Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. How does poverty affect a person’s dreams for their life? How can it shape their worldviews, behaviors, and/or personal goals?    

Teaching Suggestion: This question directly relates to the Discussion/Analysis Prompt in the After Reading Section. Bragg’s upbringing is marked by profound Poverty. His father, an alcoholic and violent abuser, is frequently absent, and his mother works a series of strenuous jobs to help the family make ends meet in their poor, rural Alabama home. Since this is a sensitive question and students may have their own experiences with poverty, it may be prudent to encourage written responses rather than calling on students in class.

• This article from Bellarmine Magazine explores the persistent problem of poverty in Appalachia. 

2. How can violent experiences, such as going off to war, impact a person’s attitudes or beliefs? How might the effect of these experiences manifest in a person’s daily life?

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question prepares students for the themes of Fighting and Violence and War and Damaged Lives.