Monster Study Guide Packet



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Ms. Iacullo

General English 2013-2014

Name: Period 4 Answer KEY

Period #: _____________________________________________

Anticipation Guide

Directions: Put a (+) sign if you agree with the statement; a (-) sign if you disagree with the statement, and a (?) mark if you are unsure of your feelings OR have mixed feelings about the statement.

1. Life is ten percent of how you make it and ninety percent of how you take it.

2. The vast majority of people charged with a crime really are guilty.

3. In order to be a healthy individual, we must openly confront our fears instead of hiding from them.

4. The friends we choose and the people we hang out with are an accurate reflection of us.

5. There is a difference between being acquitted of a crime and being innocent of a crime.

6. Lying to save yourself from being convicted of a crime is the right thing to do.

7. If a teenager is charged with a serious crime, she or he should be tried as an adult.

8. No matter what happens, you should take responsibility for your actions.

9. The notion of right and wrong are always clearly defined.

10. Peer pressure has a greater influence on us than our parents do.

Monster

By: Walter Dean Myers

“The film will be the story of my life. No, not my life, but of this experience. I’ll write it down in the notebook they let me keep. I’ll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me.

Monster” ( 4-5)

Character List:

- Steve Harmon: 16 yrs old, on trial for felony murder

- Kathy O’Brien: Steve’s defense attorney

- Sandra Petrocelli: prosecutor

- James King: also on trial for felony murder

- Asa Briggs: lead defense lawyer for James King

- Mr. Sawicki: film club advisor at Steve’s high school

- Alguinaldo Nesbitt: 55 yr old storeowner, murder victim

- Bobo Evans: prisoner who admits to participating in felony murder to receive a deal

- Jose Delgado: store employee, found Nesbitt’s body

- Salvatore Zinzi: prisoner who told in order to receive a break, heard about case from Bolden

while imprisoned

- Wendell Bolden: told Zinzi what he knew about case, found out when he bought cigarettes

- Detectives Karyl & Williams: investigating the case

- Osvaldo Cruz: 14 yrs old, member of the gang Diablos, admits to being involved in the crime,

his job was to slow down anyone who pursued King and Evans

- Allen Forbes: city clerk

- Dr. James Moody: medical examiner

- Loretta Henry: 58 yr old, retired school librarian, was in drugstore on Dec 22nd

- Dorothy Moore: King’s cousin, says that King spent the afternoon of Dec 22nd with her

- George Nipping: 50 yrs old, testifies that he has known King for years and that King is left

handed

- Freddy Alow: hangs out with Osvaldo Cruz

- Mr. Harmon: Steve’s dad

- Mrs. Harmon: Steve’s mom

- Jerry Harmon: Steve’s little brother

“This is not a movie about bars and locked doors. It is about being alone when you are not really alone and about being scared all the time.” ( 3-4)

Movie Terminology

- fade in – a smooth move in to an image from black

- fade out – a smooth move out of an image into black

- cut to – a move from one shot to the next

- voice over (vo) – the voice of an unseen narrator or character

- medium shot (ms) – a shot in which the subject does not appear to be too close or too far from the viewer

- close up (cu) – a shot in which the subject fills the screen and details are noticeable

- long shot (ls) – shot in which the subject is shown at a relatively small scale

- flashback – cinematic device in which an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronological

order of a narrative

- point of view (pov) – the image onscreen is what one of the characters sees

Questions to Guide Your Reading

“Most people in our community are decent, hardworking citizens who pursue their own interests legally and without infringing on the rights of others. But there are also monsters in our communities – people who are willing to steal and to kill, people who disregard the rights of others.” (21)

July 6th Pages 7-43

1. Why do you think the book is called Monster? (5)

The characters are judging Steve Harmon as a “Monster.” The prosecutor calls Steve a “Monster.”

2. Who is Steve Harmon? Why do you think he’d wear a suit and tie to his trial instead of his orange jumper? (7)

Steve Harmon is a 16 year old boy who is on trial for felony murder. He wears his suit and tie to look proper for trial and also to appear “clean” looking. Also, if he were to wear his orange jumper he would already appear guilty.

3. Who is Kathy O’Brien? (Describe her) (12)

Steve’s defense attorney and she has red hair and freckles. She is all business when talking to Steve.

4. What crime is Steve being tried for committing? (12)

Steve is being tried for felony murder

5. Who else is on trial with Steve? (12)

James King, 23 years old, who is the other man on trial

6. When asked if they’ll win, O’Brien says, “it probably depends on what you mean by ‘win’” (13). What do you think she means by this?

Depends on what the jury convicts Steve of—his life is on the line because he is being tried for the death penalty

7. Describe James King. (13)

• 23 years old /looks older than 23

• Wears a sloppy looking suit

• He looks at Steve with a “hard look” and Steve looks away

• Him and Steve have some connection since they’re both being tried for murder (possibly his “partner in crime”?? )

8. The guard explains, “It’s a motion case. They go through the motions; they lock them up” (14). What do you think he means by this?

The guard is saying that they are being judged on their race—the jury already thinks the young men are guilty

9. According to O’Brien, what’s the purpose of her job? (16) Specifically, what’s her legal title?

She is the defense attorney and she is to prove to the jury the Steve is innocent

10. Describe the judge (17)

• 60 years old

• Tall

• Has white hair

• He “looks bored with the case”

11. Who is Sandra Petrocelli? (What is her legal title?) Describe her. (17)

• The prosecutor

• Has dark eyes and hair

• Wearing a gray business suit

• “She looks intense while being attractive”

12. Who is Asa Briggs? Describe him. (17)

• Lead counsel for the defense of James King

• He has a dark-blue suit and a light-blue tie

• His eyes are blue and his hair is white

13. Who is Sawicki? (19)

• A film club mentor

14. What’s the purpose of this cut-in scene? What does it introduce? What do we learn? (19)

• It is giving readers background information

15.

| |Jose |Zinzi |

| |He worked in the drug store for Mr. Nesbitt. He practices martial|Trying to get out of Riker Island early and he calls in |

|Who is this person? |arts. |the crime to Bolden. |

|(Connection to crime) | | |

| |He is the one who found Mr. Nesbitt dead and five cartons of | |

| |cigarettes missing (called the police) | |

| |He left around 4:30 to get Chinese food and he comes back and |People were trying to sexually harass him and he knows |

|Testimony |discovers Mr. Nesbitt shot behind the counter and the cigarettes |the difference between “a lie” and “the truth.” |

| |missing (page 29) | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

16. Whose testimony does King’s lawyer make a motion to suppress?

Mr. Zinzi

17. Who owned the murder weapon?

This is not known yet

18. What merchandise was stolen from the drugstore during the robbery?

Five cartons of cigarettes

July 6 Vocabulary Words:

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

| |“If you have not prejudged him, then I don’t |(verb) form a judgment on (an issue or person) prematurely and without|

|Prejudged (27) |think we will have a problem convincing you…” |having adequate information. |

| | |(adj) having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently. |

|Articulate (28) |“He is young, very well built, and articulate” | |

Create a drawing of the court

Drawing the setting…

You MUST include:

|The judge |3 tables |Kathy O’Brien |

|The Jury |Steve Harmon |Asa Briggs |

|Stenographer |James King |Sandra Petroccelli |

|Witness stand | |“Labels” (defense, plaintiff, judge, etc.) |

July 7th Pages 45-59

1. Steve describes how much he hates this place saying, “I can’t write it enough times to make it look the way I feel” (46). Have you ever felt this way? About what? Explain.

• Answers will vary TEXT to SELF connection

2. How did Bolden and Zinzi find out about the robbery?

Pages 48-49 Bolden states he found out about the robbery from Mr. Zinzi who “called a detective he knew.”

3. Why do you think Steve choose to include the flashback about throwing the rock with Tony?

It seems that Steve wants to run away whenever something bad happens

Shows that Steve doesn’t always make the best decisions

Incident on pages 41-43

July 7 Vocabulary Words:

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

| | |Noun |

|Pertinent (55) |“Overruled, it’s pertinent” |It is relevant |

July 8th Pages 59-88

1. Steve believes that “making you live is part of the punishment” (59). Do you agree with this? Why?

If you do something wrong, you will live to experience the consequences of your actions. Jail is Steve’s punishment

2. Why do YOU think everyone fights in prison?

Pressure, they’re angry and bored

3. Why does Steve think the prosecution is parading witnesses with terrible character in front of the jury?

So she can win the case. Trying to show Steve does not make good choices.

4. How did Detective Karyl get his leads on potential suspects?

Karyl gets info from Mr. Zinzi and Mr. Bolden (page 70)

5. Why did Williams and Karyl say that Steve pulled the trigger when they questioned him about the death of Mr. Nesbitt?

Pages 71-72 James King says Steve pulled the trigger

6. What reason does Osvaldo give for his participation in the crime? (86)

He was afraid of Bobo Evans, Steve Harmon, and James King

| |Sentence from |Definition |

| |text | |

| | |(verb) to carry the head and shoulders habitually bowed forward: to stoop from age. |

|Stooped-67 |“The detective is| |

| |heavy, stooped” | |

| | |(verb) to kill violently |

|Slain-68 |“We see the legs | |

| |of the slain | |

| |drugstore owner, | |

| |Nesbitt. | |

| | | |

|Pessimist-73 |“What are you, a |(noun) A person who always thinks the worse is going to happen |

| |pessimist? Hope | |

| |for the best.” | |

| | |(noun) the act of offering or suggesting something to be considered, accepted, adopted, or done. |

|Proposition-85 |Did Mr. Evans, or| |

| |Bobo, make a | |

| |proposition to | |

| |you? | |

| | |(adjective) Under the age of 18; childish |

|Juvenile-86 |“Your honor, Mr. | |

| |Cruz is a | |

| |juvenile!” | |

| | |(adjective) not friendly; angry |

|Hostile-86 |“He’s hostile” | |

| | |(verb) to show or prove to be true |

|Established-86 |“You haven’t | |

| |established Mr. | |

| |Cruz as a hostile| |

| |witness.” | |

“I wanted to open my shirt and tell her to look into my heart to see who I really was, who the real Steve Harmon was. That was what I was thinking, about what was in my heart and what that made me. I’m just not a bad person. I know that in my heart I am not a bad person.” (92-93)

July 9th Pages 89-126

1. Why is the fact that Osvaldo a member of the Diablos gang important? (108)

Page 109

• -He is a liar

• He makes bad choices by joining the gang

• He is not a nice person (beat up girlfriend; leaves “mark” on someone (cuts someone)

2. What happens when Steve’s father visits him in prison?

• Steve and his father talk about his family and how everyone is having a hard time with Steve being in jail.

3. Why do you think that Steve chose to include interviews and news clips in his story?

• Steve is giving us (readers) background information on what happened—how the case is being portrayed in the news

4. How does Steve represent his innocence in his notes? (115)

• He is stating that he was just in the drugstore shopping—he states, “ Anybody can walk into a drugstore and look around. Is that what I’m on trial for?”

5. What does the prevailing neighborhood attitude seem to be regarding Mr. Nesbitt’s murder? (121)

• The people of Harlem do NOT seem to be shocked with the murder. One woman even replies that it was probably someone who wanted crack and needed money.

6. Why do you think that Steve chose to include the flashback about watching the cartoon?

• This is showing Steve is still child-like –that he engages in activities that young adults would do such as watching cartoons.

7. Why do Detectives Karyl and Williams come to the Harmon Household?

• They claim to his mother that they just need to ask him some questions.

July 9th

Vocabulary

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

| | | |

|proceeds-100 |“And how were the proceeds of this robbery?” | |

| | | |

|Apprehended-105 |“Do you know how you were apprehended?” | |

| |“Steve searches his father’s face, looking for | |

|Reassurance -112 |the reassurance he has always seen there.” | |

| | | |

|Cacophony-117 |“… We pick up a cacophony of sounds.” | |

| | | |

|Distinguish-119 |“We can no longer distinguish Steve.” | |

|Dismay-121 |“Residents of the neighborhoods are in absolute | |

| |dismay.” | |

| | | |

|Glowers-123 |“…A sullen Bobo handcuffed… he glowers at camera”| |

| | | |

|Engaged-125 |“Block engaged in normal activity” | |

July 10th Pages 127-137

1. What does O’Brien cite as Petrocelli’s reason for showing the pictures of Nesbitt’s body to the jury on Friday afternoon?

• Petrocelli wants the jury to have an emotional response--seeing a well-respected man dead.

2. What contradiction does Steve offer in his journal? (130)

• He can “see” himself in the drugstore and then he says he was walking down the street (page 128)

3. What does the testimony of Forbes establish? (131)

• It was Mr. Nesbitt’s gun

4. How does Petrocelli attempt to sensationalize Dr. Moody’s account of Nesbitt’s death? (136)

• When she says he was “drowning” in a pool of his own blood.

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

| | |(noun) a building |

|Premises-131 |“Mr. Nesbitt applied for a license to have a gun | |

| |on the premises in August of 1989.” | |

| |“Presumably he wanted it for the store.” |(adverb) making an assumption based on prior evidence |

|Presumably-132 | | |

| | | |

| |“The bullet entered the body on the left side and| |

|Traversed-135 |traversed upward through the lung” | |

| | |(verb) to pass over; move through |

“She writes down what is being said, and what is being said about me, and she adds it all up to guilty. “I’m not guilty,” I said to her. “You should have said, ‘I didn’t do it,’” she said. “I didn’t do it,” I said.” (138)

July 11th Pages 137-152

1. How does Steve represent his guilt? (138)

• He keeps stating that he is not guilty and he also says that he feels that O’Brien thinks he is guilty.

2. Do you think there is a difference between saying he isn’t guilty and that he didn’t do it? If so, what is the difference? (138)

• Guilty is a court-room term but the connotation of the word suggests he did something wrong as opposed to just saying, “I didn’t do it.”

3. What three things does Steve say prisoners focus on while they are imprisoned? (140)

• They talk about sex, hurting people, and what they’re in for.

4. What was different about Mr. & Mrs. Harmon’s visits?

• Both parents are upset; however, Mrs. Harmon wants to help Steve and tags passages in the Bible for him.

5. How does Steve represent his guilt after his mom leaves? (148)

• Steve is questioning himself did he do something wrong

6. Who asks Steve to be the lookout for the robbery? (150)

• King—now as readers we have to questions was Steve just really buying a pack of mints…?

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

| | |(verb) to twist suddenly and forcibly; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist |

|Wrenched-147 |“The smile that came to her lips was one she| |

| |wrenched from someplace deep inside of her.”| |

“The movie is more real in so many ways than the life I am leading. No, that’s not true. I just desperately wish this was only a movie.” (159)

July 12th Pages 153-160

- Why does Steve think that the prisoners fight so much? (155)

Steve feels that all prisoners have is their need to protect themselves and if someone looks at you the wrong way it could be a problem.

- Why does Steve say that he needs to write the movie? (159)

Steve writing his movie is his escape –it allows him to get his feelings down on paper

July 13th Pages 161-200

1. Why does the prosecution call Mrs. Henry to the stand?

• She states that Steve was in the drugstore before the murdered happened

2. Who does Mrs. Henry identify as one of the men that she saw threaten Mr. Nesbitt? (164)

• James King

3. During the cross examination of Mrs. Henry, why does Briggs seem interested in the process and order of photographs and the lineup? (167-170)

• He is trying to prove that Mrs. Henry is not a reliable source to identify King (she states that King looks different in person than he did in the pictures). She also could not recount the exact number of pictures the police showed her.

4. Why does Briggs want to object to the way that Bobo is dressed during his testimony? (172)

• Briggs feels that by Bobo wearing his prison suit it automatically makes him look guilty

5. How does Bobo’s testimony attempt to establish Steve’s role in the crime? (177-178)

• Bobo states that Steve was the lookout and was suppose to give him and King a “sign” that the drugstore was clear.

6. Did Steve give King and Bobo a sign?

• Steve does not give King and Bobo a sign and they assume the drugstore is “clear.”

7. Had Bobo ever talked to Steve about the robbery? (197)

• Bobo states that he did not speak to Steve about the robbery

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

| | |(adjective) small or tiny |

|Diminutive-161 |“The diminutive 58-year old retired school | |

| |librarian is neatly dressed” | |

July 14th Pages 201-268

1. Why did the defense have Ms. Moore testify?

• Moore, King’s cousin, is trying to show and prove that King is thoughtful (brought her a lamp)—at her house during the robbery

2. Why is King’s right vs. left handedness an issue? (212)

• The wound was on the left side which means that the shooter was right handed

3. Why does O’Brien want Steve to testify?

• So he can tell his side of the story—showcase him as a person

4. Why can’t King testify at the trial? (216)

• King made a statement to the police when he was arrested, he didn’t know Bobo Evans. The prosecution can PROVE that this is a LIE!!!

5. What activity does Steve say that he was engaged in at the time of the felony?

• He said he was working on Mr. Sawicki’s film project

6. What does Mr. Sawicki’s testimony accomplish? (234-235)

• He testifies that Steve is a nice and honest young man who depicts his neighborhood in a positive light in his projects.

7. What were some main points in Brigg’s closing arguments? (239-243)

Is King’s attorney

• A man admits to being part of a robbery accusing another man

• Bobo Evans was offered a deal

• Mr. Evans made the mistake of selling the cigarettes he stole during the robbery

• He states the Mr. “Bobo” Evans had to pick someone to blame and that someone is King

• Also points out that Mrs. Henry who “saw” King in the drugstore was concerned about her grandchild’s well being

• States that King was Mrs. Moore (his cousin) at the time of the murder

8. What are the main points of O’Brien’s closing arguments? (244-253)

• She states that the state proved Steve was not in the store at the time of the robbery nor did he give the sign (no one saw this sign either)

• She also states the murder weapon can NOT be traced back to Steve—it was Mr. N’s gun

• She also states that Steve did not go out to eat with King and Evans (he also did not receive any money from the robbery)

• Points out Mr. Evans and Mr. Cruz are receiving deals for testifying

• Reminds the jury that Steve has better character than the other young men who testified

9. What are Petrocelli’s main points during closing arguments? (254-262)

• States the crime is not about character it is about facts (every person’s testimony should be treated equally)

• She points to King as the murderer; however, she states that Steve was the lookout on page 259

• She also states that Steve Harmon wants to be portrayed as the “innocent” filmmaking student (however he wanted to get paid too). He is a “get-over” too and he made a “moral decision” as well.

July 14

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

|Infer-215 |“The Judge will tell the jury not to infer | |

| |anything” | |

|Surly-215 |“He’s sitting there looking surly. Maybe he | |

| |thinks he’s tough” | |

|Soliciting-231 |“The prosecution is soliciting an argument” | |

|Depicting-235 |“He’s very much involved with depicting his | |

| |neighborhood and environment in a positive | |

| |manner” | |

|Indulgence-244 |“I would like to beg your indulgence while I | |

| |review that testimony” | |

|Vicinity-248 |“We might expect someone in the vicinity to have| |

| |noticed it” | |

|Alleged-249 |Where was Steve Harmon? The alleged lookout man?| |

|Implicated- 249 |“… The deal they get depends on their convincing| |

| |you that other people are implicated” | |

|Proceedings-250 |“The killing here is the key to what these | |

| |proceedings are about” | |

|Gullible-250 |“Is this a shallow, gullible man who doesn’t | |

| |think about very much of anything?” | |

|Submit-252 |“I submit to you, the jurors in this case, that | |

| |you… would [be] nervous” | |

|Reinforce-253 |“It was reinforced with every witness the State | |

| |brought to the stand” | |

| |“We see the two defense lawyers watching | |

|Intently-253 |intently” | |

|Discount-254 |“You say you should discount his testimony” | |

|Contention-255 |“It is the contention of the state that no one | |

| |has the right to deprive us of…life” | |

|Verified-259 |“What does work is the State’s theory of what | |

| |happened, verified by all of the witnesses” | |

|Botched-259 |“This was a botched robbery” | |

|Restores-262 |“None of us can restore him to his family” | |

|Menacingly-266 |“Steve looks up and sees the taker looking at | |

| |him menacingly” | |

“I think about December of last year. What was the decision I made? To walk down the streets? To get up in the morning? To talk to King? What decisions did I make? But I don’t want to think about decisions, just my case” (270).

July 17th Pages 269-278

1. Why do Steve and Kathy O’Brien talk about appeals even before the verdict is delivered?

• O’ Brien is trying to reassure Steve before his verdict is delievered because she senses his nervousness

2. What verdict does the jury deliver

a. for King: guilty (25 years to life)

b. for Steve: NOT guilty

3. How does O’Brien react to Steve after the verdict is delivered?

• Very business-like she does not accept the hug from Steve

4. Why do you think that Steve chooses to end the movie in the way that he does?

• Le the people decide if he should be considered a monster –leave the “end” to the viewers

| |Sentence from text |Definition |

|Desperation-270 |“There was a look of desperation on her face” | |

|Transcribed-275 |“He has transcribed the images and conversations| |

| |as he remembers them” | |

|Distorted-276 |“…Her face distorted with the tension of the | |

| |moment” | |

|Pensive-276 |“Her lips tense; she is pensive” | |

December 5th Pages 279-281 5 months later

1. How has the trial and experience continued to affect Steve?

• He makes movies that continue to have him question himself as a person

• The fact that O’Brien looked away and would not hug him-“What did she see?” that Steve didn’t

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Objective: The purpose of this strategy is to help you demonstrate knowledge of a character by following written prompts about the individual. Myers’ book Monster provides several examples of effective characters to write about: Steve, O’Brien, Petrocelli, King, Mr. or Mrs. Harmon, etc. See the example below for inspiration but please don’t copy it.

Directions:

Line 1: First Name

Line 2: Three traits that describe the character.

Line 3: Relative of _______________________________.

Line 4: Lover of ________________________________(3 things).

Line 5: Who feels ______________________________(3 things).

Line 6: Who needs ______________________________(3 things).

Line 7: Who fears ______________________________(3 things).

Line 8: Who gives ______________________________(3 things).

Line 9: Who would like to see _____________________(3 things).

Line 10: Resident of ______________________________.

Line 11: Last Name

Bio-Poem Example:

Steve

Young, Black, Naïve

Brother of the hood.

Lover of freedom, innocence and yesterday.

Who feels scared, alone and resentful.

Who needs to experience adulthood, life outside of prison and to learn the hard way.

Who fears being alone, the dark and life in a steel cage.

Who gives feeling to his writing, hope to one in the same situation and an example of what can happen when you have “bad” friends.

Who would like to see his next birthday out of a bright orange suit, his mother stop crying and his father’s dreams become a reality.

Resident of the Manhattan Detention Center

Harmon

**Please set your poem up like the example on a separate sheet of paper. I will be hanging these in the classroom and it is for a grade.

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Outcome Sentences

Today I learned…

Today I discovered…

Today I was surprised…

I’m beginning to wonder…

I now realize…

I want to find out more about…

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