The Chocolate The Chocolate WarWar

By:By:Robert CormierRobert Cormier

Think & WriteThink & Write

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

Robert CormierRobert CormierGrew up in Leominster, MAGrew up in Leominster, MAHe attended Catholic schoolHe attended Catholic schoolWrote on the complexities Wrote on the complexities of growing upof growing up

The idea for the book was The idea for the book was inspired by his soninspired by his son

Background FactsBackground Facts The Chocolate WarThe Chocolate War has been has been

one of the most frequently one of the most frequently censored bookscensored books

The Chocolate War The Chocolate War has also has also won praise and awardswon praise and awards

The book involves rebelling The book involves rebelling against conformity, overcoming against conformity, overcoming guilt, dealing with violent guilt, dealing with violent teenagers and dealing with teenagers and dealing with consequences of actionsconsequences of actions

Chapters 1-13Chapters 1-13

QuickWriteQuickWrite

Pick one character from the storyPick one character from the story Write the character’s name in Write the character’s name in

your notebook.your notebook. Write as many Write as many

characteristics/personality traits characteristics/personality traits as you can in two minutes.as you can in two minutes.

Who is Jerry Renault?Who is Jerry Renault?

Jerry Renault is:Jerry Renault is:– Main character and protagonistMain character and protagonist– His mother has just died His mother has just died – Best friend is GooberBest friend is Goober– Jerry is a day dreamer, Jerry is a day dreamer,

wondering if he will make the wondering if he will make the football team or notfootball team or not

– In the first chapter he In the first chapter he struggles with self-confidence struggles with self-confidence (Will I make the football team (Will I make the football team or not?)or not?)

Archie & ObieArchie & Obie ObieObie

– Hates Archie but admires his for Hates Archie but admires his for his cleverness, but is still his his cleverness, but is still his secretarysecretary

– What does this say about Archie?What does this say about Archie? ArchieArchie

– Psychologically controllingPsychologically controlling– He gives out assignments for The He gives out assignments for The

VigilsVigils– One minute be very nice and the One minute be very nice and the

next be sinisternext be sinister– What assignment is planned for What assignment is planned for

Jerry?Jerry?

The Complexities of The Complexities of JerryJerry Jerry looks at a Jerry looks at a Playboy Playboy in in

Chapter 3Chapter 3 What is different or surprising What is different or surprising

about Jerry’s thoughts, while he is about Jerry’s thoughts, while he is looking at the magazine?looking at the magazine?– He wonders if he will ever find He wonders if he will ever find

lovelove– This shows his sensitivityThis shows his sensitivity– How does this show Jerry is How does this show Jerry is

different from kids like Archie or different from kids like Archie or Obie?Obie?

Brother LeonBrother Leon Brother LeonBrother Leon

– Teacher at the schoolTeacher at the school– Consumed with the idea of Consumed with the idea of

profitprofit– He is running the chocolate He is running the chocolate

sale and has asked Archie sale and has asked Archie and the Vigils for helpand the Vigils for help

– Bro. Leon is acknowledging Bro. Leon is acknowledging the gang and giving Archie the gang and giving Archie powerpower

IdentifyIdentify– Emile JanzaEmile Janza– The power of the VigilsThe power of the Vigils– Room 19Room 19– Jerry’s assignmentJerry’s assignment

Questions to be answeredQuestions to be answered– Who are the Vigils?Who are the Vigils?– Why do they have so much power?Why do they have so much power?– Why is Emile not a part of the Vigils?Why is Emile not a part of the Vigils?

Who really are The Who really are The Vigils?Vigils? They work on intimidationThey work on intimidation Goober gets his assignment Goober gets his assignment

from the Vigils; he does it from the Vigils; he does it because of fearbecause of fear

The Vigils want to gain control The Vigils want to gain control by collapsing the world at the by collapsing the world at the schoolschool

Room 19 assignment is Room 19 assignment is symbolic of this collapsesymbolic of this collapse

Brother Leon & ArchieBrother Leon & Archie Brother Leon and Archie are Brother Leon and Archie are

very similar in personalityvery similar in personality Leon plays psychological games Leon plays psychological games

in his classroomin his classroom Leon, like Archie, humiliates Leon, like Archie, humiliates

students by intimidating students by intimidating innocent victims innocent victims

Archie picks on Goober and Archie picks on Goober and Leon picks on BaileyLeon picks on Bailey

Emile JanzaEmile Janza

Archie has power over Archie has power over Janza because of a Janza because of a picturepicture

Janza is the muscleJanza is the muscleEnemies or friends?Enemies or friends?

Room NineteenRoom Nineteen Goober loosens all the screws Goober loosens all the screws

in the classroomin the classroom 9 hours9 hours At first, the boys helping At first, the boys helping

Goober look helpful, but why Goober look helpful, but why are they really helping him?are they really helping him?– Because it would make the Vigils Because it would make the Vigils

look bad if the job was not look bad if the job was not completecomplete

Jerry’s mom and dadJerry’s mom and dad Jerry’s mother was passionate Jerry’s mother was passionate

and full of lifeand full of life Jerry’s father, since her Jerry’s father, since her

death, shows no emotion – death, shows no emotion – Life is “fine”Life is “fine”

Jerry does not want to be like Jerry does not want to be like his dadhis dad

Who is Jerry more like at this Who is Jerry more like at this point? Why?point? Why?

The Chocolate SaleThe Chocolate Sale Each boy has to sell 50 boxesEach boy has to sell 50 boxes Why would Leon be pushing the Why would Leon be pushing the

sale so much?sale so much? The Vigils question their The Vigils question their

involvement in the saleinvolvement in the sale– Could this cause a problem Could this cause a problem

later on?later on?

Archie vs. VigilsArchie vs. Vigils

Vigils vs. Bro. LeonVigils vs. Bro. Leon

Jerry’s AssignmentJerry’s Assignment Jerry succeeds at football Jerry succeeds at football

practice – Completes a practice – Completes a touchdown to Goober, but he touchdown to Goober, but he also receives his letter from the also receives his letter from the VigilsVigils

What does his assignment What does his assignment involve?involve?– Cannot sell the chocolatesCannot sell the chocolates– Archie now has control over Bro. Archie now has control over Bro.

Leon and JerryLeon and Jerry

Chapters 14-25Chapters 14-25

The Chocolate Sale The Chocolate Sale cont’d.cont’d.

Tubs Casper and Paul Consalvo Tubs Casper and Paul Consalvo used to show how the chocolate used to show how the chocolate war is effecting the rest of the war is effecting the rest of the school (They are doing their own school (They are doing their own thing with the chocolate sale)thing with the chocolate sale)

Everyday Bro. Leon calls Jerry’s Everyday Bro. Leon calls Jerry’s name during roll call and Jerry name during roll call and Jerry refuses the chocolates every dayrefuses the chocolates every day

Archie vs. Brother Archie vs. Brother LeonLeon Archie’s blackmail of Emile Janza Archie’s blackmail of Emile Janza

is leading to something big; the is leading to something big; the fact Archie says Janza can have fact Archie says Janza can have the picture for free leads us to the picture for free leads us to believe something is going to believe something is going to happen (What is the picture?)happen (What is the picture?)

Bro. Leon blackmails Caroni, a Bro. Leon blackmails Caroni, a straight A student. Bro. Leon straight A student. Bro. Leon finds out about Archie’s finds out about Archie’s assignment for Jerry assignment for Jerry

QuickWriteQuickWrite

Have you ever made a decision Have you ever made a decision that you were worried about the that you were worried about the consequences?consequences?– How did you come to a decision?How did you come to a decision?– Did the reactions of others help with Did the reactions of others help with

this decision?this decision?– What if there were no consequences What if there were no consequences

to your actions?to your actions?

Jerry’s DecisionJerry’s Decision Jerry decides not to sell the Jerry decides not to sell the

chocolates chocolates Jerry goes against everyone (the Jerry goes against everyone (the

Vigils and Bro. Leon)Vigils and Bro. Leon) Jerry starts to worry and fear the Jerry starts to worry and fear the

consequences of his actionsconsequences of his actions At this point in the story, At this point in the story,

students begin to admire Jerrystudents begin to admire Jerry

Do I dare disturb Do I dare disturb the universe?the universe?

Who has control?Who has control?

How do the Vigils have control at How do the Vigils have control at Trinity?Trinity?

How does Jerry have control at How does Jerry have control at Trinity?Trinity?

The assignment and The assignment and Bro. JacquesBro. Jacques

““Environment”Environment” How did Archie fool both How did Archie fool both

Bro. Jacques and the Bro. Jacques and the Vigils?Vigils?

What does this tell you What does this tell you about Archie?about Archie?

Jerry’s DecisionJerry’s Decision

At this point, Jerry is a heroAt this point, Jerry is a hero Students are beginning to Students are beginning to

look up to Jerrylook up to Jerry Obie realizes this and lets Obie realizes this and lets

Archie knowArchie know Jerry now is the enemy of Jerry now is the enemy of

both Bro. Leon and Archieboth Bro. Leon and Archie

GooberGoober

Goober quits the football team Goober quits the football team and track teamand track team

He believes something is really He believes something is really wrong with the school and wrong with the school and wants to get away from itwants to get away from it

This decision of Goobers leaves This decision of Goobers leaves Jerry aloneJerry alone

Brother Leon’s reasonBrother Leon’s reason Why is Brother Leon so Why is Brother Leon so

interested in the chocolate sale?interested in the chocolate sale?– He spent $20,000 of the school’s He spent $20,000 of the school’s

moneymoney– He will need to pay this debtHe will need to pay this debt– Leon talks to Archie and tells him Leon talks to Archie and tells him

this and again asks for his helpthis and again asks for his help– Once again, Archie has a lot of Once again, Archie has a lot of

power, which allows him to get power, which allows him to get even with Jerry without even with Jerry without consequencesconsequences

Chapters 25-36Chapters 25-36

Jerry vs. JerryJerry vs. Jerry

PervertPervert

- Someone who doesn’t do - Someone who doesn’t do what’s normalwhat’s normal

–What is right and what’s What is right and what’s not right?not right?

Jerry vs. the VigilsJerry vs. the Vigils Students rise up and go against the Students rise up and go against the

VigilsVigils Carter challenges Archie to make Carter challenges Archie to make

things right and questions his things right and questions his decision to help with the saledecision to help with the sale

The Vigils begin to get back at JerryThe Vigils begin to get back at Jerry– Hit him at footballHit him at football– Call him day and nightCall him day and night– Trash his lockerTrash his locker– Take his homework assignmentsTake his homework assignments

Brian CochranBrian Cochran Brian is Jerry’s Brian is Jerry’s foilfoil Leon’s helperLeon’s helper When the Vigils start selling When the Vigils start selling

candy for students he ignores itcandy for students he ignores it The Vigils and Brian are making The Vigils and Brian are making

Jerry the outcast more then Jerry the outcast more then everever

Brian here takes the easy way Brian here takes the easy way out, going along with the crowdout, going along with the crowd

Jerry vs. EmileJerry vs. Emile Archie has Emile attack Jerry Archie has Emile attack Jerry

mentally, calling him a queermentally, calling him a queer– Why would this bug Jerry so Why would this bug Jerry so

much?much?– It takes one’s confidenceIt takes one’s confidence

Emile takes things in to his own Emile takes things in to his own hands and has the hands and has the neighborhood kids beat up neighborhood kids beat up JerryJerry

Jerry vs. the schoolJerry vs. the school

The Vigils get the entire The Vigils get the entire school to ignore Jerryschool to ignore Jerry

Another type of mental Another type of mental torturetorture

Event Goober is not in Event Goober is not in school, so there is no one school, so there is no one that recognizes Jerrythat recognizes Jerry

The ShowdownThe Showdown A boxing ring at the stadiumA boxing ring at the stadium Jerry vs. JanzaJerry vs. Janza How does the raffle work?How does the raffle work?

– Students paid to write down what Students paid to write down what types of punches should be types of punches should be thrownthrown

– The thing that Goober didn’t like The thing that Goober didn’t like about the school is now apparentabout the school is now apparent

The black boxThe black box

The EndThe End Jerry gets beaten badlyJerry gets beaten badly Jerry decides he should have Jerry decides he should have

never disturbed the universe– it never disturbed the universe– it was not worth itwas not worth it

Brother Leon and Archie get Brother Leon and Archie get away with everythingaway with everything

Do you believe it is worth Do you believe it is worth disturbing the universe?disturbing the universe?