Name _______________________ Per ___ Teacher ___________

The Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt

Chapter Title Activity

Directions:    

This novel has chapters titled by the months of the school year. A writer usually uses chapter titles to indicate something that might happen, or to

create suspense to encourage the reader. After we complete each chapter, write what you believe would be the best chapter

title in its appropriate space below. Consider characters, developing plot, setting, and conflicts as you title each

chapter. Be creative!

September: 

____________________________________________________________

October:  

______________________________________________________________

November: 

_____________________________________________________________

December: 

_____________________________________________________________

January: 

_______________________________________________________________

February: 

______________________________________________________________

March: 

________________________________________________________________

April:  

_________________________________________________________________

May:   _________________________________________________________________

June:   _________________________________________________________________

Wednesday Wars Vocabulary

Word Definition Synonym Antonym

Mutilation

Casualty

Persecution

Extravagant

Nefarious

Devious

Woe

Rhetorical

Eminent

Obliterate

Usurped

Careened

Malice

Vengeance

Momentum

Restitution

Begrudge

Unscathed

Plummeted

Vanquished

Smirked

Berserk

Skittered

Arsonist

Melancholy

Accumulated

Meander

Squelched

Taunted

Hefting

Wednesday Wars Calendar

Summarize each chapter in the novel by listing the important events in the boxes below.

September October November

December January February

March April

May June

Character SketchAn author often uses characterization as a way to create conflict and give us hints to a theme. As we read through the book add character information about Holling Hoodhood, Mrs. Baker and Mr. Hoodhood. Pay attention to the specific details the author gives us about the individual characters and their interaction with others. Character Physical

AppearanceActions-

things the character

does

Speech- Things the character

says

Thoughts and feelings

Reactions of others

towards characters

Holling Hoodhood

Beginning

Middle

End

Character Physical Appearance

Actions-things the character

does

Speech- Things the character

says

Thoughts and feelings

Reactions of others towards

characters

Mr. Hoodhood

Character Physical Appearance

Actions-things the character

does

Speech- Things the character

says

Thoughts and feelings

Reactions of others

towards characters

Mrs. Baker

Answers for comprehension questions need to be well thought out and written in complete sentences. They must also use specific details and evidence from the story. Answers that are not complete sentences will not receive points.

Chapter 1-September

1. In 2-3 sentences, explain WHY Holling Hoodhood has to spend Wednesday afternoons with Mrs. Baker

2. Holling thinks Mrs. Baker hates him. Do you think he is imagining the hatred or are his feelings grounded in fact? Explain your answer in 3-4 sentences.

3. Describe or draw a picture of the Hoodhood home. Why does Holling call it the Perfect House? (pg 5-6)

4. Mr. Hoodhood is unsympathetic to Holling’s feelings the Mrs. Baker Hates him. Why?

5. Why did the principal want to see Holling? What were the results of Holling’s visit to the office?

Chapter 2- October

1. Why doesn’t Hilling complain to Mrs. Baker about cleaning erasers and straightening her classroom?

2. What are the priorities for Hollings father? How does this make Holling feel?

3. What is the conflict between Mr. Hoodhood and his daughter, Heather?

4. On page 37, Heather said, “I want support for believing in something bigger than just me.” What is she referring to?

5. What is Mrs. Baker’s new plan for Holling on Wednesday afternoons? How does Holling feel about these plans? (pg.40)

6. On page 48, Holling explains to Mrs. Baker, “Because they wouldn’t let him. They decided he had to be a certain way, and he was trapped. He couldn’t be anything except for what he was.” Why was Holling able to understand how this character felt?

Chapter 3-November

1. What good things does Holling say he finds in the play he reads next, The Tempest?

2. How does it come about that Holling takes part in the Long Island Shakespeare Company’s Holiday Extravaganza?

3. How does Holling feel about his part in the Shakespeare play? Give two reasons from the text why he feels this way. Write the page number you found the evidence on next to each reason.

4. What are Mrs. Bakers thoughts on how the Tempest ends? (pg. 70-71) What are your feelings about Mrs. Bakers Comments?

5. Based on the ending of The Tempest, Holling disagrees with Mrs. Baker and feels that “defeat doesn’t help you grow.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or Why not?

6. Describe what happened to the Catholic Relief Agency where Mai Thi Lives? Make an inference as to why this happened.

Chapter 4-December

1. How does Holling describe (to his friends) the character and costume of Ariel? Be specific. Infer: Why does he describe Ariel in this way? p. 82-83

2. As Holling looked through the peephole, what eased his mind?  Reading that passage again, what phrase might the author have included that foreshadows something in the plot? (pg.85)

3. How does Holling’s performance go? How does Holling seem to feel about his parents not being there? How do you feel about Holling’s parents not attending the performance?

4. What did Mickey Mantle do and say that hurt Holling? What was Danny's reaction? What does this tell you about Danny's character?

5. “When gods die, they die hard” (page 93). What is the metaphorical death here?

6. What were Mrs. Bigio's remarks to Mai Thi? In your opinion, are her remarks justified? Explain why or why not. p. 95

7. Mrs. Baker makes up for the Mickey Mantle incident. What does she arrange for Holling, Doug, and Danny? Be specific.

Chapter 5- January

An Allusion is an implied or indirect reference that refers to something without mentioning it directly

1. What trick does Doug Swieteck’s brother play on Holling?

2. What does Doug do for Holling? What does this tell us about his sharacter?

3. Why is Holling so uncomfortable while taking the Achievement Tests? Explain how the author's use of imagery helps you feel Holling's discomfort. Use at least 2 details.

4. Mrs. Baker gives Mai Thi her own cup of hot chocolate. Why? What does this action say about Mrs. Baker? (REMEMBER: Mrs. Baker's husband is fighting in Vietnam. Mrs. Bigio's husband was killed in Vietnam)

5. Explain how Holling saved his sister. Why does Holling feel quite different when his photo appears in the newspaper the second time?

6. Explain Hollings allusion to Macbeth. (pages 128-129)

Chapter 6-February

Irony is a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what you expected. It usually comes across as humorous or

sarcastic to the outside person.

1. Based on the events in this chapter, what is ironic about Mr. Hoodhood receiving the award for the award for the Chamber of Commerce Businessman of 1967?

2. Explain why Holling thinks Romeo and Juliet were stupid. Why then does he choose to go see the play?

3. How does Holling convince Meryl Lee to go out with him on Valentine's Day?

4. Holling encounters a problem with his upcoming date. What is the problem? How does Mrs. Bigio solve his problem?

5. What happens with the design for the new junior high? How did Holling play a part in Kowalski and Associates design? How did Meryl Lee feel about this? Give two examples from the book to support your answer, including the page numbers.

6. Why does Holling compare his father to the Shakespeare character, Shylock? How have others in the book so far filled the “father” role for Holling?

Chapter 7-March

1. Holling uses a metaphor to explain Mrs. Baker and the classroom. What is the Metaphor at the bottom of page157? What does it mean?

Ides of March- The term ides was used by the Romans when they referred to the 15th day of the months of March,May, July, and October. The Ides of March - the first ides of the year - was a feast day celebrating

Mars, Roman god of war.

2. Holling has two experiences of foretelling the future. What does he call this? Describe each experience.

3. Explain why Holling's sister does not want to work for her dad. What does Mr. Hoodhood think of her reasons? (165-166)

4. What's the name of Holling's "new coach"? Did Holling heed the new training instructions? Write a quote that validates your answer. (pg. 167-169)

5. Mrs. Bakers Classroom is visited by the school board

a. First, Holling Recites Shakespeare (pg.174) Please interpret the poem.

b. Second, what unexpected event interrupted the inspection and how did everyone in the room react?

6. Why did the discrimination against Mai Thi escalate with the finding of the class pets?

7. Explain the following allusion: “Julius Ceasar’s army wouldn’t have left such a mess after crossing the Rubicon.” (pg.177)

8. Why was Danny Hupfer suspended and how does his family respond? What does this tell you about his family values?

Chapter 8-April

1. What happened politically with President Johnson in 1968? What reasons did he give for his decision? What reason did Holling's sister give for his decision?

2. Use inference to explain what Mr. Hoodhood means when he says that architecture is a blood sport.

3. As Holling and Meryl Lee are working on their project, Mr. Kowalski tells them about a historical event. Which event is he referring to?

4. How does Holling's dad let him down? Who solves the problem and how?

5. Explain why Mrs. Baker's presence at the baseball game enables the boys to have a tour of Yankee Stadium and be treated as special guests. What do you think Mrs. Baker wanted to talk to the boss about?

6. During practice, Holling is careful to not run faster than any of the 8th grade boys on the cross country team. Why?

7. What was Holling’s MOTIVATION to win his race? What is he imagining as he runs? Who encourages him?

Chapter 9- May

1. Holling feels that several people need comforting at the beginning of this chapter. Name the reason for each of the following characters:

a. Mrs. Sidman

b. The 8th grade cross country runners

c. Mr. Hoodhood

2. Explain the line on pg. 211: Local Architect Firm to Renovate Yankee Stadium

3. How does Mrs. Baker respond to Holling’s questions about why they practice for atomic bombs?

4. Explain how Holling was able to send his sister money for a bus ticket home. How did he decide which Western Union to send the money to? When and how did he know that she received the money?

5. How does Holling respond to his father’s question to his sister, “Did you find herself?”

6. Explain how Lieutenant Baker survived and was rescued from the jungles of Vietnam.

7. What historical event happens in this chapter?

Chapter 10- June

1. What mistake did Holling make while hiking to the campsite? Explain the consequences of this for the entire group and for Holling individually.

2. What offer did Mrs. Bigio make to Mai Thi? What was Mai Thi’s response? Why was this so ironic?

3. What is the climax in The Wednesday Wars? How do you know it was the climax? Give an evidence from the book.

4. When Holling says, " - the miracle came after all," to what was he referring?

5. What does Mrs. Baker Suggest about Hollings’ future?

6. Although Holling does not experience a Bar Mitzvah, how had he become a man by the end of the book? Use evidence from the book to support your answer.

7. On pages 261-264, what do the strawberries symbolize?