THEMES

1) Love among family members

i.

The Knights
- Pa - lost his brother who was killed in Cuba during the war with Spain in 1898.
- lost his wife
- was not happy when Gus told Pa that he enlisted (pg 108)
- maybe Pa was afraid of losing Gus too
ii. The Schemers
- Hannahs brother , Otto Schemer was bravely chosen to risk his life as he was one of the soldiers
who was fighting in the war against German
- Mr Schemer said a prayer for Otto and other men fighting overseas and also for a quick end to the
war before having dinner (pg 89)
- The Schemers were afraid of killing their own family members in Germany as Otto Schemer was
fighting in the battle as an American soldier.
2) Self versus community
Richard
-His beliefs are against the people around him.
-His brother advices Richard to try to fit in by getting into sports like baseball but Richard isnt
interested (pg 9)
-Still was into poetry even when Pa discouraged him to do so (pg49)
-Signed the card for the Schemers that was brought by Mrs Hansen to show sympathy when none of
the classmates signed it
3)
Friendship
Richards friendship with Hannah and Joyce Kilmer.
-He becomes close to her when he notices that the cover of hr book has been scrawled with the words, Dirty
Hun
-He tells some of his classmates about that but they feel that she deserves it
-he was shocked when he heared his classmates say that she would never be chosen as Lady Liberty as she is
Hun and it would be unpatriotic to do so.
-Richard stands by her and supports her all the time.
-When she declines her role of Lady Liberty, he tries to talk her out of it. He explains to her that she has won
that part fairly but Hannah explains that the father says that they are times when she should not fight.
-He accepts it and decides to decline his role as Doughboy.
-She decides to accompany him to see Mrs Hansen about it.
i)

When you have a true friend, you do not need anyone else

- Richard stands by Hannah some of the students make malicious remarks. This brings them together and
Hannah says that she does not feel alone with a friend like Richard.
ii) When you need emotional help
- Hannah tells Richard that she hopes he never goes to war.
- They go and carve their initials on the big oak tree.
- Hannah understand Richard better than his own family. She understands his love for poetry and his
friendship with Mr Kilmer.
- When Mr Kilmer was killed in the battle, she breaks the news to him and they grieve together.
- Richard understands Hannahs feelings. He knows what she must be feeling as her brother Otto is in the
war in Europe fighting as an American soldier.
iii) Friendship helps us to get through difficult times
- When Richard decided to turn up at Schemers tavern to pass the card as a symbol of sympathy when it
got vandalized

- when Pa broke his leg, Ike Lewis and others came to help Pa harvest the crops