Name ___________________________________________
Date___________
Freak the Mighty
Chapters 10-17
Study Guide
***Disclaimer***
You only get one copy of this packet. If you lose it, Mrs. Stephens doesn’t have extra
copies and you will be responsible for doing all of the work on separate paper. You can find
this study guide on www. MrsStephens.com.
Chapter 10 Vocabulary
Word
Page Number and
Paragraph
Root (if any)
sorrowful
remarkable
X
savage
X
optimum
X
disgusting
camouflage
X
fealty
X
distress
X
Definition
Chapter 10
“Rats or Worse”
1. Describe two quests that Max and Freak have been on. Use as much detail as
possible.
a.
b.
2. This chapter’s title is “Rats or Worse”. Use your imagination; what are two or
three things that could be worse than rats on this quest? Please answer this
question in five sentences and make sure to use your conjunctions!
Picture It with Prepositions!
A preposition links noun, pronouns and phrases (fragments) to other words in a
sentence.
Let’s do a quick review…
A noun is _____________________________________________________
A pronoun is __________________________________________________
A phrase is ____________________________________________________
Can you think of any examples of prepositions? __________________________
Important Little Words
This chapter ends with Max musing about Loretta Lee. Freak thinks she is a “damsel in
distress”, but Max says that we’ll find out that she is a “damsel of distress” – that she is
not in trouble, but she will cause trouble. (A damsel is a lady, by the way.)
Little words can REALLY change the meaning of a phrase. Illustrate this by drawing
the following four things.
A painting in a bucket
A damsel in distress
A painting of a bucket
A damsel of distress
Chapter 11 Vocabulary
Word
soggy
scrawny
decline
Page Number and
Paragraph
Root (if any)
Definition
Chapter 11
“Damsel of Distress”
Below, draw the “New Tenements”
Isn’t it Ironic, Don’t you Think?
What is irony? _______________________________________________________
You will read the picture book The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch. How does this
book show irony?
Challenge yourself, how does this book connect to Freak the Mighty?
Now, that we have a definite grasp of irony, why is “New Testaments” an ironic name
that Gram calls a joke for the “New Tenements”?
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Discussion Question
Why doesn’t Iggy beat up Max and Freak? Please answer this question in at least four
sentences.
Stands for…
Examples for Loretta Lee
Stands for…
Examples for Iggy
PA
S
A
T
F
WOT
PA
S
A
T
F
WOT
Chapter 12
“Killer Kane, Killer Kane, Had a Kid Who Got No Brain”
CONFLICT!
This chapter is chock-full of small and large conflicts, whether at the mall or in school.
For each of the following examples of conflict, explain which kind of conflict it is, what
the conflict is about how the conflict is solved.
1. Max vs. The other students in his class
2. Students vs. Mrs. Donelli
3. Freak vs. The Assistant Principal
We are going to read Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches. Below, define the word “conformity”.
How does the term conformity fit with school-aged students?
Conformity – Are You In?
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Do you see a lot of conformity in your school? How?
2. Do you think it’s easier to conform to the crowd or stand out? Why?
3. How do you see conformity in The Sneetches?
4. How do you see conformity in Freak the Mighty?
5. Do you think the idea of conformity is a good thing or a bad thing? Why?
Chapter 13 Vocabulary
Word
Page Number
and Paragraph
Root (if any)
satisfied
deny
X
trembly
miraculous
gruel
X
X
Definition
Chapter 13
“American Chop Suey”
Summarize – Please summarize the two alarming events that happen in this chapter.
Use complete sentences.
1.
2.
Symbol Me This…
Let’s talk symbolism, an English teacher’s favorite topic. This word is not as
complicated as it sounds. A symbol is something real and concrete (something you can
put your hands on) that stands for an abstract idea. An abstract idea is something that
you can’t touch, but you know that it’s there. Examples of abstract ideas are heroism,
hope or love.
Think of all the symbols around you. The American Flag is a symbol, so is a heart or a
four-leaf clover. What do these symbols mean?
The American Flag symbolizes _________________________________________
A heart symbolizes ___________________________________________________
A four-leaf clover symbolizes __________________________________________
In Freak the Mighty, robots symbolize perfection to Freak. A robot is something that you
can walk up to and touch, so it is the symbol. Freak thinks that robots are perfect,
because they can be fixed, reworked and they are really smart; everything in life that
Freak wants to be, so to him, they are perfect.
Symbol Me That…
When we talk about symbols in class, we are going to describe them in four steps to
make them easier to understand. The four steps are: Draw and label the symbol,
Describe it in a few words or phrases, Explain the idea it stands for then given an
Example from the story of the idea.
**When you’re talking about symbols in a story, make sure that you focus on the
connections between the symbol and the story.**
Here is what the Symbol Analysis process looks like for Freak the Mighty. Our first
symbol will be a knife.
1. Draw and label the symbol.
2. Describe the symbol in a few words or phrases.
Knives in this story are dangerous and used to hurt or threaten people.
3. Explain the idea the symbol stands for.
In this story, knives symbolize danger and threat from other people.
4. Give an example from the story.
For example, Tony takes the name “Blade” because he likes to hurt people. He
also swishes his knife around just to scare people. He enjoys that he has a
reputation for hurting and scaring people.
The Training Wheels Come Off!
Freak’s dictionary is another example of a symbol from Freak the Mighty. It’s
more than a book with words – it’s Freak’s favorite book, which lets Max know that
Freak is smart, curious and likes to share knowledge. Intelligence, curiosity and sharing
knowledge are all abstract ideas.
Let’s use the four step symbol analysis to “talk” about the dictionary:
1. Draw the symbol
2. Describe the symbol
3. What idea(s) could the dictionary symbolize?
4. What is an example from the story of that abstract idea?
What are some other symbols from Freak the Mighty?
A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words
There are two REALLY important events in this chapter. Sketch the scene for each of
them. Make sure you include as many details as possible, as well as a page number and
a caption for each picture.
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Chapter 14 Vocabulary
Word
Page Number and
Paragraph
Root (if any)
biogenic
X
obligation
ruckus
X
Definition
Chapter 14
“Cross my Heart and Hope to Die”
Discussion Questions: Please answer each question in at least five sentences.
1. What does Max learn in this chapter? Why is it important?
2. We see a different side of Max’s grandfather’s character in this chapter. Using
PASATFWOT, write about this “other side” of Grim.
Chapter 15
“What Came Down the Chimney”
Write a plot summary of the chapter. Make sure to include setting, characters,
conflict(s) and figurative language.
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Chapter 16 Vocabulary
Word
hypnotized
deprived
Page Number and
Paragraph
Root (if any)
Definition
Chapter 16
“A Chip Off the Old Block”
Discussion Questions: Answer in complete sentences.
1. What does the phrase “a chip off the old block” mean?
2. Does Max want to be “a chip off the old block”? Why or why not?
3. What is the setting of this chapter? Make sure to include the three elements of
setting.
4. What is a conflict that happens in this chapter? Why type of conflict is it?
5. Make an inference about what will happen next.
6. Ask two questions about this chapter.
Fill in the chart below with as much detail as possible.
Stands for…
Examples for Kenny Kane
PA
S
A
T
F
WOT
Give two reactions to the character of Kenny Kane.
Ask a question about Kenny Kane.
Chapter 17
“By All That’s Holy”
Give this chapter a new title. Why did you give it this title?
Characterization Takes Another Turn…
In this chapter we see yet another side of Max’s father – the actor. After all, he
convinced the parole board that he had “found Jesus” and was no longer dangerous.
This chapter shows both sides of him. Please complete the following questions in at
least two sentences each.
1. Max’s father says several things to Max to convince him that he’s really a nice
guy, including, “I never killed anybody”. What are two other things he says for
that reason?
2. Throughout the chapter, Kenny Kane does things that don’t match the things he
says to Max. Even when he cries, there is “no crying in his voice.” What is
another action that says he is still a dangerous man?
3. “His hand shoves through my hair and I can feel how strong he is, even though
he doesn’t hurt me.” What does that quote tell you about Max’s father?
4. Iggy goes along with everything Max’s father says, even though he is the leader
of a motorcycle gang. What does this tell you about Max’s father?
Inferences
Even though Mr. Kane says he is a good father, he also makes a point of making sure
Max will obey him. He insists that Max answer him, “No, Sir, we can’t have that.” “No,
Sir” isn’t enough for him. At the end of the chapter when Max doesn’t answer right
away his father says, “I asked you a question, boy” (pg. 110).
1. What are three things we can infer about Kenny Kane based on the way he talks
to Max?
Max has a lot of trouble answering the question, “are you satisfied?” with his father’s
explanation of being in jail. The last sentences in the chapter describe Max as, “like a
lump until the sun comes up, trying not to think about things I didn’t want to
remember.”
2. What might Max be trying not to think about?