1. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 6, Lee," how does Stuart respond to Lee's reprimand? Do you think Lee is right to reprimand him rather than court martial him?

2. In "Friday, July 3, Chapter 4, Armistead," why does Garnett decide to go against orders and ride his horse into battle?

3. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 5, Longstreet," Longstreet several times has the urge to talk to Lee about his tactics, and about Stuart, and yet he suppresses the urge. Why? Do you think that is the right thing to do?

4. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 1, Fremantle," describe Fremantle's thoughts toward the Southerners.

5. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 6, Lee," why does Lee think the choice of Ewell as a commander of a corps is a mistake?

6. In "Friday, July 3, 1863, Chapter 2, Longstreet," compare and contrast Pickett's anticipation of battle with Longstreet's.

7. How does Pickett's mood in "Friday, July 3,1863, Chapter 5, Longstreet," contrast with his mood in "Friday, July 3,1863, Chapter 2, Longstreet?"

8. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 1, Fremantle," how is Hood described? What does Fremantle try to sense about Hood when he meets him?

9. In "Thursday, July 2, 1863, The Second Day, Chapter 2, Chamberlain," what does Chamberlain's encounter with the escaped slave reveal to him?

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

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 2

The author of The Killer Angels changes his writing style several times throughout the novel.

1) Describe how the style changes from passage to passage. Cite specific examples.

2) How do these changes in style affect the reader's understanding of the events or the characters?

3) Is this change in style successful or distracting?

Support your answers by citing specific examples within the text.

Essay Topic 3

The Civil War caused brother to fight brother and friend to fight friend. It was often difficult for people to choose a side because their loyalties to family or state were sometimes at odds with their convictions. In The Killer Angels, Lewis "Lo" Armistead finds himself on the opposite side of his good friend, Winfield Hancock, and Robert E. Lee is torn between his oath to serve the United States and his devotion to Virginia. George Pickett is a staunch Confederate, yet has great respect for Abraham Lincoln. With support from the text, discuss:

1) the internal conflicts that these or other characters struggled with in The Killer Angels

2) how the characters dealt with them

3) what effect these conflicts had on their already difficult lives as soldiers or leaders.

Explain how these internal struggles could be symbolic of the Civil War itself.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,151 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample