helping Goober look helpful, but why are they really helping him? • Because it would make the Vigils look bad if the job was not complete

16. Jerry’s mom and dad • Jerry’s mother was passionate and full of life • Jerry’s father, since her death, shows no emotion – Life is “fine” • Jerry does not want to be like his dad • Who is Jerry more like at this point? Why?

17. The Chocolate Sale • Each boy has to sell 50 boxes • Why would Leon be pushing the sale so much? • The Vigils question their involvement in the sale • Could this cause a problem later on? Archie vs. Vigils Vigils vs. Bro. Leon

18. Jerry’s Assignment • Jerry succeeds at football practice – Completes a touchdown to Goober, but he also receives his letter from the Vigils • What does his assignment involve? • Cannot sell the chocolates • Archie now has control over Bro. Leon and Jerry

19. Chapters 14-25

20. The Chocolate Sale cont’d. • Tubs Casper and Paul Consalvo used to show how the chocolate war is effecting the rest of the school (They are doing their own thing with the chocolate sale) • Everyday Bro. Leon calls Jerry’s name during roll call and Jerry refuses the chocolates every day

21. Archie vs. Brother Leon • Archie’s blackmail of Emile Janza is leading to something big; the fact Archie says Janza can have the picture for free leads us to believe something is going to happen (What is the picture?) • Bro. Leon blackmails Caroni, a straight A student. Bro. Leon finds out about Archie’s assignment for Jerry

22. QuickWrite • Have you ever made a decision that you were worried about the consequences? • How did you come to a decision? • Did the reactions of others help with this decision? • What if there were no consequences to your actions?

23. Jerry’s Decision • Jerry decides not to sell the chocolates • Jerry goes against everyone (the Vigils and Bro. Leon) • Jerry starts to worry and fear the consequences of his actions • At this point in the story, students begin to admire Jerry

24. Do I dare disturb the universe?

25. Who has control? • How do the Vigils have control at Trinity? • How does Jerry have control at Trinity?

26. The assignment and Bro. Jacques • “Environment” • How did Archie fool both Bro. Jacques and the Vigils? • What does this tell you about Archie?

27. Jerry’s Decision • At this point, Jerry is a hero • Students are beginning to look up to Jerry • Obie realizes this and lets Archie know • Jerry now is the enemy of both Bro. Leon and Archie

28. Goober • Goober quits the football team and track team • He believes something is really wrong with the school and wants to get away from it • This decision of Goobers leaves Jerry alone

29. Brother Leon’s reason • Why is Brother Leon so interested in the chocolate sale? • He spent $20,000 of the school’s money • He will need to pay this debt • Leon talks to Archie and tells him this and again asks for his help • Once again, Archie has a lot of power, which allows him to get even with Jerry without consequences

30. Chapters 25-36

31. Jerry vs. Jerry • Pervert - Someone who doesn’t do what’s normal • What is right and what’s not right?

32. Jerry vs. the Vigils • Students rise up and go against the Vigils • Carter challenges Archie to make things right and questions his decision to help with the sale • The Vigils begin to get back at Jerry • Hit him at football • Call him day and night • Trash his locker • Take his homework assignments

33. Brian Cochran • Brian is Jerry’s foil • Leon’s helper • When the Vigils start selling candy for students he ignores it • The Vigils and Brian are making Jerry the outcast more then ever • Brian here takes the easy way out, going along with the crowd

34. Jerry vs. Emile • Archie has Emile attack Jerry mentally, calling him a queer • Why would this bug Jerry so much? • It takes one’s confidence • Emile takes things in to his own hands and has the neighborhood kids beat up Jerry

35. Jerry vs. the school • The Vigils get the entire school to ignore Jerry • Another type of mental torture • Event Goober is not in school, so there is no one that recognizes Jerry

36. The Showdown • A boxing ring at the stadium • Jerry vs. Janza • How does the raffle work? • Students paid to write down what types of punches should be thrown • The thing that Goober didn’t like about the school is now apparent • The black box

37. The End • Jerry gets beaten badly • Jerry decides he should have never disturbed the universe– it was not worth it • Brother Leon and Archie get away with everything • Do you believe it is worth disturbing the universe?