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    Powerpoint of The Destructors By: Graham Greene

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    akiediriweera
    The document provides a summary and analysis of the short story "The Destructors" by Graham Greene. It summarizes the plot, including that a gang of boys led by Blackie plan to destroy the mansion of their neighbor Mr. Thomas, known as "Old Misery", after their status in the gang is threatened by a new member named T. They successfully carry out their plan to tear down the mansion despite Mr. Thomas returning early. It then analyzes themes of class struggle, equality, and order in a post-war disorderly world that motivated the boys' destructive act.

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    Powerpoint of The Destructors By: Graham Greene

    Uploaded by

    akiediriweera
    758 views25 pages
    The document provides a summary and analysis of the short story "The Destructors" by Graham Greene. It summarizes the plot, including that a gang of boys led by Blackie plan to destroy the mansion of their neighbor Mr. Thomas, known as "Old Misery", after their status in the gang is threatened by a new member named T. They successfully carry out their plan to tear down the mansion despite Mr. Thomas returning early. It then analyzes themes of class struggle, equality, and order in a post-war disorderly world that motivated the boys' destructive act.

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    The Destructors

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    Powerpoint of The Destructors by: Graham Greene

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    The document provides a summary and analysis of the short story "The Destructors" by Graham Greene. It summarizes the plot, including that a gang of boys led by Blackie plan to destroy the mansion of their neighbor Mr. Thomas, known as "Old Misery", after their status in the gang is threatened by a new member named T. They successfully carry out their plan to tear down the mansion despite Mr. Thomas returning early. It then analyzes themes of class struggle, equality, and order in a post-war disorderly world that motivated the boys' destructive act.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    758 views25 pages

    Powerpoint of The Destructors By: Graham Greene

    Uploaded by

    akiediriweera
    The document provides a summary and analysis of the short story "The Destructors" by Graham Greene. It summarizes the plot, including that a gang of boys led by Blackie plan to destroy the mansion of their neighbor Mr. Thomas, known as "Old Misery", after their status in the gang is threatened by a new member named T. They successfully carry out their plan to tear down the mansion despite Mr. Thomas returning early. It then analyzes themes of class struggle, equality, and order in a post-war disorderly world that motivated the boys' destructive act.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    You are on page 1of 25

    The Destructors

    Aki E, Daniel F, Kaitlin B, Ethan X,


    Shervan G.

    Pre-Reading Questions
    Title: The Destructors
    Author : Graham Greene
    Question 1: What is the significance of the title of the story?
    Question 2: When was a time you witnessed inequality in society? How did this
    make you feel?
    Question 3: How do you feel when people of higher status pity you? How do you
    react?

    Parody Video
    https://youtu.be/TglOpqpUf60?t=122

    Summary

    Post WW2
    Protagonist (Anti-hero):T
    Antagonist (victim): Old Misery
    Supporting Character: Blackie (leader)
    Chocolate given by Old Misery
    T receives a tour of Old Miserys house
    Change in power
    Plan to destroy Old Miserys house
    Destruction
    Old Misery arrives early, attacked
    Successfully destroy house

    Elements of the Story

    Introduction

    Post WW2 era


    Imagery : A bombed out London with a
    victorianesque house standing tall and
    proud towering above the rubble
    Old Misery offers a few members of the
    gang chocolate
    Gang felt like act is a bribe

    Rising Action

    T. talks about his tour


    Tells gang Old Misery will be away
    Suggests destroying it
    The gang gathers tools
    Gang breaks in
    Destruction

    Climax
    T. discovers 70
    Burns the money with Blackie
    The gang is almost done
    dismantling the house
    They hear Mr. Thomas is about to
    return early

    Falling Action

    T. comes up with an idea


    The gang members trick Mr. Thomas
    to go into the outdoor washroom
    Buys them some time to finish their
    plan

    Denouement

    House is tied to a truck


    Driver arrives, and begins driving
    House falls
    Mr. Thomas heart shatters
    Truck driver laughs

    External Conflict
    Man vs Man

    Blackie vs T.

    Man vs Environment

    Destruction

    Man vs Society

    Class struggle

    Characters

    T.

    Newest recruit
    Introverted, manipulative, calculative
    Dynamic
    Sparks conflict

    Blackie

    Supporting character
    Leader
    Insecure
    Power Struggle
    Selfless
    Static

    Old Misery (Mr.Thomas)

    Victim
    Represents time before the war
    Prideful
    Innocent
    Generous
    Nave
    Trusting
    Dynamic

    Themes

    Theme: Luxury

    Lived without money or luxury


    Luxuries are foreign
    Old Misery has luxuries
    Contrast
    They dont believe he deserves these things
    A motive to destroy the house.

    Theme: Equality

    House is a representation of a better time


    Post war-time resilience
    Foreign to the members of the gang
    The mansion didnt fit
    Destruction to create equality and conformity
    Did not steal
    Bringing Old Misery to their esteem
    No desire to bring themselves up

    Theme: Order in a disorderly world

    Why would the Wormsley Gang commit such a horrible act?


    Children grew up in war
    Traumatic events
    Many youth lost family
    Gang = comfort
    Old Miserys house represents order in their disorderly world
    Solution for the gang was to destroy the house

    Important Quotes
    Destruction after all is a form of creation. A kind of imagination had seen this
    house as it had now become. (P.8)
    Yet walls could be preserved...This could again be a home. (P. 10)
    When he climbed out the whole landscape had suddenly altered. (P.15)

    So what? Now what?


    Pride

    Downfall of man
    Related to Materialism/Achievements
    Can be good/positive

    Life is too volatile to be prideful, so being humble during


    lifes highs can pay off when you are experiencing lifes
    lows.

    Discussion

    Discussion
    Why were the gang members so skeptical of
    the chocolate given by Old Misery? What do
    you think this represents?

    Discussion
    Who is the true protagonist in the story?

    Discussion
    What do you think Mr.Thomas did after his
    mansion was torn down?

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