57 pages • 1 hour read
Beneath a Scarlet Sky
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Essay Topics
Beneath a Scarlet Sky is a work of historical fiction. While you were reading, did you believe that the story was authentic? Why or why not?
Thinking about Rauff, Leyers, and some of the SS soldiers specifically, what moments in the book humanize these people?
When Anna catches Pino going through Dolly’s jewelry to find the key to Leyers’ valise, what was your initial reaction? Did you trust that Anna wasn’t going to inform Leyers about Pino being a spy? Why or why not?
After Leyers and Pino escape the ambush of the British fighter pilot, Leyers praises Pino and opens up to him about his personal life. Did this moment change how you felt about Leyers?
Are there people in the world who are 100% evil? Why or why not?
Why did Leyers save the four young boys and girls from Platform 21?
The end of the novel is left open and ambiguous. Was it satisfying to you as a reader? Why or why not?
When the Germans surrender, the Italians turn on each other and specifically execute those who were seen as helping the Germans, even if they didn’t fight for them. Do you think this violence is justifiable?
How is the novel similar to other historical fiction novels about World War II? How is it different?
How does Sullivan create drama in the story when we, as readers, already know the outcome of the war, and already know that Pino survives the story, considering he was interviewed as the source material of the book?
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