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Selection Review #1

Monster Pages 1 - 88

1. Describe the unusual structure of Monster. Fill in the T-chart to show what types of infor- mation we can draw from each type of narrative used. Monster has an unusual structure in which the story goes back and forth from Steve’s journal entries to a movie screenplay about his situation. Some possible answers to the T-chart are shown on the next page. Movie Screenplay Steve’s Journal Entries ______2. Why has Steve chosen to tell about his experience in the form of a movie? Does Steve be- lieve he is the “monster” in the movie’s title? Explain. Steve’s life seems so unreal to him that he feels like he is in a movie. He is having a hard time accepting his situation, and imagining it as part of a movie helps him to process what is going on. Since he is learning to make films, he decides that a movie script is a good way to show his life. He gives it the title “Monster” be- cause this is what the prosecutor called him. Steve does not want to think of himself as a monster. He believes that he is a “good person,” but he sometimes has his doubts. He notices that he is similar in many ways to other young men in the detention center, and this disturbs him. 3. Use the T-chart below. In the “Innocent” column, write things you have learned about Steve Harmon that suggest he is innocent. In the “Guilty” column, list things that lead you to believe he may be guilty of participating in the robbery. The lists can include personality traits, events, quotes by characters in the story, etc. Some possible answers for the T-chart are shown on the next page: Innocent Gulty ______continued... 48

When you have completed the T-chart, state whether you believe Steve is innocent or guilty based on what you know about him so far. Tell why you believe he is innocent or guilty. Opinions as to whether Steve is innocent or guilty will vary. However, you must make sure that you can give reasons to support your position. 4. Explain the role of each of the following at the trial: Kathy O’Brien, Sandra Petrocelli, and Asa Briggs. Kathy O’Brien is Steve Harmon’s lawyer. She is trying to prove that he is innocent. Sandra Petrocelli works for the state of New York as the prosecutor in the case. She is trying to prove that both Steve Harmon and James King are guilty of felony murder because they participated in the robbery. Asa Briggs is James King’s lawyer. He is trying to show that King is innocent. 5. Explain how a movie is similar to a courtroom trial. Why is it important for both to avoid “predictable endings”? A movie and a courtroom trial are similar in that both are being judged. The people who view a film are like a jury because they make judgments about it. A movie should not have a predictable ending because viewers will not want to watch if they think they already know how it will end. A jury in a courtroom is responsible for judging whether the ac- cused is guilty or not. The jury members must not decide on a person’s guilt or innocence until they have heard all the evidence. Possible answers to Question #1: Movie Screenplay Steve’s Journal Entries What others say about Steve What Steve thinks and says about himself What happens in the courtroom Steve’s feelings, thoughts, and fears Events leading up to the trial (flashbacks) What Steve says and does What Steve thinks about, remembers, and imagines

Possible answers to Question #3: Innocent Gulty Steve is terrified in prison and does not seem Steve spent time with King and Osvaldo, who mean or tough. pressured him to prove himself by taking part He tells a fellow prisoner he is innocent. in a robbery. In the flashbacks, Steve does not tell Osvaldo Bobo Evans told police that Steve was the or King that he will participate in the robbery. lookout man for the robbery. None of Steve’s journal entries state that he The flashback of the rock-throwing incident was involved in the robbery. suggests that Steve does not always take re- sponsibility for his actions and is not entirely truthful. 49

Selection Review #2 Monster Pages 89 - 200 1. How does Asa Briggs try to defend James King’s innocence even though several witnesses tie him to the crime? How does Kathy O’Brien try to prove Steve’s innocence? Briggs tries to defend King’s innocence by pointing out that most of the witnesses against him are untrust- worthy criminals. He reminds the jury that both Osvaldo Cruz and Bobo Evans have admitted to their part in the robbery, and both benefit from testifying against King. Briggs hopes that jurors will decide they cannot be sure that the testimony against King is true. O’Brien also stresses the fact that the witnesses are unreliable. In addition, she points out that the evidence for Steve’s involvement in the crime is very vague. For example, although Bobo claims that Steve was the lookout, he admits that Steve gave no report or signal of any kind to him or James King. 2. What evidence in this section of the story suggests that Steve was the lookout for the robbery? What evidence suggests that he was not? Evidence that suggests that Steve was the lookout include: 1) Bobo Evans says that Steve was the lookout for the robbery and that some of the money was supposed to be shared with him; 2) Steve admits in his journal that he went into the drugstore; 3) some of his actions, such as running away when he heard people talking about the crime, seem to show he felt guilty. Evidence that suggests Steve was not the lookout include: 1) Steve claims that he is innocent and didn’t do anything; 2) he did not give any report or signal to King and Evans when he left the store; 3) it seems he never received a share of the stolen money. 3. Steve and Ernie both claim to be innocent. Use the Venn diagram to show similarities and differences in their claims. Based on what you know about their cases, do you think either person is innocent? Explain your answer. Some possible answers for the Venn diagram are are shown on the next page.

Ernie’s Claim Steve’s Claim to Innocence Both to Innocence ______

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Ernie’s Claim Steve’s Claim to Innocence Both to Innocence

Ernie planned to carry Both say they are inno- Steve never planned out a robbery but was cent because they “didn’t to take part in a murder, unable to actually finish do anything.” but the murder happened the job. during a crime that he was involved in.

Opinions about Ernie’s and Steve’s innocence may vary. Make sure you are able to support your answer. 4. Identify the central conflict in Monster. Suggest a way in which the conflict might be re- solved. The most important conflict is Steve’s inner conflict. He struggles to believe he is a good person, but realizes he is not very different from the other men in the detention center. The prosecutor calls him a monster, and other people turn away from his gaze. Even his parents do not know what to think of him. Steve’s greatest need is to believe in himself, but he always depends on the approval of others. The conflict might be resolved in several different ways. Perhaps new testimony or evidence might prove that Steve’s visit to the drugstore was completely innocent. Steve would be ac- quitted and no longer be looked upon as monster, and would begin to feel better about himself. Another possibility is that Steve could resolve his conflict by admitting to his part in the robbery and taking responsibility for his guilt. 51

Selection Review #3 Monster Pages 201 - 281 1. Why does Miss O’Brien want Steve to testify in court? After the testimony the jury members have heard, Miss O’Brien feels sure that they believe King is guilty. She believes that they will view Steve as guilty also unless he can separate himself from King in their eyes. O’Brien believes that one way to make this happen is for Steve to speak for himself. She believes the jurors want him to tell his own story so that they can make their own decision about him. 2. Why do you think the jurors decided that Steve was innocent? Do you think his testimony helped him? Why or why not? The jury may have declared Steve innocent because the jurors were not sure whether he was involved in the robbery. As Miss O’Brien pointed out, even the witnesses who said Steve was the lookout had not spoken with him about the robbery, never saw him give a signal, and admitted he wasn’t in the store during the robbery. He did not receive any of the money and did not join Bobo Evans and King for a snack after the robbery. Opinions about Steve’s testimony may vary, but you must be able to support your opinion. It appears that Steve’s testimony did help him. He told the jurors that he had nothing to do with the robbery and did not go to the drugstore on the day of the robbery. It seems that the jurors saw him as a respectable young man rather than just another delinquent. This is the outcome that Miss O’Brien was hoping for. 3. What does Sandra Petrocelli mean when she says that Steve has been walking a moral tightrope? Does Steve agree? Do you think author Walter Dean Myers agrees? Give reasons to support your answers. A person walking a tightrope needs skill to avoid falling to one side or the other. Petrocelli is suggesting that Steve was trying to walk a middle line between right and wrong. She says that Steve may think he is innocent because he did not actually try to rob the store with Evans and King. However, she says, even serving as a lookout makes him part of the plan that led to Mr. Nesbitt’s tragic death. Steve disagrees with her. When he reviews his screenplay, he responds to her statement by saying, “I know what right is, what truth is. I don’t do tightropes, moral or otherwise.” However, we may wonder whether this is what Steve really believes or what he wants to convince himself is true. Perhaps he is still lying to himself. Opinions may vary about the author’s perspective, but all opinions must be supported. One of the author’s purposes in writing Monster is to show how bad choices can lead to terrible conse- quences. Steve did not just happen to find himself in a difficult situation. He made the choices to spend time with King and to take part in discussing a robbery plan. He also chose to show up at the drugstore when the robbery was to occur. The author’s position seems to be that Steve is fooling himself by not taking responsibility for these decisions and actions. continued... 52

4. What does author Walter Dean Myers leave unresolved at the end of the story? Why do you think he chose to end the story this way? Give reasons to support your answer. Steve’s inner conflict is not resolved at the end of the story. He still feels that people see him as a monster and he is not sure who he really is. The author may have ended the story this way for many reasons. He may have wanted to show that Steve is still not being honest with himself at the end of the story. He refuses to admit, even to himself, that he has walked “a moral tightrope.” Because he is not honest with himself and does not take responsibility for his actions, he still feels guilty and uncomfortable. The author may want readers to think about themselves. Do they take responsibility for their choices? Do they know who they really are? 5. Identify several themes in Monster. The themes in Monster address both individual and social issues. One obvious theme is, “Be careful about your choices, because wrong choices can have life-changing bad results.” Another theme is, “Choose your friends and role models wisely, be- cause wanting to be like the wrong people can get you in a lot of trouble.” Also, “Be strong in knowing who you are, because trying to be like others can lead you to do bad things,” and “It’s important to take responsiblity for your actions in order to have a clear conscience.” Some social themes of the book are: “The justice system is sometimes unfair, and people are found guilty or innocent for all the wrong reasons”; “Sometimes how others see you can decide your fate more than the reality of who you are and what you did”; and, “Even if a court declares you not guilty, you may still be morally at fault.” 53 Name:

Literature Test #1

Monster Pages 1 - 88

1. Explain why Steve decides to write a movie script about his experience, and why he names it Monster.

2. Although the law states that a person accused of a crime is “innocent until proven guilty,” why might this not be true in Steve’s case? How does Kathy O’Brien hope to convince the jury of Steve’s innocence?

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3. State whether or not you believe Steve is guilty of the crime with which he has been charged. Give reasons to support your answer.

4. Describe this novel’s structure. Explain how the author uses the different styles of writing to give readers different types of information. 55 Name:

Literature Test #2

Monster Pages 89 - 200

1. What does Katie O’Brien have to do to convince the jury that Steve is innocent? Why is this ironic?

2. Identify at least three conflicts in the story. Describe the story’s main conflict.

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3. State whether or not you think Steve was the lookout for the robbery. Cite evidence from the story to support your answer.

4. Do you think Steve should be convicted of felony murder even if he was the lookout for the robbery? Why or why not? 57 Name:

Literature Test #3

Monster Pages 201 - 281

1. List reasons why you think the jury found Steve Harmon “not guilty.”

2. What is the “moral tightrope” that Sandra Petrocelli accuses Steve of “walking”? Do you agree with her accusation? Why or why not?

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3. Give evidence from the story that shows that Steve’s inner conflict is still unresolved at the end. Explain why you think this conflict is still unresolved.

4. How do you think Steve’s life will be different now that he has spent time in a detention center and been on trial for his life? What is the most important thing you can learn from his expe- rience? Explain. 59 Name:

Vocabulary Test #1

Monster Pages 1 - 88

WRITE SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

subdued disregard pessimist petite pertinent timidly merits civil 60 Name:

Vocabulary Test #2

Monster Pages 89 - 200

WRITE SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

dismay bustling diminutive stark status 61 Name:

Vocabulary Test #3

Monster Pages 201 - 289

WRITE SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS:

condescendingly emphatically gullible infer elicit verifies compassionate menacingly