48 pages • 1 hour read
James Ramsey UllmanBanner In The Sky
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1954A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How does Rudi’s relationship with his father’s legacy address the impact of the loss of a parent or loved one in a child’s life?
One of the primary themes in Banner in the Sky is Maturity and Masculinity. What are three traits of maturity in the novel, and how does Rudi acquire them?
Character versus nature is a common conflict in adventure novels. What is unique about the way that Banner in the Sky approaches this conflict?
What moment or decision marks the climax of the novel? Discuss the plot structure of this novel, identifying its pivotal moments and methods of building suspense.
The descriptions of setting throughout the novel are rich and imaginative. How does the setting add to a theme or central element of the novel?
How is loyalty a positive factor in Banner in the Sky? How does loyalty develop into a negative force at times in the novel?
Old Teo tells Rudi that some things cannot be taught but have to be experienced. Pick three things that Rudi had to learn through his own experience instead of through the instruction of others and discuss the ways that they shape his development.
Emil Saxo and Franz Lerner are two of the greatest Alpine guides. Compare and contrast these two characters. How do they develop over the course of their journey?
What makes Captain Winter a good leader? What does he teach the other characters?
Rudi cherishes his father’s shirt and insists on carrying it with him during his climb. As a “banner in the sky,” what does this shirt represent when it flies from the top of the Citadel?
