📘 Freak the Mighty – Study Notes

📘 Freak the Mighty – Study Notes

🧠 Point of View (POV)

  • The novel is written in 1st person POV

  • Narrator: Max (Maxwell Kane)

  • Clues:

    • Uses “I,” “me,” “my”

    • We see events through Max’s thoughts and feelings

👉 Important twist:

  • Sometimes Max speaks directly to the reader

    • Example: “Are you paying attention here?”

    • This briefly feels like 2nd person POV

👤 Characterization

Direct Characterization

  • Author tells you what a character is like

  • Example: “He was very mean.”

Indirect Characterization (MOST COMMON)

  • Author shows through:

    • Actions

    • Dialogue

    • Thoughts

    • Other characters’ reactions

👉 Example:

  • Kenny Kane being controlling → shown through Gwen’s dialogue

🧍 Max (Main Character)

  • Feels:

    • Dumb / insecure

    • Lonely

  • Evidence:

    • Hides in “the Down Under”

    • Afraid of being in LD classes

  • Growth:

    • Gains confidence through Kevin

    • Becomes brave and more self-aware

🧠 Kevin (Freak)

  • Extremely intelligent

  • Uses advanced vocabulary

  • Example:

    • “sobriquet” (nickname)

  • Represents:

    • Imagination

    • Courage

    • Adventure

🏚 Setting

  • Neighborhood:

    • Run-down

    • Poor

    • Unsafe at times

👉 Why it matters:

  • Creates tension

  • Explains characters’ struggles

  • Influences plot events (danger, conflict, etc.)

🎭 Tone vs Mood

Tone (author’s attitude)

  • Example:

    • Chaotic → during classroom scene

    • Suspenseful → during danger scenes

Mood (reader’s feeling)

  • Example:

    • Tense → when Kenny Kane is involved

    • Hopeful → when Kevin returns from hospital

⚔ Conflict

Types of Conflict:

  1. Internal Conflict

    • Inside a character’s mind

    • Example:

      • Max escaping into his imagination

      • Grim struggling about lying to Gram

  2. External Conflict

    • Character vs character

    • Example:

      • Max vs Kenny Kane

      • Max & Kevin vs Tony D

📈 Plot Structure

Exposition

  • Max’s background

  • Living with Grim and Gram

  • Meeting Kevin again

Rising Action

  • Adventures with Kevin

  • Standing up to Tony D

  • School experiences

Climax

  • Kenny Kane kidnaps Max

Falling Action

  • Max is rescued

Resolution

  • Kevin’s death

  • Max writes their story

🎯 Themes (Big Ideas)

  • Friendship changes people

  • Intelligence ≠ physical strength

  • Overcoming fear

  • Identity and self-worth

  • Facing trauma

🧾 Figurative Language

Similes

  • “Like a big fence post”
    → Means stuck, unable to move

Sensory Language

  • Sound:

    • Fireworks → “whizzing,” “banging,” “popping”

🧠 Vocabulary Tips

  • Regurgitate = to cough/spit something out

  • Ornithopter = mechanical bird

🔍 How to Answer These Questions

When you see questions:

POV

  • Look for pronouns:

    • I = 1st person

    • You = 2nd person

    • He/She = 3rd person

Characterization

  • Ask:

    • Is the author telling me? (Direct)

    • Or showing through actions/dialogue? (Indirect)

Tone/Mood

  • Tone = author’s voice

  • Mood = how YOU feel

Conflict

  • Internal = thoughts/feelings

  • External = physical or between people

Plot

  • Ask: Where is this event?

    • Beginning? Rising action? Climax?