The Wars Lesson Plan

Part One introduces us to the Ross family. How is the family portrayed in this first section? What is the relationship between the family and war?

Although the Ross family is presented as largely close-knit, students should also note that Robert cannot disentangle his feelings for his sister from his feelings of guilt and self-loathing. The story directly ties Rowena's death to Robert enlisting, and his enlisting drives Mrs. Ross into increasingly desperate behavior. Students should make a claim about how the cost of war reaches far beyond the battle itself and into families left behind.

Part One establishes Robert's love of animals, which will be a reoccurring theme...