It takes courage to ride a bike without training wheels or go to summer camp in the next state over. That's not exactly what the kids in The Unvanquished have to summon up, however. Whether it's Yankee soldiers burning down their house, pointing guns at them and their Granny, or trying to take them prisoner, they've got a lot on their plate.
Bravery really has to take a starring role when the unthinkable happens, and the boys must grow up quickly so they can avenge their Granny. They leave home behind, go out into the big, scary woods, and face a big, bad villain. If that doesn't take courage, we don't know what does.
Questions About Courage
- Who is the most courageous character in The Unvanquished, and why?
- Do you think that the boys are courageous when they face down Grumby, or foolish? Or both?
- How does the war affect the characters' courageous acts? Would there be fewer of them if the novel were set in peacetime?
Chew on This
Granny is the most courageous character in the novel because she has to set aside her ladylike ways, which is much harder than being a wild warrior.
Bayard is the most courageous character in the novel for his crazy face-off, unarmed, against Benjamin Redmond.