The Moon Is Down - Questions/Analysis

LONG

 

Chapter 5

 

 

 

 

1.  What was Captain Loft’s plan to make the miners work harder? (p. 65)

Captain Loft told miners that if each man doesn’t take out a certain amount of coal, no food for the families. He will have the miners eat at the mine so they can’t share their food with their families. Miners work or their kids can’t eat at all.

 

2.  What is happening to Lieutenant Tonder in this chapter? (pp. 67-69)

Lieutenant Tonder acts hysterical showing his craziness since he starts getting treasonable doubts in his mind that the Leader was crazy, also seems to know what is going on with them being afraid of conquered surrounded people.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6

 

 

 

 

1.  Where are the Anders brothers going, and why are they leaving? (p. 72)

The Anders boys are leaving for England. Because their brother, Jack, was shot for wrecking that little car and the soldiers are looking for the rest of the family. If they were caught, the invader will kill them to prevent their revenge.

 

2.  Why won’t Molly allow Tonder to have the snow pushed off the roof? (p. 75)

Molly thinks that the people would think she had joined with invaders and people would expel her. She doesn’t want to be expelled. But deep in her mind, she has full of anger since Tonder is the one who held the command to execute Alex.

 

3.  Why are the Anders brothers taking Corell with them? Explain the reasons that they give. (Why isn’t it good for the people to see Corell there? Why is it better if Corell goes to sea?) How will they leave? (pp. 81-82)

The Anders brothers are taking Corell’s boat and they can’t leave him around since he’ll be cautious about the missing boat and he’ll report to the invaders. They think that it’s better if he disappears at see and it isn’t good to see Corell in the streets because some of the town people might get him and then there would be too much killing. Even though Orden said it’s just an added danger, the Anders set their mind about Corell for the justice.

 

4.  Why did the Mayor want to see the Anders brothers? What message does he have? (p. 83)

Mayor Orden wanted to see the Anders brothers because he wanted them to ask the people in England weapons. Since he knew that the people are angry but they have no way to fight back and he thought that if we could have simple, secret weapons, we can use the methods that have been used on us. Also he asked them to tell what’s going on in our small town that invaders are using hunger on the people. Orden’s message is that justice and injustice are in terms of little things, revenge against a traitor; it’s all in little terms, it’s people against people, not idea against idea. This is no honorable war. This is a war of treachery and murder.

 

5.  What happens at the end of the chapter? (p. 86)

Lieutenant Tonder was tapping on the front door. Molly hurried the Mayor and other people out to the back way. She felt her burden was heavy on her. When she saw the big scissors and felt the blades through her fingers, she knew what she had to do with her anger for her husband, Alex and she was ready her mind together for horrible revenge.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 7

 

 

 

 

1.  Explain the “Easter egg hunt” after the planes dropped their packages. (p. 90)

The packages from the planes wrapped in blue paper are distributed as seeds on the ends of thistledown are distributed all over the country. People found them and unwrapped the paper and read the messages. These are dynamite and a piece of chocolate. They hid the tube in some secret place and pass the word to the children. Children searched the packages as if these are their gifts just like they combed Easter egg hunt.

 

2.  Why is this the only place the packages were dropped? (p. 93)

After Lanser talked to the capital, he thinks that this is a test place. If it works here they will use it all over, and if it doesn’t work here they won’t bother.

 

3.  What plan does the invading army have to deal with the packages? (p. 95)

The invading army order Lanser to set booby traps and poison the chocolate. They think when people pick up the package, it blows to bits by their booby trap, and when kids eat chocolate, they die of strychnine poisoning.

 

4.  Why doesn’t Lanser believe the plan will work? (p. 95)

Because Lanser thinks that people are intelligent, these stupid traps won’t catch them twice. People will poke the packages with poles, or lasso them, before they touch them and they will try the chocolate on the cat.

 

5.  Explain Loft’s insult of Colonel Lanser. (p. 97)

When Laser said his soldier don’t know how to act in defeat, Loft said harshly “What do you mean by defeat? We are not defeated?” Lanser said if they don’t think about defeat, it isn’t an insult. But when Loft leaves it out, Lanser thinks it’s insulting.

 

6.  Explain the Colonel’s advice to Lieutenant Prackle. (p. 99)

When Lieutenant Prackle came in with sullen face showing how weak he is, Colonel Lanser already knows what is in his mind. Lanser started to talk about the woman who might make Prackle miserable feeling, and tried to make a point mentioning what happened about Tonder’s death. Lanser’s advice for Prackle is that soldier is not a man any more, its comfort is of no importance and its life isn’t of much importance, either. Soldier must take orders and carry them out, just do when it is ordered and should take care of his soul.

 

7.  What is Corell’s plan for dealing with the dynamite packages? (pp. 101-102)

Corell suggests Lanser that use Mayor Orden for a hostage and his life must depend on the peacefulness of this community. If people light up of one single fuse on one single stick of dynamite, Orden will be shot. Orden must be held against rebellion. Then the doctor is next. Corell believes that when we have killed the leaders, the rebellion will be broken.

 

8.  What is significant about Lanser’s words to Corell, “I hope you know what you’re doing”? (p. 102)    

This is exactly Lanser heard from Mayor Orden when Lanser ordered Alex death sentence. Lanser believed that punishment is largely for the purpose of deterring the potential criminal, but it lights up to the hatred revenge against the invaders. Lanser feels that Corell’s plan will be ended exactly the same way what he had experienced before and turn to the rebellion worse.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

 

 

 

1.  Explain Dr. Winter’s comment that, “In a time of need, leaders pop up among us like mushrooms.” (p. 105)

Even though the invaders kill the Mayor Orden, people will find a new leader. one of his people leads others to fight against the invaders. Since the people are free men, new leaders come up one after another just like mushroom grow endlessly. The invaders will never stop the people. Nothing can change it.

 

2.  Explain is your own words the quotation form Socrates that Mayor Orden is trying to remember. (p. 106)

The Mayor Orden is trying to remember the quotation from Socrates that nothing is ashamed about a course of life, there is no matter of a man living or dying. It’s only matter of a man doing right or wrong. It means, live for good otherwise choose to die.

 

3.  The Mayor’s wife complained that he always forgets his chain and medallion of office. What does this tell you about the Mayor? (p. 110)

The Mayor Orden is not the person who stands on formality. He is a free man just like his people who will fight for their right, not like herd men who just follow the orders without their own thinking.  

 

4.  Dr. Winter told Colonel Lanser that it would not work if the tried to lie to the people and tell them that the Mayor begged for his life. Why won’t it work? (p. 111)

Because people will know the truth just like when Tonder said the flies had conquered the flypaper, the whole nation knows his words. Even if Orden tell them not to fight, they will be sorry, but they will fight. If he tells them to fight, they will be glad, and he will make them a little braver. Secrets cannot be kept forever. The truth always discloses.

 

5.  Why does Mayor Orden ask Annie to “stay with Madame as long as she needs you”? What is significant about this? (p. 112)

The Mayor Orden knows he’ll die soon since Colonel Lanser says he will carry out his order no matter what will be happened. He can’t be with his wife any more even though he wants to. She only thinks that all this is nonsense. So Orden asks Annie to take care of his wife after he dies and tell the truth when she queries about what he says. “They can’t arrest the Mayor. The Mayor is an idea conceived by free men. It will escape arrest.”

 

6.  At the end, Mayor Orden is quoting from Socrates again. Right before he died, Socrates said, “Crito, I owe a cock to Asclepius; will you remember to pay the debt?” In Greek mythology, Asclepius was the god of medicine and healing. When a person was healed of a disease, it was customary to offer a sacrifice of a chicken to Asclepius in gratitude for the healing. When Socrates said this, he meant that for him, his death was not a sad thing, but the time of his “healing.” He believed in the immortality of the soul and that after death he would be in a better place.

What do you think Dr. Winter means when he says, “The debt shall be paid”? (p. 112)

 The Mayor Orden did the right thing for his people, for his nation and for himself. People will fight for their right continually until they retrieve their nation back. And the Mayor Orden will be remembered in awe of great leader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 26 ~ Dec. 17, 2003

S. Rhee

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE

 

 

Questions for The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

 

1.  Briefly describe the conquest of the town by the invader. (p. 1) How did they come in? How long did it take? Why was it so easy?

 

            The conquest was easy for the town since the invader had prepared well just like the larger one. They came in quietly without any obstacles. It took only fifteen minutes. It was so easy because Mr. Corell, the popular storekeeper, prepared this town for the invasion. He had lent his sailboat to the policeman and the postman who were officials of the town for fishing for the day and when they insisted on their rights, they were locked up in town jail. He also had organized a shooting-competition for the local troops who didn’t have any experience in war, ended up either dead or half-dead riddled bundles or escaped.

 

2.  Describe the scene with Corell at the mayor’s palace. (pp. 13-14)

 

            Corell was exposed how he helped for the invasion by Colonel Lanser. Mayor Orden felt betray from Corell so he didn’t want to speak in Corell’s presence. However, Corell was proud of himself for what he did and believed in as an honorable thing, so he insisted to remain at the mayor’s palace.

 

3.  What did the Colonel want from Mayor Orden? (pp. 15-16)

 

            Colonel wanted Mayor Orden give the orders to the local people that continue to work so the coal to be shipped.

 

4.  How are Orden’s people different from what Colonel Lanser expects? (pp. 16-17)

 

            Orden’s people don’t like to have others think for them, which is different from what Colonel Lanser expects that people will obey the order to protect from harm.

 

5.  Why does the Colonel want his staff to live in the palace? (pp. 17)

 

            Colonel thinks that when a staff lives under the roof of the local authority, the people feel there is collaboration involved.

 

6.  What instructions has Colonel Lanser received about the local people? (P. 19)

 

            Colonel Lanser has received the instructions to get along with the local people.

 

7.  Do you think the people will cooperate with the invader? Why do you think that? (p. 19)

 

            Yes, I think the people will co-operate with the invader. Because the people think that the local authority seems to involve collaboration with invader. Even though the people are confused and so as the Mayor, but the Mayor said, “when a direction is set, we all act together”.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

 

1.  How does Colonel Lanser feel about this war? (p. 23) What does he really expect?

 

Colonel Lanser feels that war is treachery and hatred, the muddling of incompetent generals, the torture and killing and sickness and tiredness, until at last it is over and nothing has changed except for new weariness and new hatreds. He was not expected to question or to think, but only to carry out orders. Even though he sure about this war would be the same but he expects this war will be different. He really expects to make this war very different then other war.

 

2.  How does Lanser feel about the six men that were killed? (p. 31)

 

Lanser feels that it is better not to kill the six men even though he is not averse to killing people if that finishes it. He wishes their soldiers hadn’t come back.

 

3.  Briefly describe the conversation about Corell’s head bandage. (p. 31)

 

Lanser thought Corell’s head bandage is the evidence that someone threw a stone to kill Corell. But Corell denied the fact and said that this was just a stone fell from a cliff in the hills this morning. He insisted that their people aren’t fierce people and have forgotten about fighting.

 

4.  What does Corell want from Colonel Lanser? (pp. 33-34)

 

Corell wanted Colonel Lanser to appoint him as a Mayor, at first. But he realized that Lanser would keep the Mayor Orden for his better operation in this town. Since Colonel Lanser believed that the Mayor knows his people without asking, because he will think what they think. By watching him Colonel Lanser will know them well. So, later, Corell asked Lanser’s permission to wait for the reply from the capital.

 

5.  How does Lanser feel about Corell? (pp. 33-34)

 

Lanser feels about Corell that he is only a detriment and has no value in this town and also he will never again know what is going on here. Since no one respect him neither local people nor the invader, he’ll be in great danger without a guard. If Corell is not hated yet, he will be.

 

6.  What does Lanser want Corell to do? Why? (p. 34)

 

Lanser wants Corell leave this town and go back to the capital. Because he thinks that if any little revolt occurs, Corell will be the first one to be killed. This is the best way for Corell’s own safety.

 

7.  Explain Colonel Lanser’s story about the old woman. Why did he tell the story? What was the point? (pp. 35-36)

 

When the sweet, delicate, small old woman found out her son had been executed by enemies, she killed twelve men with her long black hatpin. Even though she was shot, the murders hadn’t stopped. The people got more severe to revenge the enemies cruelly. Colonel Lanser told this story because he knew that people could be changed more strong, brave and rough when they confronted with extremely desperate situation. Colonel Lanser’s point is that try not to make any silly errors if possible. A little incident draws to huge unnecessary deaths.

 

8.  Explain what happened to Captain Bentick. (p. 37)

 

When Captain Loft had about to relieved Captain Bentick as the colonel ordered, Captain Loft had some trouble about a recalcitrant miner who wanted to quit work. Captain Loft ordered him to work, the miner rushed at Captain Loft with his pick. When Captain Bentick tried to interfere, the miner killed him. And two stretcher-bearers brought him covered with blankets to the Colonel Lanser.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

 

 

1.  Identify the three most important ideas in Orden’s meeting with Molly Morden. (pp.44-45)

 

Mayor Orden knows that the invaders want to have a trial and hope to convince the people that there is justice involved. The people in town said Orden would sentence Alex. Mayor Orden wants to identify the three most important ideas while meeting with Molly Morden. First, he wants to find out the people want order or not since he doesn’t know what to do. Also he wants to know how they think about what method to use against an armed enemy. Last, Orden wants to show his position to Molly that he’ll not sentence him since Alex hasn’t committed crime against his people.

 

2.  Why do you think Mayor Orden wants his wife to stay with Molly during the trial? (p. 46)

 

Because Orden wants to get the idea what to decide on this trial from his wife, staying with Molly might find the people’s reaction during the trial.

 

3.  Why does Lanser want to try Alex? (pp. 47)

 

Because Colonel Lanser knows that punishment is largely for the purpose of deterring the potential criminal. Since he believed that punishment is for others than the punished. So he insists that it must be publicized and even be dramatized.

 

4.  Why does Lanser want from Mayor Orden regarding the trial? Why? (p. 48)

 

Colonel Lanser wants Mayor Orden to pass sentence of death on Alexander Morden after the trial. Because he believes this way makes the people accept Mayor’s decision and it will prevent much bloodshed later

 

5.  What is Orden’s point about the law? (p. 48)

 

Orden’s point about the law is that when the invaders came in killed six men, all of you, invaders already destroyed our law. But now Colonel Lanser ask Orden to follow the law is nonsense. There is no law between invader and defeated people.

 

6.  How does Colonel Lanser feel about Mayor Orden? (p. 49)

 

Colonel Lanser feels that Mayor Orden doesn’t have any tendencies of the military mind so he can’t be cooperated but strict order.

 

7.  What deal does Orden propose to Lanser? (p. 49)

 

If Lanser shoots his machine gun soldiers who killed Orden’s six troops, Orden will condemn Morden.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

 

 

1.  Explain the scene in which Alex sits rather than stands. What is Orden’s point? (p. 52)

 

Even though Loft said that it is customary for the prisoner to stand, Orden lets Alex sit down. Because Orden tries to make a point that Alex is not a prisoner but a victim of the war.

 

2.  Is Alex sorry? What is put into the record? (pp. 53-54)

 

Alex doesn’t feel sorry for whole incident. The record is put that the prisoner was overcome with remorse. Sentence is automatic.

 

3.  What was Mayor Orden’s main point in his goodbye speech to Alex? (p. 55)

 

Mayor Orden praised what Alex did for everyone on town. While no one knows what to do when invaders came in, Alex was the first one who shows his real feeling clearly. Alex’s private anger was the beginning of a public anger. Mayor will act same way with his people who feel the same as Alex. Thus invaders will have no rest at all until they are gone, or dead.

 

4.  What does Orden mean when he says, “I hope you know what you are doing”? (p. 55)

 

When Colonel Lanser orders Alex sentence to death in public, that’s the time people start to act in great anger, which means that no invaders will have secure any more. People will revenge on the invaders with hatred mind.

 

5.  What happens to Prackle? (pp. 55-56)

 

Right after Alex was sentenced to death, someone fired gunshot through the window; Lieutenant Prackle got shot on his shoulder badly.