Three Day Road Study Questions
“OMAWAHTONIKEW: Collector” (192-200)
1. Prove that Breech neither respects nor values the work that Elijah and Xavier can
accomplish.
2. Describe the conditions in the trenches.
3. Why are Elijah and Xavier able to withstand the cold rain better than the other soldiers?
4. Elijah takes on a new role as a soldier. What is it? What is the significance of this role?
“PAHKONIKEWIN: Skinning” (201-212)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Describe how the men make the best of their situation at Christmas.
What happens on this night that influences Elijah?
Who is Peggy and why does this person make Elijah angry?
Francis G gives Elijah advice. What is the advice and why does he tell him to do this?
What are the statistics on the loss of life at Vimy Ridge?
What does the cold weather bring?
Recount what happens when Elijah accidentally lands in the German nest of 3 soldiers.
“KIMOTOWIN: Stealing” (213-220)
1. Quote the line at the bottom of page 213. How does it apply to this novel?
2. Describe the internal struggles experienced by Niska when her mother died and in the
time following her death.
3. How does she get Xavier out of the residential school?
4. Provide evidence of the influence Niska has on Xavier.
“ONATOPANIWIW: Fighter” (221-239)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
When did Xavier decide to die?
The residential school was like a prison. How so?
Xavier drifts into a memory in France. What is it?
How does Xavier deal with killing?
What does Xavier reveal about his character and that of Elijah’s when he recounts his
plan to steal German Mauser ammunition?
6. How is Xavier increasingly dependent upon Elijah?
7. How does Xavier discover the trophies that Elijah has taken?
8. How is Elijah becoming increasingly more frightening and blood thirsty?
9. How does Xavier create a renewed barrage of artillery fire?
10. What motivates Xavier to run toward the German line and what are the images in his
mind?
“Ishinakwahitisiw: Turning” (240-258)
1. What is the current attitude toward the Canadian troops?
2. What happened to Xavier after McCaan shot the German who was trying to choke
Xavier?
3. Quote the lines that reflect the sadness the men feel.
4. Why is Xavier resentful of Elijah?
5. There is documented evidence that the leadership during WWI was inept. How does
Boyden work that fact into his narrative?
6. What does Xavier say about the #3 in the wemistikoswhiw world?
7. How is Elijah beginning to scare Xavier?
8. Find the evidence that Xavier’s trip to see Lisette empowers him.
9. Xavier is the more innocent of the two friends. Find proof of this in the chapter.
10. How does Xavier continue to feel invisible?
11. Explain the humour when Xavier has to appear before Breech for desertion and Elijah
goes along as translator.
12. How is the end of the chapter symbolic?
“KA NIPIHAT WINDIGOWA: Windigo Killer” (259-268)
1. What is Niska called on to do? Describe in detail.
2. What is the significance of Xavier being a witness to this?
3. How does Elijah come into Xavier’s life? What do we learn about Elijah’s character as a
boy?
4. How does Elijah acquire such a fine Winchester rifle? What is the disturbing information
that we learn about his life at the residential school?