Freak the Mighty

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Max thinks he’s not smart, but his attitude changes. Name two things that cause this change and explain why they have this effect using examples from the novel.

• Max’s attitude about his intelligence changes due to his relationship with Freak and his character development throughout the novel. (topic sentence)
• Max’s friendship with Freak provides him with confidence, and his character development throughout the novel strengthens his sense of identity and leads him to become more vocal about his needs.
• Freak’s impact on Max leaves him with an open mind and appreciation for the moment, while his character development allows him to advocate more for himself.

2. When he learns at the hospital that Freak has died, Max becomes upset and combative, and he breaks a door. Why does he react this way?

• Max breaks a door after learning that Freak died due to his grief and struggle to process the reality of his friend’s death. (topic sentence)
• Max reverts to “Kicker” as he attempts to understand that Freak has passed away, temporarily losing the growth he gained through his relationship with his friend.
• Max becomes combative to grasp the reality of losing his best friend and returns to what he knows to regain a sense of control.

3. The kids in English class taunt Max and Freak, but Freak converts them into friendly supporters. How does he do this?

• Freak changes the class’s mind about Max by sitting on his shoulders and demonstrating to the group how they are a package deal. (topic sentence)
• Freak’s physical joining with Max by sitting on his shoulders while appealing to justice from their classmates gains the attention of the students and creates a welcome distraction.
• Freak’s diversion includes his fantastical King Arthur principles and physically shows the class how Max is a welcome presence, altering for the better the way the students see Max.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Why do Grim and Gram fear Max at the beginning of the novel? How do they speak to and about Max? How does Max think Grim specifically thinks about him and why? How does Max’s relationship with his father play into how Gram and Grim treat Max? What does Max do over the course of the story to calm their fears? How does their attitude towards Max change? Who helps this shift in Max’s homelife dynamic? What impact does the change have? To support your claims, use at least three passages that center on Gram, Grim, and Max.

2. Why is Freak so fascinated with robots and King Arthur’s knights? How do these fascinations appear throughout the novel? What impact do these interests have on Freak’s speech and actions? How does Freak’s fixation on robotics impact his relationship with his mother? How do robotics feature in Freak’s relationship with Max? What about King Arthur does Freak find so fascinating? Provide examples of Freak’s interests in the story and how they impact his relationships.

3. What are three things Max learns from his friendship with Freak? Consider Max before his friendship with Freak blossoms and after. How does Max view the world as a result of Freak’s influence? How does Max see himself and his family members? What changes for Max because of his friendship with Freak? Choose three quotations from the novel that highlight these lessons learned.