Exposition
What major historical event is going on during the story?
The Vietnam War: American Troops are being deployed to Vietnam to fight.
This look came over her face like the sun had winked out and was not going to shine again until next June.
Which TWO types of figurative language are shown here?
"There are times when she makes me feel as stupid as asphalt"
What figurative language is being used here? Why would Holling compare intelligence to pavement?
Simile: Pavement doesn't do anything because it is an inanimate object, and he is saying Meryl Lee makes him feel this way.
Why does Mr. Hoodhood insist that Holling needs to get along with Mrs. Baker?
He wants to be employed to design the new building for the Baker Sporting Emporium. He knows that his chances will diminish if Holling is on Mrs. Baker's bad side.
Why might it seem to Holling that Mrs. Baker deplores him? Does she likely truly hate him?
She is annoyed by having to keep him in her class. It is unlikely she hates him because the audience finds out at the end that someone related to her has been deployed to Vietnam. Therefore, the reader begins to understand that Mrs. Baker is going through a challenging time.
Where in America is the story set and what is the year?
Long Island, New York, 1967
"But if anyone had ever walked in and plinked a key or sniffed the artificial tropical flowers or straightened a tie in the gleaming mirror, they sure would have been impressed at the perfect life of an architect from Hoodhood and Associates" (Schmidt 7).
Which word is an example of onamotopoeia?
"plinked" - the sound a single piano note would make
"Mr. Guareschi's long ambition had been to become dictator of a small country" (Schmidt 19).
In this metaphor, Mr. Guareschi, the principal, is clearly being compared to a harsh ruler. What does the "small country" represent metaphorically?
A school; Camilla Jr. High
Why and How does Holling use irony in describing his house as "perfect?" What is he actually saying about his house and family?
He is being sarcastic by suggesting that his house only looks perfect, not that it actually is. His house does not feel lived in or cozy, and his family is not the closest with each other, either.
What are some reasons Holling jokes that Mr. Guareschi's ambition (goal) is to be the "dictator of a small country?" (Schmidt 19).
(dictator = an all-powerful, often cruel ruler)
He makes Holling stand outside and wait to make him nervous, he purposely mispronounces Holling's name even when corrected, he won't give Holling a definite answer about where he'll spend Wednesdays, and he purposely heightens his chair to tower over Holling.
What is the name of the school Holling attends and what grade is Holling in?
Camillo Junior High; seventh
"Even though there wasn't much left of the ham and cheese and broccoli omelet, it started to want to come up again" (Schmidt 8).
What figurative language is being used here?
Personification: the omelet is being given the ability to "want" something.
"She kept her face as still as Mount Rushmore" (Schmidt 22).
What figurative language is being used here, and explain the allusion.
simile; Mount Rushmore is a rock with notable figures' faces carved into it, so Mrs. Baker's face didn't move.
What is significant about Mai Thai, Holling's classmate?
She is from Vietnam, and the story takes place during the Vietnam War.
Describe Mr. Hoodhood in one adjective and give an example from the book that demonstrates the type of father he is.
dismissive, money-hungry, greedy, inattentive, discouraging
He does not listen to Holling's concern that his teacher hates him. Instead, he insists that Holling get along with Mrs. Baker because he does not want to lose out on a business deal.
Name four characters we have met so far and tell their relationship to Holling.
Mr. Hoodhood, Mrs. Hoodhood, Mrs. Baker, Danny Hupfer, Doug Swieteck (+brother), Mai Thi, Meryl Lee Kowalski, Mr. Guareschi
"Mrs. Baker eyed me all day on Tuesday, looking like she wanted something awful to happen- sort of like what Israel Hands wanted to happen to Jim Hawkins" (Schmidt 10).
What figurative language is being used here?
Simile: like
"Her lipstick was the color of a new fire engine" (Schmidt 8).
What color is Holling talking about? Why does Schmidt use this comparison rather than just saying the color?
Bright red; describing it this way helps the reader visualize it better, and it is a more interesting way of explaining.
What happens to Doug Swieteck's brother on the soccer field? Who gets blamed?
Doug's brother runs into the goal post, hits his head, and becomes loopy. Holling is blamed by his classmates, but he struggles to make them understand it wasn't intentional.
Why is Mr. Hoodhood so concerned with how he and his family are perceived by others?
He is an architect who wants business, so he wants to appear to have the perfect family. He feels his home represents the type of architect he is, so nothing can be out of place.
What is the main conflict Holling is experiencing? Explain the religion situation.
He is the only Presbyterian, and while half of his class goes to either Catechism or Temple, he has to stay with Mrs. Baker, who he thinks hates him.
"Love and hate in seventh grade are not far apart, let me tell you" (Schmidt 11).
How does this personification of love and hate describe Holling and Meryl Lee's relationship?
They are frenemies; while they seem to get along, they also bicker frequently and try to mess with the other.
Explain the meaning of this simile:
"'If you had been listening to my instructions, you should have been able to do this,' said Mrs. Baker, which is sort of like saying that if you've ever flicked on a light switch, you should be able to build an atomic reactor" (Schmidt 18).
Holling is saying that Mrs. Baker is assuming he can't diagram the sentence because he wasn't listening but that the sentence is way harder than the examples she usually shows. Flicking a light switch is much easier than building an atomic reactor, just like diagramming a 4-word sentence is much easier than a 40-word sentence.
Why does Holling think he is being sent to the principal's office, and what is the actual reason he is being sent?
He thinks they called the police about his involvement in Doug Swieteck's brother's injury, but he is actually told Mrs. Baker suggested he retake 6th grade math.
Why would Gary Schmidt open The Wednesday Wars with Holling telling a story about how poorly-behaved Doug Swieteck is?
We see how incredulous Holling is that Mrs. Baker seems to hate him. He mentions Doug Swieteck to explain how he is not as badly behaved and therefore it makes no sense to him what he could have done to make her dislike him.