The Blue and the Gray


    
  1. When and where does the story begin?
  2. Explain John Brown's Raid/Harper's Ferry.
  3. What do you think John's mother meant by "John having a wondrous...God's guiding him now"?
  4. Where does John go for work?
  5. What happens to John Brown? What could this signify?
  6. Who secedes from the Union first?
  7. What side does all of John's family support? What kind of problems can you foresee for John and his family?
  8. What happens the night of John's sister's wedding? Explain the event and the importance.
  9. Give an example of Brother against Brother.
  10. Why does Mark call John a traitor?
  11. Why did John not fight for the North or the South?
  12. Explain the importance of Fort Sumter.
  13. Describe the conditions of the camp.
  14. What happens to James?
  15. How does this event signify the future of the war to come?
  16. Where does the fighting begin?
  17. Explain the unusual surroundings around Bull Run.
  18. What does Malaki do during the battle?
  19. What happens to the coward the Union finds?
  20. Explain the Peninsula Campaign.
  21. What does "See the Elephant" mean?
  22. Explain the significance of blood spewing in the water at the Peninsula Campaign.
  23. Malaki leaves again during the battle, what happens?
  24. Explain the irony of Malaki's promotion.
  25. Jake and Malaki attend a barn dance, what happens?
  26. What duty does Luke have to do in order to make amends for bringing Jake and Malaki to the barn dance?
  27. How does Luke grow up after the balloon crash?
  28. Explain the significance of the "Emancipation Proclamation."
  29. What happens to Lester?
  30. What happens to Mary?
  31. Describe the scene Jonas witnesses after he returns to find Mary.
  32. Explain the meaning of the Gettysburg Address.
  33. At the cease-fire an interesting aspect occurs. Explain the significance.
  34. At the battle of Vicksburg, John and Matt meet in the middle of the battlefield, explain the meeting. What feelings exist here?
  35. Why did Matt feel John took a "different fork in the road?"
  36. When John goes to Vicksburg to see Emma, in what condition did he find Emma and her child?
  37. John witnessed war at its worse in Vicksburg. Explain.
  38. What happened to Emma after Lester died?
  39. Why does Emma hold so much hate for John? Why does she call John the enemy?
  40. Explain the Union's strategy during the Battle of the Wilderness.
  41. Mark pleads for John to shoot him, John doesn't. Explain how John might have felt.
  42. Why does Jonas tell John he bleeds for both sides?
  43. A box of ashes, the only remaining of Mark. Explain how the family might have felt.
  44. John still will not bear arms, even though his house stands as a battlefield. Why does he continue to take this point of view? At what point does he change his mind?
  45. How do John, Jonas, Emma, and Cathy free Luke?
  46. Where does the end of the war take place?
  47. What dream does Jonas have that will change the nation forever?

                                             

  

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