1. Should Lee have been at Gettysburg? 2. What other options, if any, did Lee have and why did he choose Gettysburg? 3. What might have happened if Lee listened to Longstreet and went south around the Union Army instead of attacking at Gettysburg? 4. Was the Civil War about […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsStudy Help Full Glossary for The Killer Angels
advance guards detachments of troops sent ahead to inspect and protect the line of march. another Sharpsburg (also known as Antietam) in September 1862, Lee attempted his first invasion of the North, crossing the Potomac into Maryland. However, the Union Army intercepted his plans and passed them on to General […]
Read more Study Help Full Glossary for The Killer AngelsCritical Essays The Lee versus Longstreet Battle Strategy Conflict
Longstreet’s invention of trench warfare is mentioned as new and innovative in the book, but trenches had been used since days of the Romans. In fact, Lee had used trenches himself and would do so again in future battles. Longstreet was a strong proponent of the tactical defensive in warfare, […]
Read more Critical Essays The Lee versus Longstreet Battle Strategy ConflictCritical Essays Emotions/Beliefs
The era of the Civil War was a time of strongly held beliefs, deep emotions, and grandiose actions. By today’s standards, some of it may seem trite or excessive, but for that time, it was sincere. Some of the themes in this area are Class structure: Class distinctions are very […]
Read more Critical Essays Emotions/BeliefsCritical Essays Questions as Theme
If another theme could be summed up in one word, it would be the question “Why?” The very fact that one of the major themes is a question is itself significant. It is a statement about war and about life. In both, there are more questions than answers. Life is […]
Read more Critical Essays Questions as ThemeCritical Essays Good versus Evil; Man versus Challenge
Shaara weaves a complex story with many themes and motifs. The struggles include large, life-altering ones: good versus evil; man against himself, his environment, or his opponent; and small mundane ones, such as how the lack of shoes started a major battle. Someone once said that all themes are really […]
Read more Critical Essays Good versus Evil; Man versus ChallengeCritical Essays The Battle of Gettysburg — the Civilian Experience
Little is said in the novel about the civilians in the Gettysburg area and how the battle affected them. However, this battle did not take place in isolation; it had a devastating effect on the people living there. During the battle, inhabitants of Gettysburg hid in their houses, often in […]
Read more Critical Essays The Battle of Gettysburg — the Civilian ExperienceCritical Essays The Killer Angels — History or Novel?
Michael Shaara opens The Killer Angels with a note to the reader and explains that while he “condensed some of the action . . . eliminated some minor characters . . . had to choose between conflicting viewpoints,” he did not knowingly violate the action or consciously change any fact. […]
Read more Critical Essays The Killer Angels — History or Novel?Michael Shaara Biography
Early Years and Education “I wrote only what came to mind, with no goal and little income, always for the joy of it, and it has been a great joy.” To Michael Shaara, the joy of carefully crafting a great story meant more than a mass-market audience or a lot […]
Read more Michael Shaara BiographyCharacter Analysis John Buford
Buford is a brilliant cavalry commander, dedicated, with lots of experience. He is a good “gut” commander who can read a situation and act quickly. Years out West dealing with Indians have taught him to “feel” his enemy’s presence, sense what his enemy is doing, and use what his enemy […]
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