My Brother Sam Is Dead
Chapter I
1. Through context clues, the reader is able to infer or deduce the definitions of many terms
from the time period as well as the identity of some real-life historical characters. Based on
the following excerpt from this chapter what can you infer about Lobsterbacks, Minutemen,
Mr. Adams, and Mr. Hancock?
“Who has beaten the British?” Father said.
Sam shut the door. “We have,” he said, with his back to us as he slipped the latch in place.
“The Minutemen. The damn Lobsterbacks marched out of Boston yesterday. They were
looking
for Mr. Adams and Mr. Hancock and they marched up to Lexington. Some of the
Massachusetts Minutemen tried to stop them there in the square, but there were too many
British, and they got through and went on up to Concord looking for ammunitions stores. But
the Patriots got the stores hidden mostly and they didn’t find much. And then when they
turned around and went back, the Minutemen hid in the fields along the roads and
massacred
them all the way back to Boston.” (Pg. 2)
2. For what reason has Sam been away from home since Christmas? Why is he wearing a
red uniform? Why is it ironic that Sam’s uniform is red?
3. Father, Sam, and Mr. Beach argue about whether or not the actions of the Minutemen
constitute treason. Briefly discuss each person’s point of view.
4. Edmund Burke was a British statesman, orator, and writer. Based on the information in
the text, what was Edmund Burke’s position on the conflict between the Colonists and the
British government?
5. For what reasons does Tim refer to Sam as a “triumphant sort of a person”? What is a
“telling point”?
6. Who is Tom Warrups, and why does Sam sometimes stay in Tom’s hut?
7. Refer to the maps included at the beginning of this novel. Based on these maps, answer
the following questions about the novel’s setting:
 In what state is Redding Ridge located?
 What is the name of the river closest to the tavern Tim’s father owns?
 What is the name of the large city nearest his hometown?
 Who lives next door to Tim and Sam?
 What river must Sam cross when he runs away to Tom Warrups’ Hut?
8. What evidence is there in this chapter that Tim wants to be like his big brother Sam?
9. How does Tim persuade Sam to tell him that he is wearing the red uniform because he is
going to fight the Lobsterbacks?
10. How does Tim feel when Sam reveals that he has come home to get the Brown Bess?
11. A person has divided loyalties because that person feels loyal to both sides in a conflict.
This idea is one of the themes of My Brother Sam is Dead. For example, Tim respects
Sam’s opinions about fighting the British, but he also thinks his father’s opposing views
have merit. Tim’s loyalty on this issue is divided. Cite another instance of divided loyalty in
this chapter.
12. For what reasons does Sam’s father believe that it is not worth fighting a war because
of a man’s principles?
13. Find an instance of foreshadowing in this chapter which suggests to the reader that
Sam’s decision to go to war is going to bring trouble to Tim’s family.
14. Most historical novels meet the following criteria:
 The action takes place at least one or two generations before the writing of the
novel.
 An attempt is made by the authors to accurately describe the customs and lifestyle
of the time period.
 The characters in the novel may have divided loyalties within a larger historical
conflict, with which the reader is familiar.
 The authors infer from historical records how the people of the time thought and may
include characters in the story that are real, historical figures, as well as fictional
characters.
To what extent does this novel meet the above requirements for an historical novel?
Chapter II
1. Tim is confused about the debates his neighbors have concerning whether or not the
Colonists should rebel against the King of England or if the Colonists should obey the King.
“What kept confusing me about it was that the argument didn’t have two sides the way an argument
should, but about six sides.” (Pg. 25)
Briefly discuss the six different arguments Tim is referring to in the above quotation.
2. For what reasons is Life against fighting the British?
3. Why does Tim believe that God is capable of punishing Sam by “getting him bayoneted
by a Lobsterback?” (Pg. 29)
4. Who is Betsy Read? How does she feel about Sam’s decision to fight in the War?
5. At the end of this chapter, Tim becomes very upset when he see his father’s Brown
Bess. He knows from his earlier conversation with Sam that Sam has come home for the
gun. Why do you suppose he becomes so upset when he sees it in Tom’s hut?
Chapter III
1. In what ways are Tim and his family affected by the War in the summer of 1775?
2. Based on the information in this chapter, what do you know about each of the following
historical battles?
 Bunker Hill –
 Fort Ticonderoga –
3. What is the difference between the Connecticut Journal and the Rivington’s Gazette?
4. Why does Tim agree to keep quiet if Sam comes back to Redding for a visit?
Chapter IV
1. Why do the Rebels decide to disarm the citizens of Redding?
2. Cite an incident from this chapter to support the following statement: Sam and his father
are both rebellious.
3. Discuss whether or not you think Tim really intends to shoot his brother.
4. Why does Sam refuse to go with Tim to the tavern to help their father?
5. Tim wants to take the gun to the tavern and give it to the Rebels. Why does Sam refuse
to give Tim the gun?
6. What evidence is there in this chapter that Sam is a brave young man?
Chapter V
1. What evidence is there in this chapter that the men who are fighting the British are proud
to participate in the War?
2. As the War progresses, the populace begin to feel its effects. List three hardships Tim
and his family experience because of the Revolutionary War. What is the worst hardship
Tim must endure?
3. Tim concludes that “being a soldier probably didn’t have much glory to it, either, that it
was mostly just a lot of hard work.” (Pg. 64) Why then does he envy Sam?
4. Why does Life believe that the Rebels cannot win the War?
5. Briefly identify Mr. Heron. Why does he come to talk to Tim’s father?
6. What can you infer about the prevalence of slavery during the American Revolution from
the following passage?
“He [Mr. Heron] was rich, too, although nobody knew where he got his money from. He
owned a black man and he had other servants besides.” (Pg. 65)
7. What explanation does Life give Tim for refusing to let him carry Mr. Heron’s mysterious
business letter? Why does Tim plot to deliver the letter against his father’s orders?
8. How does Tim plan to deliver Mr. Heron’s letters without his father’s consent?
Chapter VI
1. List three lies Tim tells so he can deliver Mr. Heron’s business letter.
2. How does Tim feel about lying to his father?
3. Why is Betsy going to Horseneck?
4. How does Betsy figure out that Tim is carrying Mr. Heron’s letter?
5. An historical novel strives to present an accurate account of how the people of the era
lived, thought, and behaved. It must also be believable. Discuss the incidents in this
chapter and whether or not you think the following incidents are believable and true to life.
Betsy is traveling along the same route as Tim at the same early hour.
Betsy is capable of taking the letter away from Tim.
6. How do you think Tim feels when he reads the letter?
Chapter VII
1. Based on the information about Sam in this chapter about, describe the life of a
Revolutionary War soldier.
2. Why do Tim’s parents fight over Sam’s letters?
3. How many miles must Tim and his father travel to reach Verplancks? Why are they
making the journey? Study the maps included with the novel. List the cities Tim and his
father must pass through on their journey to Verplancks.
4. For what reason does Life wait until just before winter to make the trip to Verplancks?
5. Who are the people called cow-boys?
6. Why would Life prefer not to take Tim on this trip? For what reasons is Tim glad to go?
7. Cite an incident from this chapter to support the following statement: Tim is a brave boy.
Chapter VIII
1. One of the themes of this story is the harmful effects of war not only on the soldiers
fighting the war but also on ordinary men, women, and children living in the colonies at the
time. Find a passage in this chapter illustrating this theme.
2. For what reason might Tim have a problem fighting in the War as a Loyalist?
3. Find an example of a cliché in this chapter.
4. Study the maps included with the novel. Trace the route Tim and his father take to reach
Verplancks. Using a pencil, draw the new route Life wants to take to avoid the cow-boys.
How much longer will the trip to Redding be using the new route? Why does Life decide to
return through Ridgebury even though he is risking another encounter with the cow-boys?
Chapter IX
1. How does Tim feel about driving the oxen alone while his father scouts ahead looking for
raiders?
2. Why does Tim’s father look grim when they travel through Ridgebury?
3. For what reasons does Tim decide to pull the oxen to the side of the road? How far is
Tim from home at this point in his journey?
4. Left alone in the woods, Tim must make a decision. What action does he decide to take?
Briefly summarize the logic he uses to decide on this action.
5. How does Tim fool the cow-boys? What can you conclude about Tim’s character from
this incident?
Chapter X
1. In what ways does Tim’s life at the tavern change with his father gone?
2. For what reasons does business at the tavern and in the store only seem to be good?
Why must Tim and his mother find ways to work around the laws passed by the
Connecticut General Assembly intended to keep prices down?
3. Why does Colonel Read quit as head of a whole regiment of militia? Tim’s mother wants
Sam to come home to help with the work. Why does Colonel Read believe Sam will be
unable to come home to help with the tavern?
4. In what ways does Tim mature after his father disappears?
5. List six different chores Tim must do to help his mother run the tavern and store.
6. One of the main concepts of this story is how the Revolutionary War affects the lives of
ordinary citizens. One of the consequences of the War was that neighbors, who are living
close to each other in the same community, are on different sides of the conflict. Find a
passage in this chapter illustrating this idea.
7. Why does Tim’s mother say, “God have mercy on William Heron”? (Pg. 140)
8. For what reason is Tim in danger when he runs to Dr. Hobart’s house?
9. At the end of this chapter Tim “didn’t feel much like being a Tory any more.” Why does
he feel this way?
Chapter XI
1. How does Susannah react when Mr. Betts asks Tim to ring the church bell to gather the
trainband?
2. What is Tim’s reaction when he realizes General Wooster and General Arnold are in the
tavern? What do they say that surprises Tim?
3. Why does Sam stay away from the tavern until Tim goes looking for him among the
soldiers camped across the road?
4. Sam’s enlistment is up in two months. Why does he refuse to come home to help with
the tavern?
5. A coming-of-age novel is a novel in which the main character or characters grow,
mature, or come to understand the world in adult terms. What does Tim come to
understand about Sam in this chapter? What does he learn about himself?
Chapter XII
1. In what sense is the following statement made by Life just before his death ironic?
“And now I go to enjoy the freedom war has brought me.” (Pg. 165)
2. In what way does Betsy surprise Tim?
3. Tim, Betsy, and Tim’s mother discuss the War. He decides that he is not going to “be on
anybody’s side any more: neither one of them was right.” Why does he feel this way?
4. What evidence is there in this chapter that Tim is growing up?
5. In the following simile, Tim compares his life to running on a treadmill.
“Oh how I hated the war. All of life was like running on a treadmill. I was fourteen,
I should have been going to school all this while and learning something.” (Pg. 168)
What are Tim’s future goals?
6. Why is Tim looking for the British commissary?
7. For what reason does Sam urge Tim to butcher the cows and hide the meat? Why does
Tim disregard his brother’s advice?
8. Why does Mother say, “War turns men into animals”? (Pg. 174)
9. Why does the General Assembly make it illegal to distill whiskey?
10. How does Sam manage to come to Redding every couple of weeks?
11. What might the following passage from this chapter foreshadow about Sam’s future?
“…knowing General Putnam he’ll hang any soldier he catches stealing. He’s tough as
nails but he’s honest. Besides, he wants the people to come around to our side, and if
he lets the troops forage, he’ll lose all sympathy with the populace. Oh, I know him.
He’s had a lot of men flogged already for disobeying orders, and I’m sure he’s just
itching to catch somebody stealing so he can make an example of him.” (Pg. 178)
12. Refer to the quotation in question 11 and to the information in the chapter discussing
the War. What justification might General Putnam have for making an example out of any
of his men that he catches violating the law?
Chapter XIII
1. At first, why does Tim believe he will be able to get Sam out of prison? Why does Tim
come to realize that establishing Sam’s innocence will not be easy?
2. Betsy asks Tim what will happen to Sam if he is found guilty of stealing the cattle. Tim
says they will put him in prison. What evidence is there in the story that Tim does not really
believe Sam’s punishment will be imprisonment? State a theme for this story based on
Tim’s understanding of the situation.
3. Susannah goes to talk to General Putnam, hoping to persuade him that Sam is innocent.
For what reasons does General Putnam refuse to release Sam?
4. Colonel Read agrees to give Tim a letter to see General Putnam to plead for clemency.
Why does Colonel Read believe Tim will be unsuccessful?
5. Find a passage in this chapter to illustrate that Sam keeps his sense of humor even
though he knows he is about to die.
Chapter XIV
1. One of the themes in this story is that war is unjust. Find a passage in this chapter that
illustrates this theme.
2. How does Susannah react when General Putnam refuses to give Sam clemency?
3. Why is Tim unsuccessful in his attempt to break Sam out of the prison?
4. For what reason do you think Tim attends Sam’s execution?
Epilogue
1. In what ways does Tim live a happy life after the War ends?
2. At the end of this novel, do you think Tim believes the Revolutionary War was
necessary?
3. How well does Susannah cope with her son’s execution? What does her behavior reveal
to the reader about the role of women during the American Revolution?
How much of this book is true?
1. Which aspects of this story are fictional?
2. Which of the true incidents recorded in this story do you find to be the most surprising,
interesting, or incredible?
3. Based on what you have learned about the American Revolution in this novel, how would
you answer the following question? There is no correct answer to this question. State how
you truly feel and then use incidents from the story to support your conclusions.
“Could the United States have made its way without all that agony and killing?” (Pg. 215)