=Big Bethel=:--The Union troops were defeated here on June 10, 1861.
=Ball's Bluff=:--A place on the Potomac where the Union soldiers were
beaten, October 21, 1861.
=Centreville=:--A small town, the Union base in the first Battle of Bull
Run.
=Lewinsville=:--A small town, north of Centreville.
=Vienna=:--A village in the Bull Run district.
=Blair's Grave=:--Robert Blair, a Scotch writer, published (1743) a poem
in blank verse called "The Grave."
=barbette guns=:--Guns elevated to fire over the top of a turret or
parapet.
=minie-ball=:--A conical ball plugged with iron, named after its
inventor, Captain Minie, of France.
QUESTIONS FOR STUDY
Read the piece through without stopping, so that you can get the story.
Then go back to the beginning and study with the help of the following
questions:--
Compare the first sentence with the first sentence of _Tennessee's
Partner_. What do you think of the method? What is the use of the first
paragraph in _Quite So_? Why the long paragraph giving the setting? Is
this a good method in writing a story? What had become of "Little
Billy"? Who was "Johnny Reb"? What do you think of bringing in humorous
touches when one is dealing with things so serious as war and battles?
What does "Drop that!" refer to? Why does Strong change his tone? Note
what details the author has selected in order to give a clear picture of
"Quite So" in a few words. How does the conversation reveal the
stranger's character? What is shown by the fact that "Quite So" does not
write any letters? What is the purpose of the episode of "Muffin Fan"?
What devices does the author use, in order to bring out the mystery and
the loneliness of "Quite So"? Note how the author emphasizes the passage
of time.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59