The Wave Character Analysis

Name:

Date:

📚 Part 1: Major Characters Overview

Vocabulary Bank: protagonist, antagonist, characterisation, motivation, transformation, conformity, resistance, leadership, peer pressure, moral compass

1. Using the LitChart resource, identify the three main characters in The Wave:

a) _________________ b) _________________ c) _________________

2. Which character serves as the primary protagonist who questions The Wave movement?

Ben Ross

Laurie Saunders

David Collins

Robert Billings

3. Complete this complex sentence about Ben Ross using the vocabulary bank:

Although Ben Ross initially believes The Wave will teach students about fascism, he _________________ when _________________.

4. Select all character traits that describe Laurie Saunders:

Independent thinker

Easily influenced by peers

Journalistic instincts

Natural leader

✏️ Part 2: Character Analysis & Relationships

Sentence Starters:

• Despite his initial enthusiasm, David...

• The relationship between Laurie and David demonstrates...

• Ben Ross's character transformation reveals...

• Through the characterisation of Robert Billings, Strasser explores...

5. Using a complex sentence structure, explain how David Collins changes throughout the novel:

6. Analyse the relationship between Laurie and David. How does The Wave movement affect their relationship?

7. Complete this analytical statement about Ben Ross's role:

Ben Ross functions as both _________________ and _________________ because his experiment demonstrates the dangers of _________________ while also showing how _________________ can lead to unintended consequences.

🎯 Part 3: Extension Analysis

8. Advanced Task: Choose one character and analyse how Strasser uses their character development to explore the theme of power and conformity. Use at least two complex sentences with subordinate clauses.

9. Critical Thinking: Which character do you believe represents the greatest threat to individual freedom in the novel? Justify your answer using evidence from the text.

Success Criteria Checklist:

I can identify the major characters and their roles

I can use complex sentences with literary metalanguage

I can analyse character relationships and development

I can connect character analysis to themes of power and conformity