Everything You Wanted to Know About My Brother Sam is Dead: A Reader's Guide
Compiled and Edited By Brent M. Colley
This is a reader's guide- I've written it to assist both Teachers and Students in obtaining a better understanding of My Brother Sam is Dead and either one will benefit from it. All the topics the Collier brothers touch on in the novel My Brother Sam is Dead are explained in this guide. My sources are vast and all information is based on a contemporary knowledge bank to ensure that this is the most complete and up-to-date information available anywhere.
With this guide you will have all you need to teach a course on My Brother Sam is Dead or ace your test on My Brother Sam is Dead.
Below are chapters and information discussed.
Chapter One- Chapter by Chapter Summary & Analysis of my brother Sam is dead. Summarizes the dialogue, issues and themes in each of the chapters
Chapter Two- Part one: Real Life vs. Events Fictionalized in my brother Sam is dead. Shows what really happened in Redding during the Revolution matched up with fictional text from My Brother Sam is Dead. Part two: Real Life Characters Fictionalized in my brother Sam is dead. Provides information on real life characters fictionalized in My Brother Sam is Dead. John Beach, William Heron, John Read and Tom Warrups are examples.
Chapter Three - Loyalists of Redding, Connecticut. Readers are given examples of the Tories/Loyalists "concerns" about a war with England and the Rebels/Patriots reply to those "concerns" which should help clarify any questions about the position of each group prior to the start of the war.
Chapter Four - Redding during the Revolution. Readers learn about and gain a better understanding of what my brother Sam is dead is based on.
Chapter Five - Camp Life and Orders Relating to Redding Connecticut. In the novel, Sam Meeker is positioned at and dies at this very encampment. In addition to background information on the encampment, readers learn about what soldiers experienced while encamped at Redding and read actual orders sent to and from camp by the American generals.
Chapter Six - Putnam Memorial State Park. This is Connecticut's first State Park, a national treasure that needs more promotion in Connecticut. This is one of very few Revolutionary War Encampments that still exists in the United States.
Chapter Seven - Brown Bess and Period Slang. My Brother Sam is Dead focuses much attention on Sam taking the Brown Bess and the consequences of his actions in the initial chapters of the novel. The period slang is simply fun and educational.
Chapter Eight - Taverns. This chapter explains the role of the tavern in colonial times. The intent is to show a tavern was more than just a drinking establishment. Taverns of this period were much more than that and their role in the community needs to be better understood.
Chapter Nine - Cowboys and Skinners. Life and Tim Meeker encounter both on their cattle run to NY State and back.
Chapter Ten - Commissary Notes and Depreciation of Paper Currency during the Revolution. Tim mentions the hardships caused by Commissary notes and depreciating paper currency a number a times from Chapter 10 on, this chapter explains two very important issues of the Revolutionary War period.
Chapter Eleven - Localities in my brother Sam is dead. Provides a brief history of the locations mentioned in My Brother Sam is Dead.
Chapter Twelve - Settlement of Connecticut, Pre-Revolution History of Redding, Connecticut. Helps Students better understand how English settlers expanded/established settlements in Southwestern Connecticut. Students also learn about the formation of townships in 18th century, interaction of the religious groups, what Tim means when he states Redding is "divided into two parts."
Chapter Thirteen - Religion and Politics (Why were there Independents and Loyalists). Ties-in to My Brother Sam is Dead theme relating to the colonist's positions entering the war, especially Anglicans and why it was so difficult for them to make a "rebellious" split from England.
For further information contact me at bcolley@snet.net.
