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Copyright 1997

Created by Brian Thornton
Click here for more information Capo Creations, Box 1411, Haileybury, Ontario, CANADA. POJ 1KO

Not to be used or copied in any manner without specific written consent of the publisher All Rights Reserved

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Banner in the Sky

James Ramsey Ullman

Student Study Guide

 

Chapter 1--A Boy and a Mountain

  1. Read the author's note.  Is the story fact or fiction?
  2. Locate Switzerland and the Swiss Alps in an atlas.
  3. Why do the people of the village refer to the Citadel as Rudisberg?
  4. Why is Rudi not a typical mountain boy?
  5. Where do most of the tourists come from?
  6. Name three of the mountains, which have already been climbed.
  7. Why is Rudi surprised to hear a voice?

Vocabulary: stile, Auslander, firs, indelibly, marmot, truant, chasm

Enrichment: Research the Matterhorn. What is the origin of the word and who was the first to climb it. How does it compare in size with peaks in the Rockies?

 

Chapter 2--A Boy and a Man

  1. Why was Rudi reluctant to go for help?
  2. Why did he feel ashamed when he heard the man's quiet voice?
  3. Describe how Rudi saved the climber.
  4. Why was Rudi surprised when he discovered the identity of the English climber?
  5. Why does Rudi insist that Captain Winter not tell anyone about the rescue?

Vocabulary: crevasse, pummeled, embedded, imbeciles, reconnoitre,

Enrichment: This story takes place in the 1860's. List a few major events that occurred in other countries around the world in the 1860's.

 

Chapter 3--Two Hundred Dirty Dishes

  1. Who is Teo Zurbriggen and why does he work at the Beau Site Hotel?
  2. Who is Franz Lerner and why is he upset with Teo?
  3. Who is a surprise visitor to Frau Matt's house?
  4. List the reasons given by Franz Lerner as to why Rudi should not climb the mountains.
  5. That evening Rudi is happy doing the dishes. Explain why.

Vocabulary: apprentice, shirks, crony

Enrichment: How would mountain climbing be different today?

 

Chapter 4--Trial

  1. Why was the red shirt so special to Rudi?
  2. What note was waiting for Rudi at the hotel?
  3. Why did Frau Matt not kiss her son goodbye?
  4. Why did Rudi not make his usual stop at the blue spruce?
  5. Why was Rudi finding this climb more difficult?

Vocabulary: decipher, sauntering, unencumbered, hearth

Enrichment: Read about the various industries in Switzerland. Why is the tourist industry so important to their economy?

 

Chapter 5--And Error

  1. Why did the climbers want to get an early start?
  2. How did Rudi know that Captain Winter respected his uncle's climbing ability?
  3. Describe Rudi's predicament on the ledge.
  4. What is the worst of all 'sins' that a mountaineer can commit?

Vocabulary: obliquely, mica, cornice, inanimate, pygmies, taut, novice

Enrichment: Locate a visual dictionary and note the terms for various sections of a mountain.

 

Chapter 6--Master and Pupil

  1. Why does Captain Winter decide to journey to Geneva for a few days?
  2. What does he tell Franz Lerner before he leaves?
  3. How does Teo decide to help Rudi?
  4. How did Josef Matt die according to Teo?
  5. Briefly describe Teo and Rudi's climb.
  6. What shocking news does Rudi receive when he returns to the hotel?

Vocabulary: rappel, withered, assets, atoned

Enrichment: Many areas, which do not have mountains often, have cliffs so that individuals can go rock climbing. See if any such activities can be found in your area. Speak with some experienced rock-climbers.

 

Chapter 7--A Prisoner Escapes

  1. What did Captain Winter offer Franz Lerner if he would climb the Citadel with him?
  2. Why did Rudi feel like a prisoner in the hotel?
  3. Describe the altercation between Rudi and Klaus.
  4. What did Rudi retrieve from his uncle's house?
  5. How do we know this was a very safe town in which to live?
  6. What was he was planning to do with his climbing stick which lay under the spruce?

Vocabulary: accursed, rebuff, stoop, foraging, shrine

Enrichment: Locate some information about the author--James Ramsey Ullman.

 

Chapter 8--White Fury

  1. What is a tree line?
  2. Who does Rudi see when he first enters the hut?
  3. What lie does he tell Captain Winter?
  4. Captain Winter told Rudi he could stay as long as he remembered to do what?
  5. What suddenly came upon them with very little warning?

Vocabulary: mote, ramparts, marshal, col, tributary, gradient, apex,

Enrichment: Why do people climb mountains? Should people be allowed to climb mountains? Have you ever done anything that could be considered life threatening?

 

Chapter 9--The Challenge

  1. What do the men at the Edelweiss Tavern think of Captain Winter and Emil Saxo?
  2. Who spots three climbers on the Citadel?
  3. Who reveals the identity of the third climber?
  4. What does Teo say that embarrasses the men of Kurtal?
  5. Who was the sixth voice when Franz asked for volunteers?

Vocabulary: patronized, defiance, swill

Enrichment: "A life lived in fear is a life only half-lived". What does this statement mean and to whom might it apply in our story?

 

Chapter 10--Three to Make Ready

  1. What did Rudi instinctively do that saved his life?
  2. Describe what had happened to Captain Winter.
  3. Why was Rudi devastated when Captain Winter told him to return to the village?
  4. The last line of the chapter states that Rudi "turned left". Why is this so significant?

Vocabulary: instinct, encased, mishap, provincial

Enrichment: Rudi is continually defying authority. He has gone against the wishes of his mother, uncle, Captain Winter and finally against even Teo's advice about working as a team. How do you feel about his actions?

 

Chapter 11--Alone

  1. What animal does he see while climbing the mountain?
  2. Why was it dangerous for him to proceed?
  3. He felt a shadow and then fear. What did he do that enabled him to continue?

Vocabulary: chamois, blasphemy, impregnable, abyss, merged, zenith, prudence,

Enrichment: Why does the author devote this entire chapter to just Rudi? What effect does this have on the reader?

 

Chapter 12--A Boy and a Ghost

  1. What evidence does the author present that indicates this is a fierce storm?
  2. What noise does Rudi mistake for a rock-fall?
  3. What realization did he come to about the cave where he was taking shelter?
  4. How was he able to overcome his fear of the ghost in the red shirt?

Vocabulary: opaque, churning

Enrichment: Why are there snowstorms even in summer near the summit of mountains? Find out how mountains affect the weather.

 

Chapter 13--Four to Go

  1. What did Winter and Saxo discover when they reached the hut?
  2. Why does Saxo think the men of Kurtal have come?
  3. Why does Franz Lerner suspect that Captain Winter is lying?
  4. What incredible news does Rudi bring to the men?
  5. How do Teo and Captain Winter defend Rudi against his Uncle's criticisms?
  6. Who are the "Four to Go"?

Vocabulary: relapsed, glowered, sullenly, incredulous, turmoil, winced, taunted

Enrichment: Why would Captain Winter make a good arbitrator or diplomat? What skills must a good negotiator possess?

 

Chapter 14--First of All Men

  1. Explain the expression "chosen by lot".
  2. Why did Franz insist that Paul Tauglich speak to Rudi's mother first?
  3. Why do you think Saxo was so insistent that they take a different route from the one Rudi had found?
  4. What happens to the air the higher the altitude and how does this affect one's breathing?
  5. How does Rudi feel that night when he is looking at the lights of the distant villages below?

Vocabulary: gratitude, resolve, defiant, ominous, forged, desultorily

Enrichment: There is a strong sense of competition between the villages of Kurtal and Broli. Is this a positive or negative thing? Is there any competition between your community and a neigbouring community? Is this competition between your communities good or bad? Explain.

 

Chapter 15--The Needle's Eye

  1. Why did Rudi feel as safe as if he were in his own bed at home?
  2. Why did Rudi think that Captain Winter was so deserving of making it to the summit?
  3. What is meant by a trial and error method?
  4. How did the men know that the Needle was solid?
  5. Why was Rudi the only one able to succeed in getting through the Needle's Eye?

Vocabulary: solitary, precarious, despised, belay,

Enrichment: Earlier in the story Teo told Rudi that to be a true mountaineer he must not think only of himself. Find proof in this chapter that the four climbers are working as a team?

 

Chapter 16--Darkness and Dawn

  1. What indication is there that Captain Winter is not well?
  2. Why are relations between Franz and Saxo becoming more strained?
  3. What does Saxo suggest they do when it becomes clear that Winter cannot finish the climb?
  4. How does Franz respond to Saxo's suggestion?
  5. What does Rudi realize has happened when he discovers Captain Winter alone in the tent?
  6. What does Rudi resolve to do?

Vocabulary: bivouac, preeminent, intoxication, tantilizing, receding, impotent

Enrichment: Rudi feels he must conquer the mountain regardless of right or wrong. What do you think of his decision to proceed up the mountain? Was it the right or wrong thing to do? Why?

 

Chapter 17--The Day

  1. Why was Herr Hempel able to stay at the telescope longer than anyone else?
  2. Why must the climbers make it to the peak that day?
  3. How does Frau Matt react when she finally realizes Rudi is climbing to the peak?
  4. What do Winter and Lerner think has happened when they find the knapsack?
  5. Give evidence that Winter realizes how important the red shirt is to Rudi?

Vocabulary: muted, pitch, ether, staff

Enrichment: It's time to make some predictions. Do you think the climbers will make it to the summit? Who do you think will be the first to make it to the top? Why?

 

Chapter 18--The Heights

  1. Who is leading most of the way up the final ascent?
  2. What incident occurs that completely changes the nature of the climb?
  3. What conflict or struggle is going on in Rudi's mind when he Saxo tells him to continue alone?
  4. Why is he so determined not to call out to his uncle and Captain Winter for help when he spots them on the mountain?

Vocabulary: leverage, contorted, ghastly, incapacitated

Enrichment: The struggle going on in Rudi's mind is not uncommon. Many times in your life you will have to make choices. Describe an incident where you had to make a choice that you knew was right but would have preferred to do something else instead.

 

Chapter 19--The Conqueror

  1. Decribe the scene when the climbers arrived at the village of Kurtal.
  2. To whom did the mayor refer as the conqueror of the mountain?
  3. How did Captain Winter respond to the praise given him?
  4. Who is the hero of this story? Give reasons why you feel this way.
  5. Rudi embraces his mother and the author uses the phrase "…he saw beyond the tears". What exactly did Rudi see beyond his mother's tears?

Vocabulary: lean, haggard, pealed, din, canton

Enrichment: What is a hero? Do you think they actually exist in real life? Do you know anyone that you would say is your hero? List the qualities that you think would be essential in a hero.

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Copyright 1997

Created by Brian Thornton, Capo Creations, Box 1411, Haileybury, Ontario, CANADA. POJ 1KO

Not to be used or copied in any manner without specific written consent of the publisher All Rights Reserved