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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Pickett respond to his orders?

2. How does Lee think one wins victories?

3. What does Chamberlain hope to get for his men very soon?

4. What concerns Armistead about this battle?

5. How is Pettigrew of the Confederates like Chamberlain of the Union?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 3, Longstreet," what does Hood want Longstreet to give him permission to do? What is Longstreet's response? What do you think the outcome of that decision will be?

2. In "Friday, July 3,1863, Chapter 3, Chamberlain," the word "dreamyly" appears several times. Explain its significance.

3. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 5, Longstreet," how do Longstreet and Lee differ on their views of the day's battle?

4. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 4, Chamberlain," what is the result of Vincent telling Chamberlain that his men cannot withdraw under any circumstances?

5. In "Friday, July 3,1863, Chapter 4, Armistead," what are Armistead's dying thoughts?

6. In "Friday, July 3, 1863, Chapter 2, Longstreet," why does Longstreet say the assault will be especially hard on Armistead?

7. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 3, Longstreet," what difficulty arises for Longstreet that results in the attack not being effective?

8. Earlier, in "The First Day, Chapter 4, Chamberlain," Chamberlain remembers Ames saying that to lead men, "You must care for your men's welfare. You must show physical courage." Do you think Chamberlain exemplifies these qualities? Explain, including reference to "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 4, Chamberlain,".

9. In "Friday, July 3,1863, Chapter 5, Longstreet," why does Longstreet think he can no longer lead? How does Lee respond?

10. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 2, Chamberlain," what does Kilrain think the war is about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Killer Angels opens with a spy gathering information about the Union troops and bringing the information to Longstreet. Throughout the novel, communication of information plays a key role in how the battles are fought, whether it is the communication of orders, or information about a change in situation, or a lack of information about the terrain. Using specific examples from the text, describe how communication is carried out, how it affects the battle, and how various skirmishes or the battle as a whole might have had a different outcome if modern communication devices had been available.

Essay Topic 2

Naturally, the characters in The Killer Angels had lives before and outside of the war. Choose three of the following characters and describe what the author tells us about their lives outside of the army. How do these lives influence them as soldiers? Given what the reader is told of those lives, are any of their actions within the army surprising? Why or why not? Use the text to support your ideas.

1) Chamberlain

2) Longstreet

3) Pickett

4) Armistead

Essay Topic 3

As noted in The Killer Angels, each side of the war had a different opinion of the reason for that war.

1) What reason does each side give for the reason for the Civil War?

2) How can each side morally justify the war, given their reason for it?

3) Given the differing opinions on the reason for the war, do you think the war could have somehow been avoided altogether?

Make sure you support your ideas with citations from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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