The Killer Angels

Why do you think Chamberlain is such a successful commander when he is a university professor instead of a professional soldier? What strengths and skills does he have as a professor that make him a good commander? Are there any skills he lacks because he is not a professional soldier?

Imagine that you are a citizen of Gettysburg. Describe how you would feel seeing two armies converging on your hometown. What would you do to protect your home and family? How would you feel after the battle is over, seeing so many dead soldiers scattered across the land?

Each chapter of the novel is written from one man’s perspective, shifting between Confederate and Union commanders and officers. How does this shift in perspective impact the story and the events of the battle? What value comes from seeing the Battle of Gettysburg from the eyes of multiple people from both armies?

Do you think General Ewell was right to not attack Cemetery Hill as commanded? Do you think that Ewell’s caution had a negative impact on the outcome of the battle by not taking the high ground from the Union? Explain your answer.

One perspective that Shaara does not describe in detail is that of the common soldier. Imagine the battle through the eyes of both a Union soldier and a Confederate soldier. How do you think the Confederate soldiers felt after the battle? How did the Union soldiers feel?

Why is Chamberlain’s defense of Little Round Top in Part 3 significant, and how did it impact the Battle of Gettysburg as a whole? What made his charge at the Rebels unique?

In Part 4, Longstreet knows that Lee’s plan is going to fail. Why did he follow orders knowing that many men were going to die needlessly? What does this tell you about Longstreet’s character as a man and a commander?

Why does Chamberlain describe the Confederate’s final charge as the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen? What are some other examples of beauty in destruction, either from the text or outside the text?