The Lone Survivor
The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and
The Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10
Prologue
1. Mood—In the first paragraph, how do the descriptions of the weather set the mood for the prologue?
2. What is Marcus Luttrell doing in the prologue?
3. Luttrell discusses part of Operation Redwing when he writes about the plea of Michael Murphy (p4). This gives us clues about the events of that fateful day. What is this literary device?
4. Why does Luttrell say he has survivor’s guilt?
5. “That kind of tactical response was turning out to be essential equipment for the lone survivor” (4). What was it “essential” equipment?
6. Read the entire SEAL creed (to be provided).
7. What is YOUR personal creed? Create several statements.
8. “But most of all, I’m an American. And when the bell sounds, I will come out fighting for my country and for my teammates. If necessary, to the death” (7). What does this “creed” of Luttrell’s tell you about his character?
9. Define valor.
10. According to Luttrell, what would be the “biggest tragedy of all” (8)?
11. Now, look back at question number one. Does your response about mood change at all now that you have read through the entire prologue?
Chapter 1-To Afghanistan…in a Flying Warehouse
1. Luttrell goes back in time to an operation in Afghanistan. What is this literary device?
2. What does the acronym SEAL stand for?
3. What did a black flag signify in the street districts of Manama (p11)?
4. Luttrell makes a reference to Hitler’s Germany and Juden Verboten, which means no Jews or Jews forbidden. What is the literary device for a historical reference?
5. How is Juden Verboten similar to the black flags in Manama?
6. JUXTAPOSITION--Read Luttrell’s description of the SEALs on p10, first paragraph. Now, read the first paragraph on p12, another description of the SEALs in the C-130. How are these two descriptions of the SEALs juxtaposition?
7. What do these two different descriptions tell us about the personalities of the SEALs?
8. You could also view the description on p12 differently. What other literary device could you consider the description?
9. Describe the “brotherhood” Luttrell mentions (p12).
10. Define Shiite and Sunni.
11. Who do you think “the brass” is (p15)?
12. JUXTAPOSITION—find another example of juxtaposition on p15. Now explain.
13. What is the final sentence of the SEAL philosophy? Be prepared to refer back to this statement later in the book!!
14. Let’s do character charts for the teammates Luttrell discusses over the next several pages: Axe, Mikey, Dan Healy, Shane Patton, and James Suh.
15. Which two SEALs does Luttrell discuss the most? What does that tell you about their relationship?
16. What was Luttrell’s team’s primary mission (p27)?
17. How does Luttrell describe the freedom fighters of Iraq (p27-8)?
18. Now compare/contrast this description to the description of the SEALs.
19. Who is the most important person to a SEAL when in a situation (p29)?
20. Describe the SEALs’ method of entering an Iraqi home and interrogating suspects (p28-30).
21. How do you beat a terrorist (p31)?
22. How did the military learn the location of Saddam’s sons?
23. What was ironic about Luttrell’s comment to the explosives guy?
24. Luttrell said the question wasn’t whether Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons. WHAT was the major question (p37)?
25. What is the growing problem that US forces are now facing from their own country (p40, 4th paragraph)?
26. What are some of the ROE (Rules of Engagement)?
27. What are your personal thoughts about these rules?
28. Luttrell doesn’t mince words about his feelings. Obviously, how does he feel about liberal politicians (p41)?
29. According to Luttrell, what are the problems with the ROE?
30. FORESHADOWING—mark the 2nd paragraph on p42. We will come back to it later in the book. How do you think the ROE cost the lives of Luttrell’s teammates?
31. How does Luttrell feel about the public’s “right to know?” How do you feel about it?
32. How do the terrorists feel about the liberal media? How has it affected certain aspects of the Iraqi War?
Chapter 2-Baby Seals…and Big Ole Gators
1. Let’s find the locations on p45-6 on your map.
2. What is happening at the beginning of this chapter? Where is Luttrell?
3. Why do you think the military never tells anyone, even the special forces themselves, the precise route of the special forces into any country?
4. Physically describe Luttrell and his twin, Morgan. Does this fit the picture you have of a Navy SEAL? In what way does or doesn’t it fit?
5. Describe how the Luttrell brothers were raised (p56-57).
6. How does this compare to your own upbringing?
7. Describe the personality of Luttrell’s twin, Morgan.
8. Who was Billy Shelton?
9. Let’s go back to the maps to view where we are on p66.
10. What missions were the SEALs in Afghanistan to accomplish (p67, 2nd paragraph)?
11. How does Luttrell describe the Taliban followers? Does that fit your image of them? Explain.
12. Define mujahideen and jihad.
13. The Taliban made many promises to Afghanistan, but shoes their true colors once they established control of Afghanistan in the late 90s. What happened then? How did they rule (p69-70)?
14. Luttrell briefly discusses the attacks of September 11, 2001. What do you remember about that day?
15. What is a Daisy Cutter?
16. The US ordered multiple air strikes on Afghanistan. What was their true objective (p74, last paragraph)?
17. What were the Taliban fighters able to do after the massive American military attacks?
18. Explain Pashtunwalai.
19. Tribesmen will kill in order to avoid what?
20. Do you care about your name and reputation? Why or why not?
21. What is lokhay? What does Luttrell foreshadow about this term?
22. On missions, why are the SEALs housed together, away from other military personnel (p82)?
23. Luttrell rephrases the famous colloquialism “at the drop of a hat.” How does he change the phrase when describing the tribesmen?
24. What do you think his actual tone is when making this description?
25. Luttrell’s favorite book is The Count of Monte Cristo. He describes it as one brave, innocent man’s lonely fight against overpowering forces of evil in an unforgiving world. This serves both as FORESHADOWING and ALLUSION. We will come back to it later to see how.
You will now have a quiz over the prologue, chapter 1, and chapter 2. The quiz will contain general questions and vocabulary. Study the following terms:
· Juden Verboten
· Sunni
· Shiite
· Mujahideen
· Pashtunwalai
· Lokhay