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Transcript

The Perilous Road

by Malavika Kannan

What were two themes that were represented?

The first theme of the Perilous Road is the wickedness of war. Although Chris's parents insist that "war is wicked" and do not hate a particular side, Chris is full of hate for the Yankees, and would love nothing more than to join the Confederacy. He even risks his life to shoot the Yankees and take their mules, and he alerts General Braggs about their wagon supply train. However, when he visits the Union camp and is treated kindly by the soldiers, who offer him food and talk about their families, he starts to change his mind. When fighting breaks out, Chris sees for himself how terrible war is. He watches men who were kind to him die, and nearly is shot himself. After his exposure to war, he no longer harbors hate for anyone.

Major Themes

The second major theme of the novel is tolerance and courage. Although Chris is furious that his brother joined the Union, causing his family to be targeted by Confederate sympathizers, he realizes that his brother is still his brother and risks his life to warn him of the Confederate attack. And although, at one point in the novel, Chris would rather fall off a cliff than accept Yankee help, by the end of the novel, he is tending to a wounded Union soldier. He realizes that they aren't too different from him, and some of them are actually nice people with large hearts and families back at home. Throughout the novel, Chris works through his feelings of rage and revenge against those whose opinion differs from his and grows to like them.

What events in the Civil War are included?

Although the characters in the book are fictional, Walden's Ridge is a real town and Wheeler's Raid on the Federal Wagon Train did happen in Sequatchie Valley on October 2, 1863. Confederate General Bragg, who is mentioned in the book, was sieging the Federal soldiers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, forcing them to bring in their supplies through Walden's Ridge. Bragg ordered Wheeler to disrupt the wagon line and seize the supplies. Although Union reinforcements came and were able to kill a substantial number of Confederate soldiers, deterring future raids, they lost a significant amount of supplies.

Summarize the plot of the novel.

sign in Walden's Ridge

Chris Brabson is out hunting with his friend Silas when he sees Union soldiers raiding his house and taking all of his family's food and supplies. He is filled with rage and tries to ambush and shoot the Union soldiers as they head back. They shoot at him but his brother Jethro rescues him and reveals that he's about to join the Union Army.

Chris gets angrier and angrier as his family scrapes by with little food. He decides to free the livestock the Yankees have seized and corralled. Although he succeeds, he is injured and Silas rescues him. Chris is angry because he did not get the recognition from the Confederates he thought he deserved.

The next day, Confederate sympathizers burn down the Brabsons' shed. Chris is angry to see Silas with them.

When Chris sees a Union wagon supply train in Walden's Ridge, he tells Silas to warn the Confederate General Braggs. Then, realizing that Jethro is in danger of being attacked, he runs down to the Union camp to warn him.

The Union soldiers are kind to him and offer him food and sing and talk. He starts to realize they're not as bad as he thought they were.

Before Chris can warn the soldiers or find Jethro, Confederates attack the camp. Chris is almost shot, and watches many of the friendly Union soldiers die.

He realizes that war is a terrible thing and he has no reason to hate the Yankees. Instead, after learning that Jethro is safe, he helps tend to the wounded before returning home to his family.

Wheeler's Raid, 1863

MLA Citations

When is the novel set?

Steele, William O. The Perilous Road. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1958. Print.

Stanfield, Paul. "Wheeler's Raid Site Photos." Wheeler's Raid Site Photos. Civil War Album.com, 29 June 2014. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

The Perilous Road is set in the town of Walden's Ridge. Walden's Ridge can be found in the mountains of Eastern Tennessee. The book is set in late September to early October of 1863. We know this because it ends with Wheeler's Raid on October 2, 1863.

What events are going on in the US at the time?

Walden's Ridge

  • Jan 8- The Transcontinental Railroad was built in Sacramento.
  • Feb 24- Arizona became a state.
  • March 3- Idaho became a U.S. territory.
  • July 30- The Shoshone tribe was defeated in southern Idaho.
  • December- The first modern-day Santa was invented.

List and describe major characters.

Chris Brabson

Jethro Brabson

Mr. and Mrs. Brabson

Chris Brabson is a fourteen year old boy living in Walden's Ridge. He is an excellent hunter and is fiercely loyal to his Confederate hometown. He hates the Yankees with a passion and is ready to kill them all in the beginning of the novel. However, he eventually changes his mind.

Jethro Brabson is Chris's older brother and Sally Jean's wife. Jethro joins the Union Army as a wagon driver, which angers Chris and causes their family to be targeted by Confederate sympathizers.

Mr. and Mrs. Brabson are Chris's parents. Although they live in the Confederacy, they sympathize with the Union's cause. They believe war is wicked and are not angry when the Union soldiers take their food, which puzzles Chris.

Silas Agee

The Thrantams

Sally Jean

Silas Agee hunts with Chris and encourages his hatred for the Union soldiers. Although at first Chris respects Silas and thinks he's a Confederate spy, he eventually realizes that Silas is a hateful man who likes to act important and stir up trouble.

Sally Jean is Jethro's wife. She and her baby come to stay with the Brabsons in order to protect them from Confederates.

Mr. Thrantam and his son Luke are Confederates. They hate the Brabsons because they're Union sympathizers. Luke goads Chris into releasing the livestock the Union took from the Confederates in order to prove that he is not a Yankee.

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