Frindle

The primary conflict gains traction in this section when Nick and his classmates refuse to use the word “pen,” aptly described by Chapter 7’s title, “Word Wars.” Nick’s overextended oral report was a one-time event, but now, he digs his heels for the long haul, making frindle a permanent part of his school’s vocabulary. Nick fights his battle on technicalities, careful to not break any school rules. After frindle’s introduction to language arts class—in which Nick makes a production of missing his frindle—Mrs. Granger calls Nick to her desk, her perceptive eyes focused. Fairly certain that he hasn’t broken any rules, Nick innocently defends himself: “‘But I really didn’t have a frindle with me,’ said Nick, amazed at his own bravery. And hiding behind his glasses, Nick kept his eyes wide and blank” (40). The narration betrays that Nick does feel a little guilty for the trouble he causes; he wouldn’t need to feel brave if he wasn’t maintaining a façade. Additionally, in contrast to Mrs. Granger’s “lit up” eyes, Nick keeps his own eyes the picture of innocence. His guilt reveals that his game isn’t entirely good-spirited, even if he doesn’t comprehend exactly what he’s doing wrong. Nevertheless, if Nick can toe the line between the game and the rules, he knows that his word can continually grow.

In this section, two analogies are used to describe the growing tension between students and adults around the frindle phenomenon. The first analogy compares two countries at war when Mrs. Granger asks to speak to him after class: “Nick was excited. It was kind of like a conference during a war. One side waves a white flag, and the generals come out and talk. General Nicholas Allen. Nick liked the sound of it” (44). Nick acts as the ringleader, and he accepts responsibility for defending his side of the conflict. Thinking of himself as a general empowers and emboldens him during this conversation: “Nick tried to look brave, like a good general should” (45). However, Mrs. Granger simply gives him an envelope to sign, which he will receive when the game is “over.” If Nick expected Mrs. Granger to yell during their conversation, he underestimated her own war strategy, the final pieces of which she doesn’t reveal until a decade later. This chapter, titled “Mightier than the Sword,” refers to the saying, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Even though Nick visualizes this conflict as declared war, the power of language (i.e., “the pen”) proves the true agent of change as frindle’s popularity spreads like wildfire, soon growing faster than anyone can snuff.

The second analogy appears in Chapter 9, titled “Chess.” Mrs. Chatham, Lincoln Elementary’s principal, arrives at the Allen home dressed in a black raincoat. (Nick later likens her appearance to a chess board’s black queen.) Nick expects the conversation to result in a relentless reprimand, but the conversation turns unexpectedly when Mrs. Allen questions the validity of Mrs. Chatham’s concerns: “Nick didn’t know it until the attack was under way, but he had a powerful defender of his own—good old Mom, the white queen” (53). Mrs. Allen—using her adult influence—helps legitimize Nick’s claim that the students’ game is harmless and creative. However, whether Nick knows it or not, the chess game continues throughout the entire book, with Mrs. Granger three steps ahead even when Nick starts believing the game is over.