Story Facts
Where are Max and Freak when Tony D. and his gang start chasing them?
At the fireworks/festival near the food carts.
Who is Tony D. better known as?
Blade.
What does “trajectory” mean when Freak says the gang’s trajectory is converging on them?
The path or direction something is moving.
Which theme is shown when Max lets Freak ride on his shoulders to see the world?
Friendship and teamwork.
What device is used in “I’m like a big fence post”?
Simile.
How do Max and Freak escape Tony D.’s gang?
They run into the millpond and get stuck in the mud until the police come.
What does Freak call Max when he’s riding on his shoulders?
“Mighty Steed.”
What does “foreshadow” mean in literature?
A hint of what is going to happen later in the story.
How does Freak use imagination as a way to cope with reality?
He turns their lives into heroic quests with knights, dragons, and missions.
What does the compass symbolize?
Guidance and direction.
What object does Freak show Max to help guide them on their “quest”?
A compass.
How does Max describe himself when he’s stuck in the mud?
Like a big fence post.
What is an “archetype” that Freak makes Max look up?
A universal symbol or pattern in stories and myths.
What theme is explored when Max worries about his size and reputation as “Killer Kane’s son”?
Identity and self-acceptance.
What does Freak’s mention of the bionic transplant foreshadow?
Future events about his health and possible surgery.
Where do Max and Freak end up at the end of Chapter 9?
At the Experimental Bionics Unit at the hospital.
Which family member comforts Max with coffee and ice cream after the police bring them home?
Grim.
What does “evasive” mean when Freak tells Max to take evasive action?
Avoiding or escaping something.
What does Freak’s belief in the bionic body symbolize?
Hope for a better future.
Which literary device is used when Freak constantly refers to knights and dragons?
Allusion (references to King Arthur myths).
What does Freak whisper to Max about the Experimental Bionics Unit?
It’s where they’re building him a bionic body.
What does Freak say is the difference between running away and “evasive action”?
Running away is cowardly; evasive action is brave and strategic.
What is “bionics,” according to Freak?
The science of designing replacement parts for the human body.
Why is the theme of bravery shown during the mud scene?
Max pushes through fear and danger to escape Blade and save Freak.
What type of imagery is used in the description of Max running through the mud?
Sensory imagery (touch, sight, sound, and movement).