Glory Purpose: For students to absorb the sights and sounds of the most destructive era in our nation’s history. Students will experience the Civil War’s primitive strategy, cruelty, racism, personal turmoil, as well as success in a story with so much bloodshed there can not be a happy ending. Overview: This film is a microcosm of African Americans in U.S. military history. It identifies both the tragedies and triumphs of the African American in spirit, status, culture, and history. The trials of the black 54th regiment set a new precedence of success for future African American soldiers to follow. Setting: The film opens in Massachusetts 1862 and travels to the South ultimately ending in Charleston, South Carolina in 1863. Directions: Answer the following questions. You may write on the back if you need additional space. 1. When told of his appointment of the 54th regiment, how does Robert seem to feel? Robert seems to feel surprised and hesitant to accept it. 2. What is Robert thinking when he first sees his black unit while examining them on his horse? He seems nervous as he dosent have faith in the black unit. 3. Why is Thomas stuck between his black peers and white soldiers? Thomas is stuck between his black peers and white soldiers because the soldiers do not believe that the black soldiers could fight. 4. What bothers Robert when the men first get their guns? What bothers robert is that the men cannot reoload fast and under pressure and they are not taking it as seriously as he believes they shoud be. 5. Recall the scene where Robert and Thomas exchange Merry Christmas greetings. Why is Robert and Thomas’ relationship especially difficult? Robert and Thomas´ relationship is especially difficult because robert cannot show favortism to thomas as a griend and has to treat him as harsh as every other man in the unit. 6. What was significant about the flogging (whipping) scene? What is significant about the flogging scene is robert realizes the responsibility he has taken on is horrible. 7. What does the shoe scene prove regarding Robert’s personality? The show scene proves that Robert knows how to do the right things and sometimes can do the right things 8. What is significant about the scene when the men first get their uniforms and are marching in the town? The scene where the men first get their uniforms and are marching in the town is significant because the men are finally shown respect as any other soldier should be getting. 9. How was burning the town an accurate depiction of real life? Identify this policy of destroying the enemies’ possessions. Burning the town is an accurate depiction of real life as it is sending a message by destroying the enemies possessions. 10. Why are there such hostilities between the white and black units of the Union Army? There are such hostillities between the white and black units of the union army because the black units are not going into battle and the white units think that the black units are not capable of anythings so fights due to racism. 11. Knowing that battle leads typically to death, why does the 54th regiment want to go into battle for an ungrateful nation? The 54th regiment wants to go into battle for an ungrateful nation for themselves, to show that they are capable soldiers. 12. Cite specific examples of brutality in this war. Some specific examples of brutatlity in the war are the many deaths and gruesome ways people were killed during the 54th regiments first battle. 13. How did Denzel Washington’s character change during the course of the film? Denzel Washington´s character became more humble of himself and becomes more respectful of others in the regiment. 14. Knowing most of the 54th regiment was facing certain death, why were they smiling as they marched into Fort Wagner? The 54th regiment are smiling as they marched into Fort Wagner because they know that the play a important role in the battle and will gain respect and forever be remembered as great people who fought for freedom no matter what happens in the battle of Fort Wagner 15. Why did Robert tell the reporter to “Remember what you see here!”? Robert told the reporter to remember remember he saw here so that the black soldiers could be acknowledged as incredible soldiers. 16. Even though the fort was not seized by the Union and the battle was lost, why were the efforts of the 54th regiment significant? The efforts of the 54th regiment is significant because it showed that colored people can be as incredible as any other soldier and that the black unit was a sucess and more can be made.
