The Chamber 4 5 by John Grisham 6

Penguin Readers Factsheets level E

Teacher’s notes 1

3 The Chamber 4 5 by John Grisham 6

ADVANCED SUMMARY

he Chamber tells the story of a seventy-year-old T man’s last bid to save himself from execution. Sam BACKGROUND AND THEMES Cayhall has been on death row for more than twenty years when a young lawyer, Adam Hall, appears to Grisham has produced a string of bestselling novels. They be on a mission to save him. As Adam digs into Sam’s have been translated into more than thirty languages, and past he unearths scenes of horror and confessions that many of them have been made into films. Publishers repulse him. But as they work together the two become Weekly declared him to be “the bestselling novelist of the close, bound together by more than a mission. Sam’s 90s”. hopes for salvation rise as they submit appeal after Grisham writes in an easy, gripping style, which THE CHAMBER appeal, but the law seems to be against them. There is combines a solid knowledge of the American legal system just one piece of information that could save Sam’s life, or with an ability to portray a wide range of characters. cost Adam his. Often, he portrays in a sympathetic light characters who have very unsavory personalities. This creates an ABOUT THE AUTHOR ambivalence in the reader, whose natural inclinations would be against the character. John Grisham was born on February 2, 1955, in Grisham draws on his experiences as a lawyer to write Jonesboro, Arkansas, in the USA. His father was a his legal thrillers, and frequently depicts a young lawyer construction worker and moved his family all around the fighting alone against the corruption of large institutions or southern states of America, stopping wherever he could criminal gangs. find work. Eventually they settled in Mississippi. The Chamber, published in 1994, is Grisham’s fifth Graduating from law school in 1981, Grisham practiced novel. It shows a young lawyer battling alone against the law for nearly a decade in Southaven, specializing in odds to save an old man from death. The Chamber is a criminal defense and personal injury litigation. In 1983, he very subtle legal thriller. There are no frantic chases, was elected to the state House of Representatives and threats or new killings. Grisham slowly builds the tension served until 1990. by increasing hope and then flattening it to despair by One day at the Dessoto County courthouse, Grisham unraveling past horrors with stark clarity, while over overheard the harrowing testimony of a 12-year-old rape everything lies the dark shadow of the gas chamber, and victim. He decided to write a novel exploring what would the smaller shadow of a figure watching events like a have happened if the girl’s father had murdered her hawk. attackers. He proceeded to get up every morning at 5 am One of the most powerful themes in The Chamber is the to work on the novel, called A Time to Kill, which was death penalty, which still exists in some states in the USA. published in 1988. Grisham’s next novel, The Firm, was The courts of Mississippi are hungry for an execution one of the biggest hits of 1991, spending 47 weeks on because they are slipping behind other states - “other The New York Times bestseller list. Grisham was then states such as Louisiana and Texas and Florida, were able to give up law and concentrate on writing. killing at a better rate.” Sam has committed horrific Grisham lives with his wife and two children, dividing crimes, but should he be punished by death in return? their time between their Victorian home on a 67 acre farm Can’t people feel genuinely sorry for their crimes? Some in Mississippi and a 204 acre plantation near people suspect that Sam was not really responsible for Charlottesville, Virginia. the deaths which his own death will punish. Is it right When he’s not writing, Grisham devotes time to therefore that he should be killed and denied all hope of charitable causes, including mission trips with his church future justice? group. As a child he dreamt of becoming a professional Sam committed the crimes when he was a young man; baseball player, and now serves as the local Little League now he is old and his anger has turned to sadness and commissioner. He has built six ballfields on his property guilt. As in many of Grisham’s books racism is a strong and hosts children from 26 Little League teams. theme. When the book opens in 1967, the American south is strongly racist, with the Ku Klux Klan a dominant force. Sam’s father was a member of the Ku Klux Klan and Sam

was brought up to be racist, never knowing any other way again if they believe in the death penalty. Has anyone of life. Grisham questions whether Sam is entirely to changed his or her mind? blame for his actions, or if his environment molded him Chapters 12-14 into the man he became. Put the class into small groups. Ask them to discuss what The importance of family is a theme that recurs feelings they had when they read the book and to write throughout The Chamber. As Adam grew up, he never them down. Ask the groups for their words and write them knew his family. He always felt at odds because he had no all on the board. Have a class discussion and put the words into order of depth of feeling. Then ask the class to roots. His discovery of his grandfather and his past is discuss how Grisham creates these feelings in his readers. horrifying because of the revelation of the truth, but it is also a measure of security. Adam feels like a normal ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK person, and for all his grandfather’s faults he grows close Write the chapter titles on cards. Divide the class into to him. small groups, each with a set of cards, and ask students to put them into the right order.

Communicative activities

The following teacher-led activities cover the same Glossary sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, It will be useful for your students to know the following new words. and supplement those exercises. For supplementary They are practiced in the Before You Read sections of exercises at exercises covering shorter sections of the book, see the the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman Active Study Dictionary.) photocopiable Student’s Activities pages of this Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class readers, but, with the Chapters 1-2 exception of discussion and pair/group work questions, appeal (v) to ask a higher court to change the decision of a lower court can also be used by students working alone in a self- chamber (n) a room used for a special purpose access center. dynamite (n) a powerful explosive execute (v) to kill someone, especially as a legal punishment for a ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK crime federal (adj) relating to the national government of a country, when Ask students to work in pairs. They look at the front cover the country consists of several states of the book and discuss what type of novel it is. They then fuse (n) a part that is connected to a bomb, that delays or starts the ask each other about other Grisham novels and films. explosion Have they read any of them or seen the films? Did they member (n) someone who has joined a club, group or organization like them? Why? Then ask some of the students to report negro (n) a black person back to the class about their partner’s experiences of patio (n) an outdoor area with a stone floor next to a house, where people can sit Grisham, and discuss any issues raised. prosecute (v) to say officially that someone might be guilty of a crime ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION and must be judged in a court of law racism (n) the belief that other races are not as good as your own

THE CHAMBER Chapters 1-2 and should not therefore be treated equally Ask students to work in groups. They draw a time line terrorist (n) someone who uses violent actions to achieve political representing Sam Cayhall’s life, and mark the events of aims Sam’s life starting with the Kramer bombing and ending Chapters 3-5 with his arrest. briefcase (n) a flat case used for carrying papers and books for work colonel (n) an officer with a high rank in the US Air Force Chapters 3-5 confidential (adj) intended to be kept secret On cards write the names of the characters in the book. cyanide (n) a very strong poison On other cards write a description of that character. Divide inmate (n) someone who is kept in a prison or mental hospital the class into small groups. Give each group a set of jumpsuit (n) loose cotton jumper and trousers in the same color, often names and descriptions. Ask the groups to match the worn for sports cards. The first group to finish is the winner. lethal (adj) something that is lethal can kill you pardon (v) to decide officially not to punish someone for committing a Chapters 6-8 crime Divide the class into groups. Ask some groups to write superintendent (n) someone who is officially responsible for a job or down their ideas about why Rollie Wedge breaks into activity supreme (adj) having the highest position of power or importance Lee’s apartment. Ask the other groups to write down their ideas about why David McAllister suddenly seems Chapters 6-8 sympathetic to Sam. Groups then read out their ideas to bench (n) the judges who work in a court the class. Have a whole-class discussion. clemency (n) when someone is not strictly punished for a serious crime, in a way that shows kindness or forgiveness by the judge Chapters 9-11 ineffective (adj) not achieving the correct effect or result lynching (n) the act of putting someone to death, usually by hanging, Ask the class if they believe in the death penalty. Divide without a trial (often done by a crowd of people) the class into two groups: one to argue that the death proceedings (n) legal actions taken in a law court penalty is a good method of controlling crime; the other to argue against the use of the death penalty. If your class is Chapters 9-11 large, divide the students into four or six groups: two or chaplain (n) a priest who works for the army, a hospital or prison psychiatrist (n) a doctor who treats people who have a mental illness three can argue for the death penalty; two or three can argue against. Give the students fifteen minutes to set Chapters 12-14 their points down on paper and to choose a speaker to competence (n) capability to do something well argue these. A class debate can follow. Ask the class

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Student’s activities 1 The Chamber 2 Photocopiable 3 Students can do these activities alone or with one or more other students. 4

Activities before reading the book 5 1 Read the introduction at the front of the book, then CHAPTERS 3 - 5 6 close your book and answer the following questions: Chapter 3 (a) Grisham has had two careers. What are they? 1 Grisham describes in four different ways that Adam (b) In what way was Grisham involved in politics? was nervous on his first visit to Sam. What are they? ADVANCED (c) What was Grisham’s first bestseller? 2 Answer these questions: (d) How many of Grisham’s books have been made into movies? (a) What does MSU stand for? What is the other (e) Where does John Grisham live? name for this? 2 Look at a map of the USA and find Arkansas, (b) What is the new date set for Sam’s execution? Mississippi and Virginia. Who set it? (c) When does Sam recognize Adam? How? (d) What two things does Adam want to talk to Sam Activities while reading the book about? (e) Why does the Memphis office of Kravitz and CHAPTERS 1 - 2 Bane want nothing to do with the Sam Cayhall Chapter 1 case? THE CHAMBER 1 Describe the events that lead to Sam Cayhall being Chapter 4 found guilty of murder, starting from May 5, 1967 The following sentences are false. Correct them. when he was charged. Write a paragraph. (a) The inmates of MSU spend twelve hours a day 2 These numbers have been left out of the following working in the prison factory. sentences. Write the sentences, putting the right (b) Sam’s cell is more than 100 meters from the gas number in the right place. All the sentences need chamber. numbers, and some sentences may need more than one number. (c) Sam’s most valuable possession is a typewriter. 82 20 28 15 17 6 86 22 3 27 1967 (d) George Nugent doesn’t feel he should have to take part in the execution of Sam. (a) Wedge used a minute fuse. (b) Marvin Kramer was found minutes after the (e) Naifeh is unhappy at having to let Nugent handle the bomb exploded. execution. (c) The second trial was held months after the first (f) Sam feels the governor may save him at the last trial. minute. (d) The tax authorities produced charges against (g) Sam wants to select Adam as one of his witnesses at Jeremiah Dogan, which could lead to years in the execution, so that he can be present. prison. (h) Sam tells Adam the truth about the Kramer bombing. (e) Wedge was years old. (f) There were only men involved in the Kramer Chapter 5 bombing. Find examples in the book of things not being what they (g) When Wedge and Cayhall left Greenville they seem from their appearance. Either discuss with a friend, drove along Highway. or write down the contrasts between how something or (h) It all began with a phone call on April. someone looks and what lies beneath the surface. (i) David McAllister was years old when he was elected as District Attorney in Greenville. CHAPTERS 6 - 8 Chapter 2 Chapter 6 Answer these questions: 1 Put the two halves of these sentences together without looking at the book: (a) How does Adam know more about his grandfather than anyone alive, even though he (a) Lettner thinks Dogan and Brazelton ... hasn’t met him? (b) The FBI got information from inside the Klan by (b) Who is E.Garner Goodman? Why is he different giving money to ... from other lawyers? (c) In the early fifties Sam Cayhall killed ... (c) Why does Goodman think Sam Cayhall doesn’t (d) When Eddie Cayhall was a boy he had a friend ... need a lawyer? (e) It took Adam a year to understand ... (d) What was Adam’s father’s name? What did he (i) ... Klan people. change it to? (ii) ... why his father killed himself. (e) Who did Adam first meet at his father’s funeral? (iii) ... may have been murdered. (f) Why is Lee ashamed of her father? (iv) ... who was black. (v) ... a black employee.

2 Discuss or write down : (c) Sam is ...... that, because of him, his grandson Why does Adam think that Sam is partly to blame for his and daughter become close. father’s death? (d) Sam was born into a household where ...... of Chapter 7 blacks was simply a way of ...... (e) Sam wants ...... and ...... to be with him 1 When McAllister asks how Sam is, Adam replies, “Oh, until the last moment before he is executed. he’s wonderful!” When Lee recounts her story of Sam killing Joe Lincoln, she calls him, “My dear sweet (f) Sam’s father was killed at a ...... father”. Discuss or write down the effect these (g) Sam wants Adam to tell the Ku Klux Klan that he is no phrases have on the reader. longer a ...... 2 Rollie Wedge gets information which will allow him to get into Adam's office and home. How does he get CHAPTERS 12 - 14 this information? Chapter 12 Chapter 8 True or false? Who says these things, who are they talking to, and what are they talking about? (a) On August 6th the clerk at the Fifth Circuit tells Adam (a) “I’ve carefully considered this matter, and I’m that Sam’s claim for mental incompetence has been denying your appeal.” denied. (b) “You signed an agreement with me forbidding any (b) Judge Slattery works well in a crisis, and enjoys the contact with that fool.” madness. (c) “It’s standard in death cases ..” (c) McAllister has the power to stop the execution. (d) “My dear father was right in the middle of it.” (d) Adam isn’t sure, but he decides that McAllister can be (e) “All methods are offensive ...” trusted. (f) “The reason is obvious. It is an easier way to die.” (e) Dr Swinn acted honestly when giving evidence about Sam’s mental competence. CHAPTERS 9 - 11 (f) Sam is older than most of the death row inmates. Chapter 9 (g) Garner Goodman calls Adam as a witness in the hearing. Put these events in order: Chapter 13 (a) Sam watches the sun rise through the fence. (b) Rollie Wedge visits Sam. 1 Write down or discuss with a friend what Ralph Griffin, the chaplain may have said to Sam on the day (c) Adam and Sam talk about filing an appeal that Sam of his execution. is mentally unbalanced. 2 Sam’s death is not described, but the reader has a

THE CHAMBER (d) The chaplain visits Sam. clear picture of it in his mind. How? (e) Adam cannot find Lee. 3 What do you think of Sam? Talk with a partner about (f) Packer goes to Sam's cell early in the morning. his good and bad sides. (g) Adam asks Sam where he wants to be buried. Chapter 14 Chapter 10 1 Answer these questions: 1 Answer these questions. (a) What has Lee been doing since Adam last saw (a) Write down three ways that Nugent prepares for her? Sam’s execution. (b) Why does Lee burn down her childhood home? (b) Who is Dr Swinn? Why is he useful to Adam? (c) What work is Adam going to do? (c) What do you think has happened to Lee? 2 Why do you think Grisham makes Lee disappear for a (d) Why did Goodman go to Jackson? Was he time? With a partner, discuss Grisham’s techniques successful there? for adding suspense and tension to the story. (e) What favor does Sam ask of Adam? 3 Do you think Adam now regrets having found out in 2 Why, do you think, does Grisham give us so many the first place that his grandfather is Sam Cayhall? details of the gas chamber? Discuss in pairs or write Why/Why not? down your answer. Chapter 11 Activities after reading the book Fill in the gaps. Do not look at the book. (a) Ku Klux Klan members at the gates of Parchman Write or discuss with a friend: Prison hold signs demanding ...... for Sam (a) Would Adam have cared as much about Sam’s case if Cayhall. he were not his grandfather? (b) Sam’s brother sends Sam a box of cigarettes and (b) Sam didn’t tell anyone about Rollie Wedge. What some cash every ...... does this show about Sam?

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by Mary Saunders © Pearson Education Limited 1999 Factsheet series developed by Louise James