Examples of what you will find in the Guide to MBSD:
I’ve packed a lot into this document:
- Chapter One-
Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead - Chapter Two-
Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead - Chapter Three-
My Brother Sam is Dead Maps of Redding, Connecticut - Chapter Four-
Short Summary of My Brother Sam is Dead & the Topics it covers - Chapter Five-
Places you can Visit Related to My Brother Sam is Dead - Chapter Six-
The Setting of the Novel- Redding, Connecticut - Chapter Seven-
The Real People Fictionalized in the Novel - Chapter Eight-
Why is My Brother Sam is Dead Censored by Some Watch Groups?
And, to make it as usable as possible, it is in Word format so you can copy and paste the information into your own handouts and teaching materials.
Some examples of what is in the Guide to MBSD
Chapter One-Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead
This chapter includes a summary and analysis of the most important topics in each chapter. At the end of each chapter summary you will find classroom discussions ideas, classroom questions and a link to an online, self-grading test (test results can be emailed directly to you).
Example of my Summary & Analysis:
Chapter 7: Summary and Analysis
The summer of 1776 has ended and Tim's family begins preparing for the winter months in Chapter Seven. The war is still distant and though no one is really desperate, provisions, like cloth and leather, are running short locally because the soldiers need them for clothing and shoes. Sam has sent two letters and Susannah plans on sending one back to him. Life disapproves but to Tim's delight is overruled and turns his attention to planning his annual cattle run to the Hudson River.
The cattle run to Verplancks is essential to Tim's family, as he explains:
Tim: "The idea of our trip was to drive cattle to Verplancks Point where we could sell them, and then use the money to buy supplies we needed at the tavern and store."
A cattle run across Westchester County was dangerous and Life, knew it:
Life: "The woods are full of those cow-boys over there. They claim they're patriots gathering beef for the troops, but really they're nothing more than thieves. And we don't have our gun anymore."
Despite the danger, Life doesn't have much of a choice but to take Tim with him, as he states: "There's nobody else to do it."
Tim is thrilled: "there would be a lot of exciting things on the trip-" perhaps something would happen that he could boast to Sam about. As they make their way out of Redding, the trip is every bit as good as he imagined:
Tim: "It seemed pretty exciting when we passed a house, especially if there were some people there. A couple times there were children staring out the windows as we went by. It made me feel proud of myself for being a man while they were still children, and I shouted at the oxen and smacked them on their rumps with my stick, just to show off how casual and easy I was with the oxen and how used I was to managing them."
Tim is mimicking Sam when he shows off "how casual and easy" he is with the oxen. He may not know how to load a musket but he certainly knows livestock. Like Sam, his focus is more on the glory than the danger of the trip, but, that changes abruptly once they near the New York line.
Tim narrating: "There were six of them, and they were carrying weapons- mostly muskets, but one or two of them had swords and pistols. They were dressed in ordinary clothing- brown shirts and trousers and muddy boots…They charged up to us, surrounded us, and stopped."
Tim continually calls these men Cow-boys but Cow-boys were loyal to the British and these men are definitely not fond of the British; they are Skinners. Skinners, like the Cow-boys were "land-going" raiders preying on enemy civilian supplies. Though "Skinners" sympathized with the Patriots, they were comprised largely of tramps and bandits, serving their own interests more often than those of any cause.
The group of men that come to Tim and Life's rescue are Loyalists. This is evident in their conversation with Life:
Life: "Who were those people? Cow-boys?"
Man: Cattle thieves are a better name. We had reports that they were riding this morning, and we've been looking for them all day. You're a Loyalist, I take it?"
Life: "I'm interested in making a living, not fighting a war, my boy and I are just trying to get this beef to Verplancks Point the way I do every year."
Man: "Verplancks Point? It'll go to New York, then. We'll see that it gets there. There are still a lot of people loyal to His Majesty in these parts."
The men escort them to the New York line and summon another group to take them to North Salem. To Tim's disappointment New YorkState doesn't look or feel any different than Connecticut, it was just like being home. The reality was that it was not "just like being home" as Tim states, he is no longer isolated from war-time activities; he is in the thick of them.
This chapter begins the symbolic journey of Tim's maturation and position on the war. Simultaneously, it lays the groundwork for Life's tragic end. When Life states: "I'm interested in making a living, not fighting a war." He is exposing a theme in the novel, which is the unfairness of war. Life is simply a man that wants to live his life as he always has and that position has placed him and his son in great danger.
Classroom Discussion
What do we learn about in Chapter 7?
Sam has forwarded two letters: Life at camp isn’t very glorious, they don’t have proper clothing and some men didn’t even have shoes… but spirits were high.
The letters are problematic for Life and Susannah; she wants to answer them, he doesn’t want her to. She wins: “I know you don’t, Life. But I’m going to do it anyway.” Tim likes this: “In the dark I clapped my hands. I was glad that Sam was going to get a letter.”
Life’s annual run to Verplancks Point on the Hudson River in New YorkState and the importance of it. It is so important that he is willing to risk not only his life but Tim’s life as well.
We also learn about the situation over in New YorkState and why it is dangerous for Life and Tim to be making this trip in the middle of a revolution.
What’s Important?
In Chapter 7 we see how the war is affecting families with split opinions on the rebellion. Life, frustrated by Sam’s decision to leave the family and actively rebel again British rule, wishes to simply forget Sam even exists. Susannah and Tim on the other hand are very concerned about Sam; think about him often and long for his return. This is what is very special about My Brother Sam is Dead, the authors are weaving in the topics of importance that occurred in this time period but at the same time they also do a very good job of showing us what individuals were enduring too.
The most important information in this chapter involves the cattle run. The authors devote three chapters to the cattle run and for good reason; this chapter begins the symbolic journey of Tim's maturation and his position on the war while simultaneously laying the groundwork for Life's tragic end.
What is Droving?
It is the Act of Driving Cattle to Market.
A very important aspect of the story is Tim and Life Meeker's cattle drive to Verplancks.
Droving was very much a part of colonial America and Connecticut was very much a cattle rich state that became known as the Provision State because of its role in the American Revolution.
"During the seventeenth century Connecticut had marketed its surplus overland to Boston. In the eighteenth century with the settlement of new towns and more land clearing, new and better roads were built. It was now possible to trade with New York via a host of new water routes. Connecticut farmers bred a sturdy oxen which pulled in pairs either ploughs or two-wheeled carts for taking produce to points for shipping. Draft oxen usually weighed six hundred pounds but they were bred for weights up to sixteen hundred pounds to pull carts loaded with beef. "
Classroom Conversations:
Why does Life take Tim?
Answer: He had no choice; there was no one else to do it.
What about the trip was Tim excited about?
Answer: Meeting his cousins, seeing the Hudson River and being out of school for a few days.
Are the six men that stop Tim and his Father just past Ridgebury “pro-British” or “anti-British”?
Answer: Anti-British. These men are anti-British and they make this clear in calling Life a “Tory” and stating that they don’t want his cattle being eaten by Lobsterbacks. The second group of horsemen that come to Life and Tim’s rescue are pro-British and faithful to the British cause.
Online Self Grading Quiz for Chapter Seven
Chapter 8: Summary and Analysis
Life and Tim arrive at the Platt homestead just after dark. Tim's first observation is how lucky he is to have not been raised on a farm when he sees how crowded and uncomfortable the sleeping arrangements are.
Life has not visited in a year and Tim has never met his cousins before, yet the topics of discussion soon turn to the war when Life tells Mr. Platt about their encounter earlier that day.
Mr. Platt: "Lawlessness has run wild, common decency between people has disappeared, every man is armed against his neighbor."
Life: "In Redding we still have law and order"
Mr. Platt: "We should have it here, too. There are plenty of Loyalists in WestchesterCounty, but there's no control. Rebel and Tory live almost in open warfare with each other."
Life: "I'm happy we haven't got to that point in Redding"
Mr. Platt: "You're fortunate. People have been tarred and feathered here, houses have been burned and livestock slaughtered."
Life: "What about the party that escorted us here?"
Mr. Platt: "That's one of our Committees of Safety. They're all about we have to keep order."
Even though Southwestern Connecticut was considered a "Tory" heavy region, the Loyalists of Redding did not endure the hardships that other Loyalists experienced in other parts of the Colonies. There were isolated incidents of violence but overall Loyalists in Redding faired better than most. The purpose of the conversation between Mr. Platt and Life is to make us aware of these issues.
Tim's conversation with his cousin Ezekiel highlights the fact that the war and whose right still troubles him.
Tim: "Are you a Loyalist?"
Ezekiel: "Of course. Aren't you?"
Tim: "I guess so, only sometimes I'm not sure. Sam's fighting for the Rebels, did you know that?"
Ezekiel: "My father doesn't think he was so smart for joining the Rebels. They'll likely be hung when the war's over."
Tim: "Maybe they'll win"
Ezekiel: "They can't. How can they beat the whole British army?"
Tim: "Well I don't know, the way Sam explains it, it sounds right to be a Rebel. And when Father explains it, it sounds right to be a Loyalist. Although if you want to know the truth, I don't think Father really cares. He's just against wars."
Once they reach VerplancksPointTim is impressed by the beauty and vastness of the Hudson River. Life negotiates successfully and they are ready to make their trip home with a full wagon of goods:
Tim narrating: "He had got a good price for the cattle and had negotiated for most of the other things he wanted to bring back to Redding. It was a good wagonload: two hogshead of rum, a half dozen big sacks of salt, a couple of barrels of molasses; a large chest of tea, a sack of coffee beans, a dozen brass kettles and some tin pots; a chest of breeches and some brass buckles; some drills, knives, files, axes and spades; and small boxes of pepper, allspice, cinnamon, and white powdered sugar."
Life wants to avoid heading back through Ridgebury on the return trip, having heard of a drover from Norfield that had been shot on Ridgebury Road two days earlier, but a sudden snow storm forces them to return the way they came and they eventually make their way back to the Platt's farm in North Salem.
Classroom Discussion
What do we learn about in Chapter 8?
Tim’s cousins live in the town of North Salem, New York. They are a family of eight plus an aunt and the house they live in really isn’t big enough for all of them. Through Tim’s narration we get an idea of how farm families lived in the 1700’s.
We learn of the difficulties there are in the far eastern border of New York. WestchesterCounty was the so-called "Neutral Ground," in that time period because the British were in the Bronx, New York and the Americans in Peekskill, New York, but in reality it was a “War Zone” and a very dangerous place to travel through. There was plundering and raiding done here by both pro-British and anti-British tramps and bandits who often used the war as an excuse for their looting missions. ”
Through Life’s conversation with Mr. Platt we are made aware of the “lawlessness” and loss of “common decency” in WestchesterCounty. People have been “tarred and feathered…houses have been burned and livestock slaughtered.” And “both sides are doing it.”
Committees of Safety are noted in this chapter and they were important in this time period, especially to Loyalists like Life.
Tim still struggles with who is right and who is wrong. “The way Sam explains it, it sounds right to be a Rebel. And when Father explains it, it sounds right to be a Loyalist. Although if you want to know the truth, I don’t think Father really cares. He’s just against wars.”
Tim finally sees the Hudson River and it lives up to his expectations and then some. “It was so beautiful I could hardly keep my eye off it.”
The importance of the cattle run to their family business back in Redding is explained when Tim notes: “Father was happy. He had got a good price for the cattle and had negotiated for most of the other things he wanted to bring back to Redding. It was a good wagonload: two hogshead of rum, a half dozen big sacks of salt, a couple of barrels of molasses; a large chest of tea, a sack of coffee beans, a dozen brass kettles and some tin pots; a chest of breeches and some brass buckles; some drills, knifes, files, axes and spades; and small boxes of pepper, allspice, cinnamon, and white powdered sugar.”
What’s Important?
The author’s pack quite a bit into Chapter 8, the story flows so the depth of information doesn’t seem all that impressive, but they do cover a lot. There is plenty of classroom discussion material in this chapter if you wish to explore what I’ve noted above. In addition to that, they also note the situation for Dutch settlers of the Hudson RiverValley and that British Troops are in need of food down in New York City in this chapter.
Classroom Conversations:
Why doesn’t Tim’s cousin think the Patriots will win?
Answer: How can they beat the whole British army?
What is Life’s reply to Tim saying “I wish we lived here, Father”?
Answer: “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” What does he mean by that?
Why didn’t Life want to warm up at the Tavern on the way home?
Answer: “The fewer people who know we’re going through, the better,” Meaning: they were less likely to be robbed if they avoided it. Taverns were places were people gathered and shared information in that time period so he did have a point.
Online Self Grading Quiz for Chapter Eight
Chapter 9: Summary and Analysis
Tim wakes up to a warm sunny day and a foot of snow, conditions that would be wonderful back at the tavern but are far from optimal when you're in charge of an ox drawn cart. Tim is aware of the troubles they will face on the road but is more concerned with Cow-boys:
Tim: "Are we going to have an escort?"
Life: "I don't know, Platt rode out last night to arrange one, but with the snow, people may not want to ride. But that works two ways- the raiders may not want to ride, either. You work the oxen; I'm going to ride ahead."
Life is correct, no one wants to ride; they have no escort for their return trip.