Freak the Mighty – Chapters 11-25 Study Questions
Instructions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences with textual evidence and page numbers on
YOUR OWN PAPER.
*** NOTE: You will only be given one copy of the study questions.
If this is lost, you will need to copy all of the questions onto your own notebook paper. ***
Chapter 11 – “The Damsel in Distress”
1. Describe the “Tenements.”
2. Who is Iggy Lee?
3. What has Loretta heard about Killer Kane in prison? What more do we learn about Max’s Dad at the end of this
chapter?
Chapter 12 – “Killer Kane, Killer Kane, Had a Kid Who Got No Brain”
4. What does Freak say about his father? (use chapters 11-12)
5. How does Freak make fun of Loretta and Iggy, still alluding to King Arthur?
6. How does Max feel about starting 8th grade? How does Max get to be in class with Freak?
7. How do the other kids at school initially react to Max? How does Freak change the kids’ minds?
Chapter 13 – “American Chop Suey”
8. What does Freak begin to teach Max that even his tutor couldn’t do? What’s the difference between reading
and writing, according to Freak? What is Max poorest at doing between the two?
9. Why does Max believe he’s been called to the principal’s office? Why has he? How does Max react to what the
principal says? Why?
10. What worse thing happens on this Friday the 13th?
Chapter 14 – “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die”
11. What does Freak tell Max will happen in a year or two? Does Max believe this?
12. Why are Grim and Gram arguing in this chapter? What does reader learn?
Chapter 15 – “What Came Down the Chimney”
13. Describe the Christmas Eve celebration.
14. What gifts does Max and Freak give each other?
15. Describe the encounter between Max and his father at the end of this chapter. What is ironic about what he
says to Max? How does the author make this scene frightening?
Chapter 16 – “A Chip Off the Old Block”
16. What does the title of this chapter mean? Why would this be especially upsetting to Max knowing what we
know about his feelings about his father?
17. Why is Max quiet and not trying to scream for help when his dad comes? Is Max a hero?
18. What does Max’s dad tell him about his crime?
Chapter 17 – “By All That’s Holy”
19. Why doesn’t Max run away while his father takes a nap?
20. What does Max’s Dad swear on the Bible? Does Max believe him? Do you?
Chapter 18 – “Never Trust a Cripple”
21. How is Kenny Kane planning to make a living now that he’s out of prison? Has he really found God?
22. How do we know that Iggy is afraid of Kenny Kane? What does Kenny Kane ask Iggy to get for him?
23. Who brought the police to Iggy’s door?
Chapter 19 – “Into the Black Down Under”
24. Is Loretta a hero?
25. What does Kenny Kane do when he finds Loretta helping?
Chapter 20 – “Freak the Mighty Strikes Again”
26. What does Killer Kane do when he realizes Max remembers everything?
27. What is Freak’s weapon? What does he say is in it?
Chapter 21 – “The Accident of Nature”
28. What goes to show “that you can’t always judge a book by the cover”?
29. What is wrong with Freak? How does Freak reassure Max that he’ll be okay?
30. What does Grim say Max got from his father? His mother?
Chapter 22 – “Remember Is Just an Invention of the Mind”
31. What is the double birthday celebration? What does Freak get for his birthday?
32. How do we know that Freak is getting sicker?
Chapter 23 – “The Empty Book”
33. What is Max playing with? What does he hope will happen with the toy?
34. What does Freak give Max, and what does he order him to do?
Chapter 24 – “The Return of Kicker”
35. Max sneaks into the hospital to see Freak. What does he discover? How does Max react?
36. How does Dr. Spivak explain Freak’s story about getting a bionic body? How does Max know she’s telling the
truth?
37. What killed Freak?
Chapter 25 – “What Loretta Said”
38. How long is it until Max begins to write about Freak the Mighty?
39. How does Max feel about life after Freak dies?
40. What does Loretta say to Max? What does she mean?
“Freak’s Dictionary” – ESSAY:
Look at the definitions that Freak uses in his dictionary. Why do you think the words are defined like this? What
does this say about Freak’s personality and character? How do you think Max feels about this dictionary?
Freak the Mighty
Chapters 11-25 Vocabulary
Instructions: This assignment will be turned in separately from the study questions. As you read, create a three column
chart that contains the following:
• Column 1: Vocabulary term
• Column 2: Sentence used from the novel
• Column 3: Define the term in context of the novel.
1. urgency
5. dysfunctional
9. accommodations
13. tracheotomy
2. dyslexic
6. tussles
10. genetic
14. facilitate
3. miraculous
7. redeemed
11. aberration
15. manifestation
4. obligation
8. trussed
12. lofty