Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Chapter Assignments:

Chapter 1

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, and Significant Events

Vocabulary

    unvanquished

        "The unvanquished truth, is how Freak would say it..."

 

Chapter 2

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, and Significant Events

Vocabulary

    vacant

        "My brain is vacant, okay?"

 

Chapter 3

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, and Significant Events

Vocabulary

    propulsion

        "We'll schedule installation of a new propulsion unit..."

Question 1) Character Description:

In your own words, describe Maxwell's appearance and personality

Question 2) Character Analysis of Max:

Why do you think Max acts the way he does?

 

 

Chapter 4

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    sobriquet

        "Grim would be, I suppose, a sobriquet for your grandfather, based on his demeaner."

Question 3) Character Description:

In your own words, describe Freak's appearance and personality

Question 4) Character Analysis of Freak:

Why do you think Freak acts the way he does?

 

 

Chapter 5

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    expel

        "'Expel the object,' Freak shouts."

Question 5) At the end of chapter 5, Max states "...and I'm crying like a baby. And the really weird thing is, I'm happy."What do you think about this statement? Why would he cry if he was happy? Why is it weird for him to be happy?

 

 

Chapter 6

Take notes on New Character, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    deficiency

        "Freak says, 'Cretin. C-R-E-T-I-N. Defined as one who suffers from mental deficiency."

Question 6) Why do you think Blade chooses Max and Freak to pick on in chapter 6?

What kind of guy is Blade?

 

 

Chapter 7

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    converge

        "They've locked on to us. Their trajectory is converging."

 

Question 7) Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting Max and Freak.

     Compare means to tell what is similar.

     Contrast means to tell what is different.

 

Chapter 8

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    evasive

        "'He's not running away.' Grim says, real impatient. 'He's taking evasive action.'"

Question 8) How do Gram and Grim treat Maxwell differently after Max

"saves" Freak from Tony D.? Why do you think they change how they treat

him because of this incident? What does the coffee Grim offers Max symbolize?

 

Chapter 9

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    divulged

        "Now swear on your heart that the data you are about to receive will be divulged to no one."

Question 9) Why do you think Freak takes Max to the hospital? Why was it so important to him?

 

 

Chapter 10

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    confirm--support

        "This has been confirmed by visual observations."

Question 10) Why do you think Max does everything Freak tells him to do?

 

 

Chapter 11

Take notes on Max, Freak, New Character, Setting, Significant Events,

and Theme

Vocabulary

    scuttle--to run hurriedly; scurry

        "Freak is scuttling around behind me..."

Question 11) What did you learn from this chapter?

 

 

Chapter 12

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    rubbish

        "Good riddance to bad rubbish."

Question 12) How do you feel about Max? Would you want him as your friend? Why?

What do you think about his life at home and school?

Question 13) How do you feel about Kevin? Would you want him as your friend? Why? What do you think about his life at home and school?

 

 

Chapter 13

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    gruel

        "Please sir, more gruel."

 

 

Chapter 14

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    intervention

        "Easily corrected by biogenic intervention."

 

 

Chapter 15

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    abscissa

        "ABSCISSA, the horizontal truth."

Question 14) Who came back? Why do you think he came back? What's your prediction for how Max will handle this situation? If you've read ahead, instead of predicting, analyze Max's response to his dad coming back to get him.

 

 

Chapter 16

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary
    deprive
        "You know how many Christmas Eves I've been deprived of my own blood kin?"

Question 15) Do you really think Killer Kane wants to get to know his son better? Why or why not?

Question 16) How do you think Max feels about being kidnapped by his father? Why doesn't he fight back or try to escape?

 

Chapter 17

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

   ignorant

        "...except they're so ignorant and hateful they believe that worst."

Question 17 ) Character Analysis: Killer Kane

What is his motivation?  Why does he act the way he does?  Do you believe he has "religion"?  Do you believe he is innocent?

 

 

Chapter 18

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    tussle

        "He reaches out and tussles at my hair."

Question 18 ) What happened in the chapter that helps Max to begin to realize his father may not be as good as he says he is?

 

 

Chapter 19

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary
   bloated

        "...they're numb and bloated from the rope cutting into my wrists..."

 

 

Chapter 20

Take notes on Max, Freak, Setting, Significant Events, and Theme

Vocabulary

    rage

        "...He's howling in rage behind me..."