Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Prior to 1941, the United States was not formally involved in World War II (WWII). What event changed the US’s stance on involvement? How did the US become involved in the war effort?

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to consider the historical context of the novel. Although the US was not formally involved in the first three years of WWII, equipment was sent to the Allied powers (France, the Soviet Union, the UK) in order to combat the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan); however, after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the US officially joined the Allies, focusing most of their support on the Pacific Theater (i.e., against Japan in the Pacific Ocean). Ultimately, US involvement contributed to the Allies’ defeat of the Axis powers four years later, first with Hitler’s death and the surrender of Nazi Germany, followed by Japan’s surrender after the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

• The US Embassy and Consulates in Russia website discusses US support for the Soviet Union prior to their WWII entrance in 1941.