NAME ______The Fighting Ground Discussion Packet

►April 3, 1778

9:58 . 10:25 a.m. Discussion Questions

  1. How old is Jonathan? What are he and his father doing when the story begins? What is Jonathan thinking about?
  1. What war is taking place? Who are four groups of people who are involved in this war?
  1. Where has Jonathan's older brother gone? Why do you think he doesn't write?
  1. Why does Jonathan's father limp? Why does he keep his gun nearby when he works in the fields?
  1. In what state does Jonathan live? What has happened in this state two years before the story began?
  1. Does Jonathan's father have reason to feel fear or is he a coward? Defend your answer.
  1. What does it signify when the bell at the tavern begins to toll?
  1. What boundary does Jonathan's father give him when he goes for news? What does his mother tell him to do? Does his mother realize that what she tells him is different from what his father directed him to do?
  1. What is Jonathan's idea of a battle? (This is the image in his mind when he goes to the tavern.)
  1. What is a Tory? Why do the neighbors say the Tories got what they deserved?
  1. How much time has passed since the story began? How does Jonathan feel about the war?

►10:45 . 11:30 Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think Jonathan hesitates to ask the men questions?
  1. Describe the Corporal. Is he from Jonathan's area?
  1. Where are enemy soldiers coming from? How many soldiers are there? Who reported this news?
  1. How many men finally join the Corporal?
  1. Does Jonathan answer the tavern keeper truthfully? Is this the first time Jonathan had to avoid the truth?
  1. Why is the gun difficult for Jonathan to handle?

►12:05 . 1:05 Discussion Questions

  1. What difficulty does Jonathan have carrying the gun? How does he feel about this?
  1. What lies has the Corporal told? Why do you think he does this?
  1. What surprises Jonathan about the men?
  1. What is Jonathan's father's friend concerned about? What lie does Jonathan tell him?
  2. What seems to bother Jonathan when they stopped to rest before going to Rocktown?
  1. Why does Jonathan decide not to ask any more questions?
  1. How do the men seem to feel about the Corporal? How does Jonathan feel about him?
  1. Why do you think the men follow the Corporal?
  1. How much time has passed since the beginning of this reading assignment? Have Jonathan's feelings about the war changed? Explain.

►1:30 . 2:30Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think the woman was doing her chores as though nothing was wrong? How does she react when she learns why the men are there?
  1. The men realize the Corporal has told them a new lie. What is it?
  1. What sound announces the coming of enemy troops?
  1. What evidence is there that the men are nervous as they wait?

►2:35 . 2:43Discussion Questions

  1. Describe the process of loading one's gun. What problems does Jonathan have loading his gun? Why?
  1. How many enemy soldiers are there? How many did the Corporal say there would be? How would you explain the difference?
  1. How are Hessians different from British soldiers?
  1. Every once in a while the men ask the Corporal where the Snydertown Committee is. What are they suggesting by this question?
  1. In your own words repeat the instructions the Corporal gives his men. Why is this strategy so important?
  1. What are some of Jonathan's difficulties in this section?
  1. How much time has passed since the beginning of this reading assignment? Have Jonathan's feelings about the was changed? Explain.

►2:50 . 3:47Discussion Questions

  1. Describe the battle. Who gets shot? What do the Americans do? What does Jonathan do?
  1. What is the pain which Jonathan describes?
  1. Jonathan "was alive and wished that he was dead, but not being dead, he was scared that he might die". Does this sentence make sense to you? Explain what it means.
  1. Describe how Jonathan finds himself surrounded by three Hessians. What questions go through his mind?
  1. How much time has passed since the beginning of this reading assignment? Have Jonathan's feelings about the war changed? Explain.

►3:50 . 4:30Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think the author decided not to translate the German words in the story? What does he accomplish by not translating them?
  1. Did the Hessian soldiers discover Jonathan, or did Jonathan give himself away? Explain your answer.
  1. What are Jonathan's feelings after he is captured by the Hessians? What do you think causes Jonathan to experience these feelings?
  1. Jonathan studies the Hessians. What does he think of each one? What are some of the things he fears they could do to him?
  1. What would Jonathan like to ask the Hessians? Where are the Hessians taking Jonathan?

►5:00 . 5:30DiscussionQuestions

  1. Do the Hessian soldiers know where they are? What do their actions tell you?
  1. Notice that Jonathan does not try to escape. Why does Jonathan decide that the Hessian solders are his only friends?
  1. At 5:20 p.m. both the soldiers and Jonathan seem to see someone; then he is gone. Who does Jonathan think it is?
  1. Jonathan does not know if he is glad or sorry that no one seems to be there. Can you understand why he might feel this way? If you can, explain.
  1. At 5:30 they hear another sound. a cow. Why do you think the Hessians move in the direction of the sound?
  1. What conflicted feelings is Jonathan experiencing as they approach the house? How do the soldiers use Jonathan?
  1. How much time has passed since the beginning of this reading assignment? Have Jonathan's feelings about the war changed? Explain.

►5:40 . 6:30Discussion Questions

  1. What does the condition of the house suggest about the family who lived in it?
  1. Being a country boy, what does Jonathan immediately understand about the cow?
  1. Why do you think the Hessians make Jonathan enter the house first?
  1. How does Jonathan happen to find the young boy in the shed? How does Jonathan guess the boy's age?
  1. What is strange about the boy?
  1. Do you think Jonathan has a chance to escape when he takes the cow to the shed and the young soldier, apparently trusting him, goes inside the house? What would you have done?
  1. Why do you think Jonathan finally brings the boy inside the house and lets the Hessians know about him? Would you have done the same? Why or why not?
  1. Do you think Jonathan is using good judgment in his dealings with the Hessians? Why or why not?

►6:35 . 7:35Discussion Questions

  1. Where does the boy lead Jonathan? What happened to the boy's parents? Who do you think did this? Why do you think this?
  1. How do the soldiers react to what they see? Why do you think Jonathan feels anger toward them?
  1. Why do you think the boy doesn't answer any of Jonathan's questions?
  1. Do you think Jonathan has a chance to escape when he and the boy go out to bury the boy's parents and the soldiers do not follow? Why or why not?
  1. Were you surprised that Jonathan pleaded for help so he could finish digging the grave? Why do you think the old soldier responded as he did to Jonathan's request?
  1. What descriptions cause you to feel sad for the boy? Are there any descriptions that cause you to feel sad for the soldiers? Why do you think the author includes both?

►7:40 . 8:45Discussion Questions

  1. The author describes the young solider as angry, impatient and unfeeling. What are some of the words he uses to give us this idea of the young soldier?
  1. Is it believable that the soldier says a prayer after the burial? Why or why not?
  1. How do you know that the boy and Jonathan now realize how much they need each other?
  1. Why do you think the old soldier ties a rope around Jonathan's ankle and his own? Do you think the Hessian realized that the knot was one Jonathan could untie? On what do you base your answer?
  1. What choices does Jonathan have once he unties the rope? Why does he agonize over his choices?

►9:00 . 11:25Discussion Questions

  1. Why does Jonathan feel guilty? Why does it seem important to him to find the Corporal? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
  1. What suggestions are there that the boy trusts Jonathan?
  1. Why does Jonathan leave the gun behind?
  1. Why is the word "Halt" a good choice to keep the suspense? Who called out this word?
  1. Why does Jonathan have mixed feeling when he approaches the light? What evidence is that to show that Jonathan is behaving more responsibly now than he was at the tavern?
  1. How much time has passed since the beginning of this reading assignment? Have Jonathan's feelings about the war changed? Explain.

►11:35 . 11:50Discussion Questions

  1. How many men are left from the original thirteen who joined the Corporal? What do you think is important about the Corporal's questions?
  1. When Jonathan tells his story, the Corporal begins to be suspicious. What do you think he is trying to find out?
  1. Do you believe the soldiers when they tell Jonathan that they were looking for the three Hessians and for Jonathan? Do you believe them when they say the Hessians got beat? Why or why not?
  1. How do the soldiers plan to get the three Hessians now? What do they want Jonathan to do?
  1. Why do you think the boy trembles when he looks at the Corporal? What does the Corporal say that makes Jonathan suspicious of him? What is the "monstrous idea that had formed in his mind"?
  1. How does the Corporal justify himself for having killed the boy's parents?
  1. Why is it important to the plot that the boy couldn't speak English? What does it explain? What would have changed if he could have told Jonathan who murdered his parents?
  1. What do we learn about the Snyderville men? Did the Corporal know they were not coming to join him when he said they were? Has the Corporal been honest with the other soldiers?
  1. Is Jonathan in a position to make choices at the end of April 3 as he was at the beginning of the day? Why or why not?

►April 4, 1778

►12:30 . 5:35 a.m Discussion Questions

  1. What does the Frenchman learn from the boy?
  1. According to the Frenchmen, which of the local soldiers was killed in the battle?
  1. How does the Frenchman explain to Jonathan what kind of man the Corporal is? Put his explanation into your own words.
  1. What does the Frenchman tell Jonathan he will do for the boy?
  1. Jonathan sleeps. When he wakes, he wants to go home. What does the Corporal tell him he must do instead?
  1. When they arrive at the house, what does the Corporal tell Jonathan to do? How does Jonathan feel about this?
  1. How much time has passed since the beginning of this reading assignment? Have Jonathan's feelings about the war changed? Explain.

►5:38 . 5:50Discussion Questions

  1. What do you think Jonathan means when he says "They didn't hurt me" about the Hessians?
  1. What does Jonathan find when he opens the door and looks inside?
  1. Why do you think Jonathan does not know what side he is on?
  1. How does Jonathan try to save the Hessians’lives?
  1. What does the old soldier do to Jonathan? How does the young soldier react?
  1. How did Jonathan break loose from the old soldier? How did the Hessians get shot?

►6:10 . 10:30Discussion Questions

  1. In your opinion, what is the significance of the line "No one looked back, or spoke, or paused. They just left"?
  1. The Corporal shows an act of kindness when he bends down and gently closes the dead men's eyes. Did you expect this of him? Why or why not?
  1. In your own words, what does the Corporal seem to be saying to Jonathan about war?
  1. In your opinion, what is the significance of Jonathan's throwing his gun over his head? What has changed in one day? Why do you think he breaks his gun into pieces? How does he seem to feel about war now? How does this differ from the beginning?
  1. When Jonathan returns, does his father scold him for lying or leaving without permission? What is the one thing his father wants to know?
  1. What does Jonathan realize at the end of the book?