“The Wave” Novel by Strasser Toda Essay Example
“The Wave” Novel by Strasser Toda Essay Example

“The Wave” Novel by Strasser Toda Essay Example

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  • Pages: 10 (2667 words)
  • Published: October 24, 2017
  • Type: Article
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Today, I want to discuss some questions that have arisen from my reading of Strasser Tod's novel The Wave.

Was Mr Ross right or wrong in manipulating his students? Provide a justification for your response.

As an educator, it was Mr Ross' duty to lead his students.

However, manipulating his students means that it was advantageous for him and can be particularly unfair. Whether it was a right or wrong decision that Mr Ross had led his students into and called The Wave can still be questioned today, and various answers would be collected. The influence he had led his students from a daydreaming and passive class into a class where everyone was equal. I believe this was a correct decision as it prevented competition and hostility and brought the class together, united as one. Those who were previously excluded from activities

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were included with other students, and the communication and socialization increased between them.

Mr. Ross taught his students discipline using The Wave, which I don't think is wrong. All of his students stepped up and tried much harder and became a unified class instead of competing against each other. With the start of The Wave, there was conformity as all the students dressed appropriately and the classroom atmosphere became motivating for young students with great potential. Robert is an example of a student who completely transformed. He used to be socially excluded, would sleep in class, and rarely showed interest in class activities. But as soon as The Wave began, he experienced a complete turnaround.

To achieve a substantial change in our lives, we need to detach ourselves from Satan's influence and embrace God's immense power. Despite

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several students disagreeing with The Wave, they struggled to distance themselves from it due to fear of consequences from fellow participating students.

A student recently wrote an anonymous message to the Grapevine office, expressing concerns about The Wave and its potential consequences. The author of this letter was too fearful to reveal their identity.

The Wave, an experiment conducted in a school setting, provided valuable insights for both teachers and students. It prompted them to reflect on their willingness to blindly follow a leader like Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. The experiment made them contemplate the potential consequences of such obedience if it had continued.

The experiment sheds light on the causes behind the Holocaust and offers understanding about authority and power.

The Holocaust is a tragic event that involved widespread destruction and mass murder of Jews by the German Nazis between 1939 and 1944. This horrifying event resulted in six million Jewish lives being lost.

The Wave depicts a scaled-down representation of the Holocaust, which was orchestrated by the malevolent dictator, Adolf Hitler. It demonstrates the consequences that arise when an individual possesses authority and influence, and it exemplifies how a seemingly ordinary situation can escalate into a significant catastrophe. Although not on the same magnitude as the Holocaust, the principle underlying The Wave bears similarities. The small group of students had the potential to evolve into an enormous uncontrollable group.

The concepts of authority and power are crucial and must be embraced by all individuals. The act of submission is essential for progression and success in various aspects of life. Surrendering completely to authority enables swift advancement. In the case of Mr Ross, the teacher, he required authority

and power. Nevertheless, The Wave, initially a small classroom activity, grew into a divisive force in both the school and the classroom. Students faced bullying, while other pupils became distracted by The Wave's ideology.

The Wave is a demonstration of an accessible power that some people exploit, while others choose to reject this power that is available to every individual on a daily basis. In everyday life, everyone can observe the power of healing, saving, cleansing, and sanctifying. Power is obtained through dependence, which means being loyal to your deity and relying on someone who surpasses anything within the natural world.

Is authority inherently evil? Why or why not? Are there situations where obedience is necessary?

Authority is not inherently evil but rather essential. Refusing to submit to authority can result in wasted time and hinder progress. Recognizing and accepting authority are crucial for personal advancement. By embracing rather than resisting authority, you gain access to the path of growth. In difficult situations, obedience enables us to understand the significance of both authority and obedience itself, as it represents a complete transfer of control and direction.

Obedience is essential for personal development and failure to comply can result in division. This emphasizes the importance of obedience and the necessity to achieve it, as it has immense value in all areas of life. In a structured educational setting where teachers serve as guides, students can gain knowledge about obeying their parents, educators, and other members of the community.

Authority is crucial for teachers and individuals alike to maintain control and ensure obedience. Without authority, students would become disobedient and productivity would decline, ultimately leading to a global abundance of undisciplined individuals.

Adolf Hitler's rise to power serves as a notable example of someone who effectively exerted authority over a large population.

He was leading them towards immorality, acting as a powerful and influential leader of wrongdoing. His deep involvement in immorality led many others to follow him. Unfortunately, only a few could recognize the extent of his malevolent influence, resulting in a large group of people being deceived and led astray, possibly towards damnation.

The actions and behavior of Adolf Hitler were a disgrace to humanity. Instead of just opposing wrong influence, it is also important to support and promote what is right. If someone lacks obedience, they are completely ignorant and will develop a flawed mindset that hinders the development of maturity, wisdom, and understanding.

What are your thoughts on the proposal that every high school student in Australia should read The Wave?

It is crucial for teenagers transitioning into adulthood to read and comprehend a true story about the consequences of someone obtaining power. During their formative years, young individuals are easily swayed, making it necessary to expose them to positive influences. The novel highlights the importance of being discerning when allowing an influence to dominate one's life. The Wave portrays the outcomes of a group surrendering to an influence, whether it be positive or negative; some characters in the book approach this concept skeptically while others perceive it entirely positively.

Teaching high school students about the dangers and corruption of past events through examples and reasons can help prevent history from repeating itself. One reason for history's repetition is the failure to learn its lessons. Introducing students to true stories like The Wave can address this issue by

serving as a significant example of why history should be taught, showing that there is no need for a recurrence of corruption and betrayal. Reading The Wave made me realize the immense influence one person can have over hundreds of individuals, similar to how the Nazis became corrupt and caused the deaths of millions.

This illustration emphasizes the importance of high school students comprehending the repercussions of a negative influence. Similar to how bank tellers must be able to detect deceit by consistently handling genuine currency, adolescents must possess the ability to identify harmful influences. We should strive to emulate this in our lives by carefully assessing situations and thoroughly analyzing influences in order to distance ourselves from any potential harm.

Mr Ross was someone who influenced his group to be part of The Wave. The point is that you can deeply engage in wrong things and still be a leader in what is wrong. Many people may not even realize the evil power they are under and continue to go along with something that is completely incorrect.

Using evidence from the novel, explain whether you believe The Wave was mainly good or bad?

The Wave demonstrates the strong and negative pressures of group pressure. Discipline and authority are two fundamental, yet crucial attributes in everyday life. It is clear that these qualities are taught through the concept of The Wave.

Mr Ross's goal of creating a united and undivided classroom was successful, as evidenced by the increased interest of many students in The Wave. This achievement demonstrates that Mr Ross had the right idea. The collective power and influence that all students possessed is an example of the potential

power that exists. While some power can be positive, it is important to note that many individuals have made the mistake of succumbing to negative influences or falling under the sway of evil forces. Unfortunately, within the classroom, this negative aspect manifested as division throughout the entire school, leading many students to feel afraid to assert themselves.

The loss of friendships and relationships can result from a lack of discipline and authority. These qualities are crucial for personal development and are often emphasized during one's school years, particularly during adolescence. This stage is known to be challenging and transformative. When Mr. Ross entered his classroom and wrote "Strength Through Discipline" on the chalkboard, many students groaned, expecting a typical lecture.

Mr Ross discussed the topics of power[1] and success achieved through the subject[2], resulting in a significant transformation in the class. Students went from being lazy, unmotivated, and apathetic to becoming enthusiastic and engaged in their lessons. Mr Ross's goal in The Wave was to foster teamwork and ensure equal treatment for all students, aiming for unity among them. This objective is referenced in the Bible: "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all say the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly united in the same mind and judgment."

This statement and principle is important for everyone to follow. The division and competition in Mr. Ross' category were noticeable before The Wave was introduced. However, after its debut, these aspects vanished. Laurie Saunders, a significant figure in Mr. Ross' category, informed her parents about the negative consequences that arose

from introducing The Wave. Even the misbehaving students are now participating in it. Remember Robert Billings, the unique student of the class? He is now also part of a group.

No one picked on him for two entire years. This is an extraordinary thing, and it demonstrates the positive and unified transformation that has occurred within the class. Everyone showed compassion towards each other, and the students' consideration towards the teacher and their classmates was undoubtedly remarkable. It is truly a miracle that Robert Billings, who was known as the 'class weirdo,' underwent a complete transformation thanks to the influence of The Wave. Robert used to be a quiet student who sat in the corner of the classroom, rarely participated in discussions, and made minimal contributions. However, after being exposed to The Wave by his teacher, Mr. Ross, Robert started to integrate himself with others, actively contributed in class, and socialized with many of his peers during break and lunch times.

Robert felt a sense of belonging within the category, where everyone was treated equally and the other students no longer bullied him as they had in the past. Laurie Saunders discussed The Wave with her mother after meeting Robert Billings' mother at the supermarket. The conversation centered around the influence and power that the students gained from The Wave. Upon hearing this, Laurie's mother shared that she had met Elaine Billings earlier and was told that Robert had transformed into a completely different person. He was able to interact well with other members of The Wave, as if his life had taken a complete turn. The concept of division is significant, often carrying negative and harmful

connotations.

Can a single teacher create division throughout an entire school? Yes, it is indeed possible. The issue arose when one teacher aimed to inspire students, but unfortunately, this resulted in significant divisions amongst both students and teachers. Numerous parents voiced worries about their children becoming targets and being bullied for not joining The Wave. Sadly, certain children were too frightened to stand up for themselves and endured mistreatment from fellow members of The Wave. Consequently, this movement caused fractures between friends and strained relationships among students, ultimately leading to emotional distress.

The separation between non-Wave and Wave members was terrible and caused former friends to turn into enemies. Adolf Hitler, a well-known German Nazi dictator, is an evident instance of a powerful individual who misused his authority to misguide others. He was an evil man, and sadly, many people were fooled by him. As a result, six million Jews perished due to his despicable tyranny. Mr. Ross introduced The Wave during one of his history classes, which ultimately resulted in one of the most horrifying events he had ever experienced at the school.

He made promises to improve the German economic system and create more jobs, as well as enhance Germany's reputation. However, Hitler then informed the German citizens that they belonged to a superior race and that his group would dominate the entire world. The Germans gained power and seized opportunities to control various aspects of German life, such as media companies and radio stations, while also banning several non-Nazi parties. In some way, the manner in which Mr. Ross distributed rank cards to the students resembled what Hitler compelled many Germans to do.

If The Wave

had continued, it could have led to a negative influence causing significant division in the school, community, and ultimately the state. The concept of The Wave initially had a positive start. However, as it progressed, more and more students joined, excluding those who were not members. This exclusion resulted in physical danger for non-Wave members, revealing an unjust dominance.

It became evident that The Wave needed to stop. Mr Ross informed the members of The Wave during the conclusion of The Wave: "Indeed, you all would have made good Nazis. You would have put on the uniforms, turned your heads, and allowed your friends and neighbors to be persecuted and destroyed. You claim it could never happen again, but see how close you came. Endangering those who would not join you, preventing non-Wave members from sitting with you at football games. Fascism isn't something those other people did, it is right here, within all of us."

How could the German people claim innocence while millions of innocent lives were taken? What leads people to deny their own histories? Mr. Ross, as the initiator of The Wave, was responsible for ending it. He concluded his speech to all Wave members by stating: "I apologize. I understand this has been difficult for you. But in a sense, none of you are as at fault as I am for leading you into this. My intention was for The Wave to be a powerful lesson for you, but perhaps I succeeded too well. I certainly became more of a leader than I had intended."

I sincerely hope that you will trust me when I say that the lesson has been extremely painful

for me. All I can say is that I hope this is a lesson we will all remember for the rest of our lives. If we are wise, we will not dare to forget it. On the whole, it is evident that there are arguments both in favor of and against the concept of The Wave.

The negative consequences of The Wave, such as the formation of a crooked ideology and division among students, can be compared to the destructive forces depicted in The Wave. Although the intention of bringing students together was commendable, The Wave ultimately resulted in division and separation. This resembled Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany and the subsequent genocide of six million Jews by the Nazis. Additionally, The Wave destroyed friendships and caused further division.

The question remains open for debate: Was The Wave predominantly positive or negative?

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