The Wave

This study guide will help you analyze the novel The Wave by Morton Rhue (1981). You can also find a summary of the text, full characterizations, as well as inspiration for interpreting the novel and putting it into perspective.

Excerpt from the study guide:

With the help of The Wave, Robert shows some self-confidence for the first time in his school years. Right from the start, the experiment gives him strength and courage to communicate with his classmates and to feel part of a whole. All of a sudden, he even lets himself be inspired by what is going on in class (Chapter 5, 23%; 46%; Chapter 10, 20%).

Just like Amy, Robert feels the principle of equality within The Wave as something that takes the competitive pressure off his shoulders (Chapter 6, 14%; 29%). Because of the movement, the other classmates suddenly respect Robert and no longer perceive him as strange. He becomes so absorbed in the experiment that he asks his supposed leader, Ben Ross, to become his bodyguard. When Ben agrees, Robert loses himself completely in the movement and stands up for it with all his conviction (Chapter 11, 100%).

Robert stands to lose if the Wave experiment is stopped

At no point is Robert concerned with understanding the behavior of the German population during the Nazi regime. He does not pause to consider the implications of the Wave and only pays attention to how he can personally profit from it (Chapter 14, 86%). 

When Robert reads Laurie's editorial in The Gordon Grapevine, he reacts downright aggressively and is determined to prevent her from continuing to publish negative things about The Wave. Robert perceives Laurie as a serious threat. Consequently, it becomes clear that he has completely adopted a totalitarian mentality: he fights for the movement with all his strength without questioning it. Robert considers all those who are different and those who are not members of The Wave as actual enemies (Chapter 14, 86%).

In the novel, Robert assumes the role of a key character, as he loses himself completely in the Nazi character of The Wave. Thus, he reminds us of the German lower middle-class, to whom the Nazi regime gave the feeling of no longer being oppressed and finally being respected. 

For this reason, a whole world collapses for Robert when Ben Ross breaks off the experiment. When all the students have already left the auditorium, he is left sobbing and crying. He knows that from now on his life will be as if The Wave had never existed. Ben also recognizes him as the only real loser of the experiment and tries to cheer him up a little by offering him to eat together (Chapter 17, 90-100%).

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The Wave

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