The Wave

by

Todd Strasser

Carl Block Character Analysis

Along with Alex Cooper, Carl is one of the “biggest practical jokers” at Gordon High. Tall and lanky with blond hair, Carl is an investigative reporter for The Grapevine. Carl is skeptical of The Wave from the start, and is one of the few Gordon High students to never join up at all.
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Carl Block Character Timeline in The Wave

The timeline below shows where the character Carl Block appears in The Wave. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
Equality vs. Independence Theme Icon
...door. Amy quickly throws away her cigarette, terrified, while Laurie unlocks the door to reveal Carl Block and Alex Cooper, two Grapevine writers and class jokers, standing on the other side.... (full context)
Chapter 9
Groupthink and Coercion Theme Icon
Equality vs. Independence Theme Icon
Education Theme Icon
...week. Laurie urges her staff to come up with some more ideas for stories, and Carl suggests writing about The Wave—the “biggest story” in school lately. Laurie is nervous about writing... (full context)
Chapter 12
Equality vs. Independence Theme Icon
...office, denigrating The Wave rally as a militaristic freak show. Laurie agrees with him. Soon, Carl comes into the room too, and the three of them discuss putting out a new... (full context)
Chapter 13
Groupthink and Coercion Theme Icon
Equality vs. Independence Theme Icon
...edition of the paper focusing on The Wave. A few staff members are missing, and Carl suggests that they don’t want to “incur the wrath of The Wave.” The paper focuses... (full context)
Groupthink and Coercion Theme Icon
Equality vs. Independence Theme Icon
...The Wave in her article, even though she knows her voice may draw unwanted attention. Carl and Alex help Laurie put everything together, and then volunteer to take the paper to... (full context)
Chapter 17
Groupthink and Coercion Theme Icon
History and the Past Theme Icon
Equality vs. Independence Theme Icon
Education Theme Icon
...out that there is no leader, Ross replies that there is indeed—and on his cue, Carl pulls aside a curtain to reveal a large movie screen, while in the projection room,... (full context)