in the beginning, what was the air full of?
this war feeling
what is the name of the girl and her lover?
-editha balcom-George gearson
While George contemplating on whether to be a soldier or not, Editha remembers what two jobs George wish he could be
-Minister and Lawyer
how did George win editha's love?
- he didn't do anything specific, he just asked her for her love on the way home from a concert-this made editha think he needs to prove himself
in the beginning, what are the couple's point of view on the war?
-Editha: thought it was glorious, it was great to serve the country, it allowed George to prove himselfGeorge: hates it, thinks war is horrible, disgusting
after George leaves Editha, she was worried about his feelings over the war? This leads her to what?
- she writes a letter about how he can not love her over his country-basically a horrible persuasion for him to become a soldier
after the letter is written, a day passes, what happenes next?
George gets comfortable, becomes Captain, and leads a huge mob of volunteers and is very proud to serve his country.
when does Editha give George the letter?
while he was leading the group, she gives it to me telling him not to read it unless he feels doubtful about his actions
after receiving the letter, George embraces Editha, how does Editha describe george
They strained each other in embraces that seemed as ineffective as theirwords, and he kissed her face with quick, hot breaths that were sounlike him, that made her feel as if she had lost her old lover andfound a stranger in his place.
after the party, George wakes up very groggy, and Editha makes him promise what?
- to stop drinking
what request does George ask Editha do if he dies in battle?
to ask his mother if she needs any help
why is George's mother so pessimistic about war?
-because George's father was in the civil war and he lost his arm in the war
when boarding the train, Editha describes George. what is the description
He looked well, inhis uniform, and very soldierly, but somehow girlish, too, with hisclean-shaven face and slim figure. The manly eyes and the strong voicesatisfied her
how did Editha recognize George's hand from all the other soldier hands?
because George's hand was holding a letter
after George's departure, Editha writes a letter to George's mother about how brave he is. What is the response?
the brief answer she gotwas merely to the effect that Mrs.
Gearson was not well enough to writeherself, and thanking her for her letter by the hand of some one whocalled herself "Yrs truly, Mrs. W.J. Andrews."
how did George die?
he died in the first skirmish
what happen to Editha after George passed away?
-she got extremely sick, and then decided to visit George's mom after the death just like she promised George-Her father went with her on the long railroad journey from northern NewYork to western Iowa; he had business out at Davenport, and he said hecould just as well go then as any other time; and he went with her tothe little country town where George's mother lived in a little houseon the edge of the illimitable cornfields
Mrs. Gearson insults Editha on a few specific things.
What are they?
-how awful the letter she made was-how Editha was dumb for not expecting the possibility that George could be killed- how she easily would forget how they expect their men to kill the children of other helpless mothers -for wearing black at the funeral
what happens at the very end?
- A stranger tells a very depressed Editha that Mrs. Gearson should have not done that and that she was wrong for doing all that stuff.- this broke a light into Editha and she began to live her life normally again
