1. Chapter Seven Summary
Copy this in to your books in the right order
1.
A relationship develops between Francis and Nicole.
2.
In another flashback we watch as the young Francis is transformed from a shy and
lonely boy to table tennis champion
3.
Against the odds Francis wins the table tennis match against Larry.
4.
Larry makes Nicole and Francis into special stars.
5.
We can see the influence that Larry has over the young people in the Wreck Centre.
6.
Larry engineers physical contact between himself and Nicole.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

2. Lesson Objectives
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly
thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas
and judgements;

3. Why is this chapter important?
A We can see how Larry tries to boost Francis’ selfesteem and how Checkpoint 7have a postive a
Larry’s attensions
effect on Francis
B A relationship develops between Francis and
Nicole.
C The control and influence that Larry has
established is carefully presented.
D We see a sense of rivalry between Larry and
Francis which is focused on Nicole.
Find five examples from
this chapter of
compliments Larry pays to
Francis.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

4. Having read the chapter, you now have have 2 minutes to
write 4 statements.
2 about Larry LaSalle and 2 about Francis Joseph
Cassavant.
Do you
agree
Or disagree?
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

5. Right in the middle
Strongly Agree
Strongly disagree
Stand where about you agree with the statement.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

6. The book is divided into the past, the war and
the present. What can you remember?
The past
The
War
The Present
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

7. Both Francis and Larry are in Frenchtown’s
Scrapbook and classed as heroes. They also
both won the Silver Star.
What could Larry have done
that is so bad that Francis
will wait for revenge?
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

8. Did you know?
The word ‘grenade’, for a small handheld bomb, comes from the Spanish
word for ‘pomegranate’. This is
because early grenades were about
the size of this fruit and their
shrapnel pellets resembled the
pomegranate’s seeds.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

9. Young Francis grows in confidence
The chapter begins with a description of young
Francis sitting alone on the steps of the Wreck
Centre. We see Larry at his very best. Larry has
noticed Francis and begun to encourage him,
making him feel that he does have special gifts.
Under Larry’s guidance Francis learns the skill of
table tennis. As he becomes a good player, his
status in the eyes of the other young people rises
and their cheers give him confidence: ‘Nobody had
ever cheered me before’ (.p.45).
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

10. Young Francis grows in confidence
As Francis continues to practise table tennis, he is
watched by the other young people at the Wreck
Centre. When Nicole appears to blow him a kiss,
this is a turning point for Francis as he now has
some hope that she might like him. Eventually
Francis find the courage to pay Nicole a
compliment: ‘I love to watch you dance’ (p.48).
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

11. Larry LaSalle’s desire to control
The Wreck Centre suits Larry perfectly. It enables
him to exercise control over those less experiences
than him. He is presented as someone who is multitalented and admired by all. This gives him power
which he exploits for his own purposes. He grooms
Nicole carefully, developing her talents as a dancer.
As Larry and Nicole dance together, there appears
to be a sexual attraction between them.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

12. Larry LaSalle’s desire to control
Larry has the confident belief that everything he
does is right. He does not consider the feelings of
others. He allows Francis to know that he let him
win the table tennis competition. As a result, the
moment of Francis’ greatest achievement is
tarnished because he believes that it might not have
been real, that Larry gave the victory to him as if it
was his gift to give. He knows for the rest of his life
that the brief moment when he was a table tennis
hero was not genuine.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

13. Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

14. Homework
• Due in on
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

15. Key Quote
Checkpoint 8
Francis: ‘I stood
Joey LeBlanc suggests that
spellboundgood reason to
by his words’
Francis has
(p.45). Larry. What is
challenge
this reason?
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

16. Examiner’s tip: writing about the rivalry
between Larry and Francis
Jealousy towards Larry has already been expressed
by Francis as he watches Larry dancing with Nicole:
‘Jealousy streaked through me’ (p.46). We are
made aware of the closeness between Nicole and
Larry in the way their dancing is described. It
seems as if Francis and Larry are to become rivals
for Nicole’s affection.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

17. Examiner’s tip: writing about the rivalry
between Larry and Francis
There is a crucial difference between them. Francis
is innocent and inexperienced. Larry is a powerful
adult and, as we find out later, ready to exploit the
influence his position gives him. Nicole clearly
enjoys the attention he gives her.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

18. Examiner’s tip: writing about the rivalry
between Larry and Francis
This unspoken rivalry is sensed by the young people at
the Wreck Centre as they shout insistently for Francis
and Larry to play against each other. As he starts to
play, Francis receives a ‘smile of approval’ (p.52) from
Nicole. In Chapter 2 Francis had referred to himself as
a knight kneeling at Nicole’s feet. In the table tennis
match it is as if he is a knight fighting for the honour of
Nicole. Look at the detailed description of the moves
in the game as control passes from one to another and
how it helps to emphasise the rivalry.
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

19. Key Quote
Francis: ‘he caught her, pressing
her close, their faces almost
touching, their lips only an inch
or so from a kiss’ (p.46).
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;

20. Grade Booster
Consider alternative interpretations for
top grades: Larry flirts with Nicole, but
does Nicole flirt with him?
Can I critically respond to the text, ‘Heroes’? (AO1)
I must generally refer to relevant aspects of Heroes
I should discuss thoroughly and increasingly thoughtfully characters/relationships
I could consider and suggest experimental ideas and judgements;