Achillia: You may have trouble finding much information on Achillia and in fact, there may have been

more than one Achillia who fought as a gladiator or gladiatrix. Therefore, youll create Achillia as a composite of what you learn about her and other women gladiators. Ill first ask where and when Achillia as born, and then Ill ask about her life before she became a gladiator. Was she wealthy or poor? Did she have a husband and a family or was she single? Here, too, you can choose from the stories which youve read about her but also about other women gladiators. Then, Ill ask how and why Achillia became a gladiator: most women who fought chose to do so, for various reasons, including the sheer excitement and chance to win glory in the arena. How did the people who knew her react to her decision to fight, and what were the ranges of opinions by Romans about women gladiators? Ill then ask about her training as a gladiatorhow long did the training last, and what kinds of activities did the training involve? What types of weapons did she use during training? How well was she treated? What were the major methods of fighting which she learned? Then, Ill ask what type of gladiator she wasthere were a few major types, with their own names, weapons, styles, so you can pick one of these. How did she get the name Achillia, and what did that name mean? Ill then ask you to take us through a typical fight in the great Coliseum in Romewho did your gladiator fight? How did the two combatants get into the arena? What were the customs or rules of the fight? How long did a fight usually last? How bloodthirsty was the crowd, and how did the crowd react if the two gladiators werent drawing enough blood or fighting hard enough? Did Achillia always fight other women gladiators, or could she also have fought some men? When one opponent was disabled, what role did the crowd and/or the emperor play in determining whether the defeated one lived or died? What were the signs for life and for death which the crowd would give? Who had the last word on whether a defeated gladiator diedthe crowd? The emperor? The gladiator or gladiatrix himself or herself? Then, Ill ask about how often your gladiator fought, and whether she survived and eventually enjoyed a life after her career in the arena. How did gladiators get their freedom? Were they celebrated heroes and celebrities? Did they earn lots of money? How many gladiators, on average, survived a career in the arena? How many became trainers or owners of other gladiators? Finally, Ill ask if Achillia was troubled by the violence of the gladiatorial games, and what we could learn today about how to deal with social violence from her experiences. For example, does her career suggest that the gladiatorial fights actually made Rome more peaceful or kept mob violence in check?

Captain Ahab: First, I'll ask you when Moby Dick was published, and who wrote it. Then, I'll ask if the character of Captain Ahab was based on any

particular real person, and, if so, who? Or, did Melville invent Captain Ahab. Also, why did Melville choose this name for the character? What is the possible connection to King Ahab in the Bible, one of the kings of Israel or Judah in ancient times? Then, I'll ask you to tell Captain Ahab's story as told in "Moby Dick"--what is Ahab's back story as the novel begins? What is his obsession and why is he obsessed? You should read the famous passage from the book in which Ahab curses Moby Dick and pledges to pursue "past the gates of hell"--very famous! What are Ahab's physical marks and what do they signify about his personality? What are his plans for what Ishmael takes at first to be a pretty normal season of whale hunting? I'll also ask about Ahab's personality--why does he not appear to the crew for a while? Why does he pace? Then, I'll ask you to describe the scene in which Ahab draws in the crew and uses oaths and drink to bind them to his strange quest--you should read a passage from the book here to give us a sense of how Melville vividly describes it. Then, I'll ask you to describe what happened to Ahab when the white whale was spotted--what happens to Ahab in the chase? How does Ahab die, and how is a prophecy from earlier in the book about Ahab brought to fulfillment after Ahab's death? I'll then ask about the symbolism of Ahab and Moby Dick--this book is about spiritual and moral metaphors. What is the moral battle which the battle between Ahab and Moby Dick symbolize? Is Ahab a symbol of good, or a symbol of pride and arrogance, or just ego, gone too far? Here's where your secondary sources should help you. Finally, I'll ask why we should still read about Ahab and what we can learn from him today. See you in class--I look forward to your costume. A bathroom plunger turned upside down can make a good peg leg!

Leon Battista Alberti: Ill first ask when and where Alberti was born, and then Ill ask about his education. What topics did he study as a young man, and who were his teachers? What Greek and Roman classics of literature and philosophy did he study, and how did he learn about art and architecture? He has been called a great example of a Renaissance man or universal manwhy did he deserve this reputation? Did he apprentice with established artists and designers? If so, who taught him? Then, Ill ask you about the books which Alberti wroteyou should tell us about his writings on perspective, architecture, on sculpture, and on marriage and family. I would also like you to quote a couple of passages from these booksquotations which illustrate what he was teaching others about these topics and which illustrate how he was a universal man. Ill also ask you about the churches and other buildings which he designed, especially the

Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. What was his design for the faade or front of the church? What kinds of materials did he use, and what were the geometric shapes and how did he combine them? Ill put a photo of the church up on the screen, and you can answer these questions while we look at it. Did Alberti every marry and have children? How much did he influence the artists and writers of his time and later times? Louisa May Alcott: First, I'll ask when and where Louisa May Alcott was born. Then, I'll ask how she and her family felt about the issues of slavery and secession in the years before the Civil War. Did they have strong feelings about slavery? If so, what were those feelings? And how dedicated was she and family to preserving the Union? Who were the best known friends of her family, and how did they influence her views on these subjects? When the war began, how old was she, and did she have any men friends or relatives who volunteered for the Union army? Why did Louisa decide to help the Union cause, when did she begin to be a nurse and to care for wounded, and where was this? How did she react to what she saw? Here, I'll ask you to tell us one particular story from her writing about the sad and gory things she saw while helping the soldiers? How long did she continue as a nurse before she returned home? Did she get sick, and if so, what was the disease and how long did it last? What did her family think of her work--were they proud of her or did they think she was foolish? What was the name of the book which she wrote about her nursing experience? Did she help the Union cause in other ways besides nursing? I'll also ask about one of her most famous books, "Little Women"--when did she write this, and what did she write about her family or herself during the Civil War in the book? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn about women in the Civil War from her story. Alexander the Great: For Alexander the Great, I'll first ask when and where he was born--try to get as close to a precise year as you can. Then, I'll ask about his education with the philosopher Aristotle: what did he learn from Aristotle? How did Aristotle influence his later decision to move his armies so far from home? Then, I'll ask how he became king after his father Philip died. Did Alexander have any role in Philip's death? After Alexander became king, why did he invade the Persian Empire? What were his main goals? How big was his army when he cross over into Persian territory? I'll also ask you to list the major battles which Alexander fought against the Persians, and I'll ask you to describe the Battle of Gaugamela, which was the most important victory in crushing the Persians. You should be able to describe Alexander's plan for this battle and explain why he won it, even though he was outnumbered. How did he use his phalanxes and his cavalry to win at Gaugamela. How many years did it take Alexander to conquer Persia. Once he did defeat the Persians, what was Alexander's plan for the new empire

he created? You should talk about the expansion of trade and also his interest in blending Greek culture with Persian culture? How did he try to do this? Why didn't Alexander stop his conquests after Persian was beaten? Why did he go on eastward, and how far did he go before turning back? Then, I'll ask how and why he died, and how old he was when he died. What was his biggest regret in his young life? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from studying his life today. St. Ambrose: Ill first ask where and when Ambrose was born. Then, Ill ask about his education and his early careerwhat were the main topics which he learned and what was his first career path? How and why did he chose a life within the church. Did he have a powerful spiritual experience or was the religious life motivated by the influence and power he would have? How old was he when he became ordained as a priest, and how long did it take after that for him to become Bishop of Milan? As bishop, how did he use his influence with the emperor Theodosius to wage a campaign against Roman paganism, and how successful was he? What was his position on the Arians and their theology? Then, Ill get to the Altar of Victory controversy. What was this Altar of Victory, how long had it been in the Roman Senate, and what was its purpose? How did the pagan Romans feel about the altar, and what was Ambroses view of it? When was the altar removed from the Senate House, and what role did Ambrose have in getting it removed? When the Roman pagan Symmachus started petitioning the Emperor Gratian to return the Altar of Victory back to the Senate, how did Ambrose respond to this? When did he write his letter to the Emperor asking that the Altar stay out? What were his main arguments in this letter? Id like you to quote a passage of several lines from the letter which you think best expresses Ambroses purpose? Who won the controversy, and why? Besides this letter to the emperor, how many other books did Ambrose write, and what were the main topics which he wrote about? When did he die, and how much had he strengthened the political power of Christianity by the time of his death? When was he made a saint, and on what day of the year do Catholics celebrate him?

Bloody Bill Anderson: I'll first ask when and where Bill Anderson was born. Then, I'll ask how he felt about the major issues facing the North and South as he grew up, especially slavery and secession. Did he have a strong opinion on these topics? If so, what were his opinions? If not, why not? Then, I'll ask where he was living when the Civil War began in 1861--did he have a career or job? If so, what was it? Did he favor the Confederacy strongly when the war began, or did something happen to push him toward the South? You should talk about the deaths of some women he knew while they were in prison, and then describe how he reacted to their deaths. Why did he become a guerilla

leader? Why didn't he join the regular Confederate army? When did he raiding and guerilla fighting begin? How many guerilla did he ride with, and how soon did he become the leader of a band? How did he and his fellow guerillas try to damage the Union army--was it mostly ambushes of soldiers? Capturing of supplies? Or was it a combination of these? How did he get his nickname "Bloody" Bill? Did he and his men kill pro-Northern civilians? Did they murder or hang people? How did they mutilate their victims? Scalping? Cutting off body parts? Don't spare any details. Then, I'll ask you about the infamous raid at Centralia, and I'll ask what happened--be ready to tell us this story in detail. When did Bill himself get killed, and how did it happen? Why did he kill so viciously? Was it being mentally deranged? Or was it just something which he found that he enjoyed? You should rely on the theories provided in your sources. Finally, I'll ask what "Bloody" Bill's career can teach us about the Civil War. Ankhesenamun: I'll first ask when and where Ankhesenamun was born, and what were name meant. I'll then ask about her growing up in the royal and ruling family, and why and how she was married off to members of her family. Which family members did she marry, how long did each marriage last, and how did she come to marry Tutankhamun? What was her relationship to Tutankhamun? I believe he was her half-brother, but check this to make sure. Then, I'll ask how old she was when she married Tut, how old he was, and how long they ruled Egypt together. What were their main accomplishments during their reign? You should talk about the return from the worship of the god Aton back to the more traditional God Amun, which is signified in both her name. How close were she and Tut? There are images of Tut and her together from a throne in Tut's tomb, which you should describe--it shows her putting on Tut's jewelry and perhaps perfume. I can display this on the screen--you should be able to search google image and find it--it's a scene on a wooden, painted throne found in Tut's tomb. Check with me to make sure you have the right one. Did she have any children from her earlier marriages or her marriage with Tut? Then, I'll ask her how Tut died--there is ongoing research on this, and the idea that he was murdered is no longer supported by the Cat scans which have been done on his body. Make sure to use the website which is on our Moodle class site--it will give you pretty updated information--the focus is now on either Tut's knee and an accident or on a degenerative disease which he had. You can go with the explanation which you find has the most persuasive evidence for it. Then, I'll ask what happened to Ankhesenamun after Tut died--what about her request to a Hittite prince to marry him? You should find the ancient letter from her to the Hittite prince--it still exists. Did she marry this prince or did she end up marrying someone else? Did she rule Egypt by herself, or was she pushed out of the way for the next male ruler? How and when did she die? Her death is still something of a mystery, but try to find out what historians' best guess is.

Lewis Armistead: I'll first ask you when and where Armistead was born, and about his education as a soldier--did he go to West Point? How well did he do there? Where was he stationed in the army before the Civil War, and what was the highest rank he earned? Then, I'll ask about his friendship with Winfield Scott Hancock--when and where did they meet and how close was their friendship in California? How many years did they stay in California as friends? Then, I'll ask about why Armistead chose the South when the war came, and how Hancock chose the North. How did Armistead feel about leaving his friend Hancock to fight on the other side? Tell us about the pledge they made not to fight against each other in the war if possible. Then, I'll move to Armistead's career during the war--what were the major battles he fought in and how many troops did he command as part of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia? I'll them move to the battle of Gettysburg--what happened to Armistead and his men on July 3, during Pickett's Charge? How did Armistead die? He knew that Hancock's men were opposing him, and did Armistead ever get to see Hancock on that day before he died? Where was Armistead buried? Finally, I'll ask what the story of Armistead and his friendship with Hancock can teach us about the civil war. See you in class, Louis Armstrong: I'll first ask when and where Louis Armstrong was born, and then I'll ask who influenced him in his desire to play music? Was it his parents, or where he grew up? What were the bands and types of music which he loved when he was young? Then, I'll ask how he broke into the jazz scene--when, where, and with what band did Armstrong begin to play? What did people think of his sound on the trumpet? What stood out about his sound and made it unique? When did he break away from King Oliver's bad and form his own band? In which cities was jazz developing the most, and how did Armstrong influence the development of jazz, especially the trumpet jazz solo? I'd like you to play selections from at least two of his pieces and then I'll ask you to describe them and what made them so popular and innovative. You can pull these up on You tube or bring them to class on a CD. After we play his music and you talk about it, I'll ask you about his singing and recording career--when did he record his first record and about how many recordings did he make? Then, if there's time, I'll ask about his later career on a star on television guest shows and as a singer. Who were the jazz musicians which he influenced the most? Finally, I'll ask why we should still listen to his music and what we can learn from it. Marcus Aurelius: For Marcus Aurelius, I'll first ask when and where he was born. Was he from a rich and noble Roman family or a poor one? What kind of education did he get? Then, I'll ask how and when he became emperor--was he favored by the previous emperor? I'll also ask about his sharing of the title and

how he eventually came to be the sole Roman emperor. Then, I'll ask you what his greatest achievements as emperor were--you should focus on his wars against both the Germans and the Parthians and his defense of Rome's frontiers as one of the achievements. You can then choose the other achievement on your own and describe it. I'll also ask about his writing of his book of "Meditations", which reflect his Stoic beliefs. I'd like you to read at least two of his sayings from this book and then explain what they mean in your own words. If you find a good translation of the "Meditations", it should have some notes to help you. Then, I'll ask you what his greatest mistake was as emperor and what he would do differently about it if he could. I'll also ask you how long he ruled and who he picked as his successor as emperor. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study his life and what we can learn from him today. Francis Bacon: First, Ill ask where and when Francis Bacon was born. Then, Ill ask about his educationwhich schools and colleges did he attend, and what were the main topics which he studied there? How did his political career begin, and what political offices did he hold? How far did he rise in the government of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I? How and why did he fall from political power, and get pushed out of politics? How and when did he become interested in science? What were the main scientific discoveries and writings during his youth, which inspired him? For example, did he know about Galileo in astronomy or William Harvey in blood circulation? Did Bacon become a scientist himself, or did he mainly write about science? What were his most famous and important books about science and society? Ill ask you about his book Novus Organon or New Organ. What was his main message about science, knowledge, and society in this book? What was the Baconian method of practicing science which Bacon argued for? What were the four idols of society, and why did Bacon think each idol would prevent the gaining of knowledge? Why is Bacon considered the founder of empiricism and what does ikt mean? How did Bacon think science would change society: for the better mainly or for the worse, and why? What were the three inventions which Bacon thought had changed the world so much? If we have time, Ill also ask you about his book New Atlantiswhat was this book about, and what was Bacons message in it. Finally, Ill ask you how Bacon influenced later scientists and the development of science after his time. Lucille Ball: For Lucille Ball, I'll first ask when and where she was born, and was Lucille Ball her real name or if it was a Hollywood name she took later. I'll then ask how and why she became interested in show business and entertainment, and who influenced her in that direction. When did she first begin to make movies, and how many movies did she make? What types of roles did she play most often in the movies? Then, we'll move to when she met Desi Arnaz--where and how did they meet? Where was Desi from and what kind of performer was he? How soon were they married, and how many children did they have? Then, we'll move to her famous TV show "I love Lucy"--when did it first air on television? Who produced it? Was it Desi, or did Lucy also help produce? How directed the show? What made the show so funny and so popular, in Lucy's

opinion? I'll then show the clip from "Lucy in the Candy Factory" and I'll ask you to tell us a little more about how that episode reflected a reversal of accepted roles for men and women. What kind of message about American society did Lucy want to portray in her show? Did she ever feature any serious or negative issues in the show, or was it always light-hearted and fun? Who were some of the famous movie stars who appeared on her show? If there's time, I'd also like to put her "Vitametavegamin" clip, which is very funny, too. How many years did "I Love Lucy" air on tv, and what was its last year. If there's time, I'll also ask you about her split from Desi and how that changed her life, and about her later tv show "The Lucy Show". Finally, I'll ask what we can still learn today by watching "I Love Lucy".

Clyde Barrow: I'll first ask you where and when Clyde Barrow was born. When did Clyde first get into trouble with the law, and what crimes did he commit? Had he spent time in jail before he met Bonnie? If so, how long? Then, I'll ask about how and when he met Bonnie Parker and what he thought of her. What attracted him to her? What attracted her to him? Then, I'll ask when the two of them started to get into trouble with the law, and what kind of trouble it was. When did they start robbing banks, how long did their crime spree last, how wide an area did it cover, and about how many banks did they rob? Why did Clyde do this? Was it the excitement, the money, or a combination? Was he in love with Bonnie--did they ever plan to get married? I'd like you to describe one of these robberies in a little more detail so we can get an idea of how they did it. Also, how many people were in the gang? How many people did the gang kill in these robberies? Was Clyde always the leader of the gang? Did he personally kill many people? If so, who were they? What did Clyde think of the publicity which he and Bonnie received? I'll also ask you about when they were ambushed and killed--go into some detail on this event. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study Clyde's story and what we can learn from it today. Hector Berlioz: I'll first ask you where and when Hector Berlioz was born. Then, I'll ask you how and why he became interested in music. Was his family already musical--did he get the interest from them? Or were there other people or events which inspired him? Did he have formal education and music training? If so, where did he study and what did he specialize in? Then, I'll ask when he first began composing music--what type of music was it? You should talk about his "Symphonie Fantastique", and you should play a short selection from it (about 1 to 2 minutes is long enough) and then I'll ask you about it. What made this symphony unique and different from earlier music? How many movements were in this symphony, and how and why did he change the traditional number of movements? What does the title "Fantastique" mean? What kind of moods did

Berlioz want to reflect in this symphony? How did the music reflect the "fantastique" or "fantastic" of the title--What was "program" music, and how did this symphony fit into that type of music? When did he finish this symphony and when was it first performed? How did people respond to it? What were the major messages in the music? If there's time, I'll ask you how many musical compositions Berlioz wrote, and I'll also ask what his best known composition was, besides the "Symphonie Fantastique". Finally, I'll ask why we should still listen to his music today and what we can learn from it. Mary Mother Bickerdyke: I'll first ask where Mary Bickerdyke was born. Then, I'll ask about her life before the Civil War began--did she marry and have a family? Did she enter a profession? Was she a nurse already with experience when the war began? Why did she side so strongly with the Union? Was it her views against slavery, or was it her deep feeling for the Union? Then, I'll ask how she got involved with helping the Union soldiers with their health and sanitation. What motivated her to volunteer and to go to the armies to inspect the conditions in the camps and hospitals? Was she working with the U.S. Sanitary Commission, or did she work independently on her own? Where and when did she first visit the soldiers' camps, and which Union army did she visit? What were the conditions in the hospital and camp, and what did she do to improve these conditions? You should tell us a particular story here, with lots of gory detail, to illustrate how things were and how Mary was determined to improve it. What did she teach the soldiers about proper drinking supply, preventing disease, cleaning up, and cooking? Did she meet much opposition from Union officers because she was a woman? If so, how did she deal with it? Did she ever back down in the face of this opposition? Here, you should find a good story to illustrate her courage and her determination. Why did the soldiers nickname her "mother"? How did she get along with the soldiers and what did she call them? Did Mary travel and stay with one particular army, or did she travel from one army to another, coordinating sanitary work and improving health conditions? What did Union General Sherman say about Mary when one of his officers complained that she was interfering too much with his men and his camp? Is there any particular episode which dramatically shows how Mary's actions actually saved lives? Did she write about her experiences during the war? Was she paid for all of her work, or was she strictly a volunteer? If there's time, I'll ask about how long Mary lived after the war, and what she did as a profession afterward. Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from studying her life. Black Elk: First, I'll ask where and when he was born and which tribe he belonged to. Was there a significance or special meaning behind his name? As he grew up, did he encounter white people much at all? When did he first become aware of them, and what was his word for them in his language? Was the young Black Elk really aware of the threat

of white settlement and encroachment on their lands? Then, we'll move to his visions. How old was he when Black Elk see his first vision? What did he see in the vision, and did he know what it meant? How many other visions did he have while he was young, and what was the message communicated to him about his people and their future in these visions? How did these visions set Black Elk apart and make him a spiritual figure? I think there were several visions which he describes, and we won't have time for you to describe them all, but hopefully you can summarize them for us. Did he have a title similar to "Holy Man"? Did others come to him asking for help with interpreting signs or dreams? Then, we'll move ahead to the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876--how old was Black Elk then, and did he see the battle first-hand? Did he participate in the fighting, or was he too young? What important thing did he do during the battle which was a rite of passage into manhood? Later, in the years after the battle, did Black Elk follow his people on to the reservation, giving up their lands? If he did, why did he go? Did he advocate more for war against the whites or for peace and accommodation to white expansion? What was life like on the reservation, according to him? How did it threaten the identity and lifestyle of his people? Finally, I'll ask about where he was when Wounded Knee happened--was he there or nearby? Did he see the massacre or see the bodies afterward? Did he have a vision concerning this event too, before it happened? What conclusion about the future of his people did he draw from the massacre? When did Black Elk share his memories, which became the book "Black Elk Speaks"? Who wrote down these memories and who translated them into English? How did Black Elk spend his later years? Blandina: I'll first ask when and where she was born, and how she became a Christian. Was she born into a Christian family, or was she converted to Christianity by someone? Where did she grow up, and what was her social status--was she a slave, peasant, or wealthy person? Then, I'll ask about what happened to her when the Christians began to be persecuted by the Romans. What did the Roman authorities think of Christians, and why did they launch a persecution at that time? Did the Romans capture people just because they were Christians, or did Christians have to break some other law first? How did the Romans try to make the Christians curse Christ? How was Blandina treated and how did she suffer? Did she ever turn her back on her faith or denounce Christ? How was she tortured? You should tell us about her being burned, put in prison, beaten, and being fed to the lions in the arena. What happened when the lions came up to her? Was it considered a miracle? Did Blandina curse the Romans or get angry, or did she remain quiet and peaceful through all of this? How was she finally killed? When was she made a saint of the Roman Catholic church, and what is her saints' day in the Roman Catholic calendar today? What can we learn from her example?

Humphrey Bogart: Ill first ask where and when Humphrey Bogart was born, and when and why he first became interested in acting. Was it his first choice of a career? Or did he try other jobs first and then come to acting later? Did Bogart ever study acting in school, or did he just start acting and learn by doing? What were his first acting roles on stage, and how successful was he? What was the stage play which brought Bogart attention, and when did Bogart begin to act in the movies, and for which studio did he work in the beginning? What kinds of roles did he play in his first movies, and what was the movie which first got him attention? Bogart was famous as an actor for his lisp, which gave him a distinctive sounddid he speak that way from childhood, or did something happen which caused the lisp, and if so, what happened? What about his trademark scarhow did he get that? What were his difficulties working for the Warner Brothers studiowhy didnt Bogart like his work there and his working situation? Then, well move to one of Bogarts most famous rolesas Rick in Casablancawhen did he make this movie, when was the movie set, and what kind of person was his character Rick? What was the main story in the film, and what was his characters relationship with Ingrid Bergmans character? What did Bogarts character Rick do at the end of the movie which became one of the most famous movie endings? Id like you to play a clip of his last scene with Ingrid Bergman, where Bogart says the famous lines: Heres looking at you kid. Great scene! Which Academy Awards did Casablanca win? Then, Ill move to Bogarts role in The African Queen and his co-starring with Katherine Hepburn. What was the name of Bogarts character in this film, and what was the main story and the reason that he ended up with Katherine Hepburns character on a boat on a river? What happened to the two of them, why was it so dangerous, and how did their relationship change as the movie went on? Id also like you to pick a clip from the movie which shows the two of after they have become closeyou can choose one which shows how well they acted together. How popular was the film? How many times did Bogart get nominated for Best Actor and how many times did he win, and for which movies? After The African Queen, Ill ask you about Bogarts stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy and his House Un-American Committees attacks on Hollywood for being Communist. How did Bogart respond when some of his fellow actors were called before the Committee on suspicion of their being Communists? Did Bogart ever get called to testify before the Committee? Did his stand against McCarthy hurt Bogarts career? How many movies did Bogart make during his career and when did he make his last film? John Wilkes Booth: I'll first ask where and when John Wilkes Booth was born, and why he grew up sympathizing with the South rather than the North. What did he do for a living before and during the Civil War? How did he help the Confederate cause when the

war began? Did he enlist to fight for the Confederates? Why or why not? What was his opinion of President Lincoln during the war? Then, I'll ask you about his plot to kidnap Lincoln--who were the people who helped him develop this plan? What did he plan to do with Lincoln once he kidnapped the president? Did Booth ever try to kidnap Lincoln? Did he ever come close to trying this? Then, I'll ask when Booth changed his plan to killing Booth. Who else was in on this plot, and who besides Lincoln was going to be killed? What was Booth's hope by doing this? Did he think the South could still win its independence this way? Or was he just after revenge, or a combination of both? Then, we'll move to the day of the assassination--we saw a brief summary in the video yesterday, but I'd like you to go into more detail and how Booth prepared for the assassination. You should describe what happened, and how successful the other parts of the plot. What did Booth really cry out as he leaped onto the stage? Where did he go after he left the theatre? Did he find a doctor to work on his leg and who was the doctor? Did this doctor get into trouble for doing this? What did Southerners think of Booth--did they praise him as a hero or condemn his murder of Lincoln? How many days was Booth on the loose, and when and where was he caught? What are some of the thoughts he left in his diary during this time? How as Booth killed? Why didn't Booth surrender? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from studying his life. Lucrezia Borgia: I'll first ask where and when Lucrezia Borgia was born. Who was her father, how much wealth and political power did he have, and how did this help Lucrezia get a good education? What subjects and writings from the Greek and Roman period did she study, and who were her teachers? Did she write books of her own or paint herself? Would you call her a "Humanist" like the men of her time? Then, we'll move to her complicated family relations: How many times did Lucrezia get married, who did she marry, and did she want to marry any of these men? Was she forced to marry and re-marry by her father and brother? Why? How did Lucrezia become a tool in the political ambitions of her Borgia family? How much was she involved herself in these political alliances and dealings, or how much did she just submit to what her father wanted her to do? How much did she push back against them or eventually marry the person whom they chose for her? How did her marriages work out, and what kind of relationship did she have with her husbands? Did she have children with any of them, and if so, how many? Was she a devoted mother who spent much time with her children, or did she follow other pursuits and leave her children to nurses or nannies? What was Lucrezia's relationship with her brother Cesare like? What kinds of rumors spread about them and about Lucrezia and her lifestyle? Were many of these rumors actually true? How did Lucrezia come to be stained with the "Borgia" label, because of what her brother Cesare had done? What can Lucrezia teach us about women during the Renaissance? Boudicca: I'll first ask when and where Boudicca was born and what tribe of the British people she was a part of. Then, I'll ask how she became leader or queen of her people or tribe. I'll then ask about the relationship between her kingdom

and the Romans--were the Romans already in Britain when Boudicca was growing up and taking charge of her tribe? What were relations between her people and herself and the Romans like? Was it peaceful at first, with trade? Did Roman culture or other Roman ideas have much influence on her? What took Boudicca and her people to the point of revolting against the Romans? What did the Romans do to her family personally and to her people which caused her to want to fight? Then, I'll ask you when her revolt began and how big the revolt against Rome was--how many tribes and about how many total people were involved? I'll ask you how successful the revolt was in its early stages--how many Roman towns did they capture and burn? What did the British do to Romans who were captured--how did they treat them? Give us the good, gory details here--don't hold back! Then, I'll ask how and why the Romans eventually stopped the revolt, and defeated Boudicca's army. Was it mainly because of a lack of discipline among her people, or did the Romans just bring in many extra troops? I'll also ask what happened to Boudicca--was she captured and executed? Or did she escape? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from her story today. Madame Bovary: I'll first ask who wrote the novel "Madame Bovary" and when it was published. Then, I'll ask you if Flaubert based the character of Madame Bovary on any particular real person, or if he invented her completely and used her as a symbol for other women like her. I'll then ask you to tell us the main plot or storyline--what happens to Emma Bovary through the book, and how does she deal with and adapt to these events? You should describe her lifestyle with her first husband and any children which they have. Then, you should describe how she becomes so disillusioned with her first husband and how she meets and then starts a love affair (I think the lover was Leon, but check me on that). Why does she start this love affair? What does she need which she can't find at home (sex, yes, but besides that what does she long for?). Then, I'll ask you how she moves out of her first marriage and how the relationship with her lover develops, and how it ends. I'll also ask you what Flaubert's main message was about middle class life, marriage, and women in this novel? How does Madame Bovary represent so many real women? Is Madame Bovary a sympathetic character that the reader feels sorry for, and is she really presented as a pathetic figure who is to blame for all of her problems? I'll also ask you about what happens to her after her love affair ends--does she marry again? If so, how does it work out? If not, why not? How does her life end? I would like you to find at least two quotations of several sentences each to read to us in order to reveal Madame Bovary's personality well. After you read each quotation, I'll ask you to comment on it and explain the message it conveys. What happens to Madame Bovary at the end of the book? How did people respond to this book? Was it popular? Did people condemn it as immoral? Why? Finally, I'll ask why we should still read the novel today and what we can learn from it. Belle Boyd: I'll start by asking where and when Belle Boyd was born, and then I'll ask

about why she was such a strong Southern patriot during the Civil War, and why she decided to become a spy. Was she approached by someone in the Confederacy to spy, or was she inspired to help by Stonewall Jackson and his Shenandoah Valley campaign, or was it something else? I'll also ask about her specific spy missions: what kind of information did she get, how did she get it, and then how did she get it to the Confederates? How did she help Stonewall Jackson's troops during the Shenandoah Valley campaign? Did she ever get caught or come close to being caught? How long was she a spy--throughout the entire war or for just short periods of time? Besides spying, how else did she help the Confederate cause? I'll also ask if her family suffered because of the war and the invasion and destruction of the Shenandoah valley, and then, if there's time, I'll ask you to summarize her life after the war. I believe she became an actress, so you should tell us briefly about that. Finally, I'll ask you why we should still learn about Belle Boyd today and what she can teach us? Matthew Brady: I'll first ask where and when Matthew Brady was born. Then, I'll ask how and why he became interested in photography. Did he know he wanted to study it when he was young? Where did he learn the craft of photography and when did he open his first photography business? What type of photographs did he specialize in before the Civil War began, and how successful was his business? Then, after the Civil War began, how did he expand his business and what kinds of photographs did he mostly take early in the war? Why did he decide to start photographing the dead after battle, and what was the first battlefield that he went to? When did Brady set up his exhibit of Antietam photographs in his studio, and how did the public respond to them? Did Brady himself take most of these dead soldier photos, or did he hire people to take most of the photographs? Did his workers often pose the dead to make shots look more pitiful or dramatic? How many people worked for him during the war? Also, I'll ask how long it took to take a photograph and then how long it took to develop it then. How many photographs of President Lincoln did he take, and which one of these has became the best known? I'll put an image of it up on the screen. I'll also ask you to tell us about the portrait which he made of Robert E. Lee shortly after the war ended (Lee is standing on the steps of his home), and also, I'd like you to show his photograph of a dead soldier after the Battle of Gettysburg. I'll put them up on the screen, and then I'll ask you to talk about when the photographs were made, and what messages Brady was trying to express in the photographs. I'll ask you about how many photographs Bradys and his workers made during the war, and then, I'll ask what happened to his photographs of the war after 1865, when the war ended. Where did they end up? How much money did Brady make off them? Finally, I'll ask what Brady's photographs of war can teach us today about how photos and other images can influence peoples' attitudes toward war.

Bramante: I'll first ask you when and where Bramante was born? Then, I'll ask about the Humanist education which he received: who taught him, where did he study, and how broad was the range of topics which he learned about? Which Greek and Roman writers, thinkers, and artists or architects did he focus on? Which of these classical figures inspired him to undertake the profession of architect? Was it his first and early choice, or did he train in other fields first? Or was he inspired more by those who lived just before or during his own time? If so, who served to inspire him? When and with whom did Bramante do his apprenticeship, and was he trained more in painting, architecture, or both? How old was Bramante when he began to receive his own commissions and do his early work, where was he living, and what types of commissions did he get early on? What was his most important and prominent early architectural design, how long did it take him to design and have it built, and what artistic qualities of Bramante did it display? How was this early work unique from his predecessors? How did Bramante envision and use spaces differently from earlier and contemporary architects? Then, I'll move to how and when Bramante moved to Rome and became the servant of Pope Julius II. Why did Julius put so much trust in Bramante to allow him to design a new St. Peter's cathedral and complex? When did Bramante begin this design, and what was his vision for not only the cathedral but the surrounding structures? How did this design and the scope of the project change over time--what was added or deleted? Was the dome Bramante's idea, or was it exclusively Michelangelo's idea? How far along did Bramante see this massive project by the time of his death? How much of Bramante's ideas were still to be finished after his death? How much of the later features of St. Peter's were not even in Bramante's plans? Then, we'll move to Bramante's relationship with Michelangelo? Was it full of tension as Stone depicts in the novel? Were Bramante and Michelangelo at odds with each other or jealous of each other? Was Bramante involved in saddling Michelangelo with painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling? If so, why? What did Bramante think of Michelangelo's plans for the tomb of Pope Julius and with Michelangelo's design and theme for the Sistine ceiling? Finally, I'll ask how Bramante's vision and designs fit into the period known as the "High" Renaissance, which is the period still so admired today. Brutus: For Brutus, I'll first ask where and when he was born. Then, I'll ask about his education--who were his tutors and what were the main subjects he studied as a student? Then, I'll ask about the political offices which he held as a young man, and I'll also ask how he came to know Julius Caesar. I'll ask you about Brutus' mother long-term affair with Julius Caesar and about whether Brutus could have actually been Caesar's child. Did Julius Caesar help advance Brutus in a political career? If so, how? How close was Brutus to Caesar during this phase of their lives? How old was Brutus when he became a member of the Roman Senate, and how much did Caesar help Brutus get this position? Then, I'll ask about how Brutus felt as he saw Julius Caesar fight Pompey in a civil war-which side did Brutus support and why? Did Caesar punish Brutus for choosing the wrong side or forgive Brutus? Then, I'll ask about how Brutus reacted as Caesar became sole ruler of Rome and then became dictator for life. What did Brutus think of Caesar's

drive for power? Did Brutus fear that the Senate was losing its power completely? Who came up with the plot to kill Caesar? Was it Brutus, or did somebody else come to Brutus with the idea? Why did Brutus go along with the conspiracy to kill Caesar, especially when Caesar and Brutus were supposed to have been so close? Did Brutus want to restore the Roman Senate to power, or was he thinking of becoming a dictator like Caesar? Did Brutus think of himself as a "freedom fighter" trying to end dictatorship and tryanny? Then, I'll move to the day of the assassination--how many conspirators were there, who were their main leaders, and when and where did they strike Caesar? Did Brutus also stab Caesar? Did Caesar say anything to Brutus at this point? If so, what did Caesar say? Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar" records Caesar as saying "Et tu, Brute?" or "You, too, Brutus"? Do the primary sources support this? Then, I'll ask about what happened to Brutus after the assassination. Why did Brutus and the other conspirators flee Rome? How big was the army which Brutus raised, and who came against him in battle? What was the outcome of these battles, and what happened to Brutus in the end? Finally, I'll ask why Brutus' role in killing Caesar was so important for Rome, and if Brutus really deserves his reputation through history as the ultimate "back stabber" or betrayer. You should defend Brutus and his reputation. Anthony Burns: First, Ill ask where and when Anthony Burns was born, and what life was like for him growing up as a slave. Did he stay with one slave master, or was he sold at least once? What job or jobs did he do as a slave? Was he able to learn to read and write as a slave? Was he whipped? Did he know his parents? Then, Ill ask when and how he escaped. How old was he when he got to the North? Who helped him escape, and how well did he do in Boston finding a job and making a living? How long had he been in Boston when he was re-captured by his former slave owner? What happened when Burns was put in jail in Boston? How did abolitionists try to free him? Did they resort to violence? Did they storm the jail? Did anyone get wounded or die in this attempt? Did the abolitionists try to buy Burns freedom? In the end, how long did Burns stay back in slavery before his freedom was bought? Then, where did he settle and how did he join the campaign against slavery? Was he an effective anti-slavery speaker? Did he write his story as a slave and a freed slave? Did he fight in the Civil War, and did he get married and have a family which was free? How important was his re-capture in 1854 in pushing the nation toward Civil War? What can we learn today about race in America from his story? What moral lessons can we draw from his story which can inspire us today? Calamity Jane: I'll first ask you when and where she was born, and what her real name was. Then, I'll ask you about how she got to the West and how she ended up pretty much

on her own. What happened to her family? I'll also ask you why she spent so much time with men and why she often dressed and worked like a man--was it just necessary for her to survive? Or was she just more comfortable being more active? What types of jobs did she do in the West, and where did she live most of the time? Did she really serve as a scout for the army and for General Custer? Also, how did she get her nickname "Calamity" Jane? I'll also ask you about her love for Wild Bill Hickock, and if he ever loved her back, or whether they were even friends. What did she do when Wild Bill was killed? Then, I'll ask about her drinking--didn't she become notorious for being an alcoholic, or was that a myth? Did she ever get married and if so, how many times and to whom? Then, I'll ask about the creation of her "myth" as the frontier woman of dime novels--did she help create this myth? Did she write books about herself, or did others make her into a myth? And, finally, what about her daughter--did she maintain contact with her daughter? Finally, I'll ask you why we should still study Calamity Jane's life and what we can learn from her. She's a fun character--go ahead and bring in a bottle with fake "whiskey" in it--it'll make it more fun. Lt. William Calley: I'll first ask when and where William Calley was born, and then I'll ask how he became interested in serving in the military. When and where did he join the army, and why did she choose the army instead of the other branches of the service? Did he also attend college and ROTC to become an officer? When did he see his first action in Vietnam, and what was his regiment and rank within that regiment? How did he react to the combat conditions in Vietnam? Was it frustrating that he and his men couldn't always see the enemy or identify them? How many casualties did his unit take, and what were the main causes of these wounds? Snipers? Booby traps or mines? How frustrated did he become trying to keep his men safe? Then, we'll move to the My Lai incident. Where was this village, and what were Calley's precise orders about the village? Did he and his men expect to find Viet Cong when they went in? Were there many Viet Cong there? How much opposition did his men find? Then, I'll ask how the shooting of civilians started? Did Calley order this, or did his men just start killing civilians? Did Calley try to stop this killing when it started, or did he participate in it and even encourage it? How long did this killing go on, and how many Vietnamese people were killed at My Lai? How many of these were women and children or older people? How many of Calley's men were wounded or killed that day? Did anyone try to stop Calley and his men from the killing? What about Lt. Thompson in his helicopter? What did he do to try and stop things? Then, we'll move to his trial--when were charges pressed against Calley and what were the charges? Did his superior officer also get accused? What about his military trial? What were Calley's main arguments (or the arguments of his lawyer) against the charges? Did Calley's own men testify against him or for him, or

both? What was the verdict, and how much of the sentence did Calley actually serve? What did he feel about the trial and the verdict? Did he feel he had been made a scapegoat? Or did Calley eventually admit that what he had done was wrong and criminal? Did he ever go back to Vietnam or ever apologize to the people there? What did he do with his life after he was released? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from his story. Tunis Campbell: For Tunis Campbell, I'll first ask when and where he was born and where he grew up. Then, I'll ask what kind of an education did he receive? I'll also ask about the prejudice or discrimination which he faced growing up black. I'll ask about his role in the Civil War? Did he fight for the Union or serve in another capacity during the war? How did he try to help the freed slaves of the South? After the war, how did his political career start? What party did he belong to, and what was the first political office which he held? What was the highest political office he held during Reconstruction, and how long did he serve in this office? What were his main goals and what did he actually manage to achieve during the Reconstruction period? Did he face threats and physical violence from the Ku Klux Klan or other white groups? Was his life in danger? How did he respond to this danger? How and why was he expelled from Congress, and how did he get back to Congress, and for how long did he serve in Congress altogether? I'll also ask how he ended up on a chain gang and in prison for a year, and what he did after that. Finally, I'll ask what we can learn about race relations then but also what his story can teach us today, when we are still dealing with problems between black and white Americans. Rachel Carson: I'll ask when and where she was born. Then, I'll ask about her education: where did she go to college and why did she decide to study biology and the environment? Who influenced her in this decision? What was her degree in, and when did she graduate? Did she teach or did she main conduct research? When did she publish her first book, what was this book named and what was it about? How popular was it? What were the names of her next two books, and what was her main topic in these books? Then, I'll ask when and why she began to study the effects of DDT--what did these letters stand for and what was DDT? What was it used for? How long did she study its effects, and what were her main conclusions about it? When did she publish her book "Silent Spring", and what kinds of evidence did she present in it about the damage done by pesticides to the environment? How did people react to this book? How influential was this book on the environmental movement? I'd like you to quote a couple of passages from the book to illustrate her writing style and her message. Was there opposition by the companies which made DDT? Did her book lead to new government

regulations or a ban on DDT? If so, when did that ban happen? What other work did she do to help promote conservation and protection of the environment? Did she ever marry and have children? Did she have a companion or fellow worker with whom she spent much time? When did she die, and what was her place as a leader in the environmental movement until her death? Mary Cassatt: As for Mary Cassatt, I'll first ask when and where she was born. Then, I'll ask who or what events influenced her interest in art, and whether she received formal training in art, and if so, where she attended. Then, I'll ask about her early art--what kind of topics or subjects was she drawn to, and what was her style? Did she paint in oils, watercolors, or a combination? Did she fit into the "Impressionist" school of painting? Why or why not? Which of the Impressionists influenced her the most? When and how did she became a well established and successful artist? At this point, I'd like to put up two of her paintings from this period, which you can choose, and then I'll ask you to tell us about each painting in detail, explaining what is depicted, her inspiration for each painting, and the overall message. How did her paintings reflect her own life? Did she have a family and children? She became best known for her paintings of children, so at least one of these would be good. How widely did her art become known? Was she more popular in America or in Europe? How did her art change as she got older? Finally, I'll ask you what we can still learn from her painting today. Butch Cassidy: Ill first ask when and where Butch Cassidy was born, and what his real name was. Then, Ill ask how old he was when he started getting into trouble. What kind of trouble was it, and who influenced him in this direction? Did he have regular or straight jobs at times, too? Then, Ill ask why he took the name Butch Cassidy and when he formed his first gang. What was their first main robbery? What kinds of jobs did they pull: did they rustle cattle mostly, or rob banks and trains? When did Butch meet the Sundance Kid, and when did he form the gang the Wild Bunch? When did they pick the Hole in the Wall as their hide-out, and where was this? How isolated and protected was the Hole in the Wall from law officers? Ill then ask you about the robberies of Butchs gang against the Union Pacific railroadhow many times did the Wild Bunch rob the train, and how did they stop the train and get the money? Did they have to use explosives, as depicted in the 1969 movie about them? Were the robberies widely known, and did they help make Butch and the Wild Bunch well known? Did Butch or his men have to shoot and kill people in these robberies? Did Butch ever kill anyone during one of the jobs? Then, Ill ask about how the railroad sent posses after Butch and Sundancehow long did they pursue Butch, and how close did they come to catching him before he decided to leave for South America? Did Butch and Sundance

really jump from a cliff to escape the posse, as depicted in the 1969 movie? When did Butch, Sundance, and Etta Place go, and where did they settle in South America? How long did it take before they turned to robbing banks? Did they try to work at straight jobs first? Finally, Ill ask what happened to Butch, which is still being debated. Did he die in a gunfight with soldiers in Bolivia? Or did he survive and return to America and live much longer? What is the evidence to help settle this question? Can we verify whether or not he survived?

Tommaso Cavalieri: I'll first ask when and where he was born, and whether his family was wealthy and well known or more poor. Then, I'll ask about his education--where did he attend school, and what topics and books did he study? When and why did he become interested in art? Who influenced him in this direction? Did Cavalieri serve as apprentice to an artist? If so, who was the artist, and for how long? When did he meet Michelangelo? How old was Michelangelo at this time, and how old was Cavalieri? Was Cavalieri already an established and successful painter when he met Michelangelo? Or was Cavalieri struggling along? What type of painting technique did Cavalieri specialize in, and what topics and subjects did he paint? Did he mostly paint religious scenes for wealthy families? Did he also paint portraits or mythological scenes? How close did Cavalieri and Michelangelo become? Were they lovers, or just very close friends? How much artistic instruction did Michelangelo give Cavalieri, and did this make much difference in Cavalieri's work and his success? I'll ask you to describe one painting by Cavalieri, which you can choose--just let me know which one, ahead of your presentation, so I can have an image of it up on the screen. I'll ask you what the title is, when he painted it, for whom he painted it, and then I'll ask you to describe the main message or symbolic message in the painting. Did Cavalieri also write much poetry? What were his best known poems, and did he write any sonnets dedicated to Michelangelo? If so, I'd like you to quote from one of them, to illustrate how Cavalieri felt about Michelagenlo. Did Michelangelo paint any portraits of Cavalieri or use Cavalieri's face or body in his art work? If so, where can we see this influence in Michelangelo's work? How long were they together? Was Cavalieri a close friend to Michelangelo up to the time Michelangelo died? Was Cavalieri there at Michelangelo's death?

Jean-Francois Champollion: First, Ill ask where and when he was born. Ill then ask about his educationwhich schools did he attend, and what subjects did he enjoy

studying the most? When and why did he get interested in studying ancient inscriptions and languages? How many ancient languages was he able to read? Did Champollion know much about ancient Egypt? Did he ever travel there? What did Champollion know about Napoleons expedition to Egypt and did it get him interested in Egypt? What was the Rosetta Stone, why was it so important, and when did Champollion first learn about it? Ill put a photo of it up on the screen as you talk about it. How long did other people try to decipher the Rosetta Stone before Champollion tried it? How long did it take him to figure out what the hieroglyphics said? How did he figure it out? What was the key part of each of the 3 inscriptions which helped him do it? You should be quite detailed here and be able to point to different words in each inscription and then explain how it helped Champollion crack the code. After he broke the code, how famous did he become? Did he become wealthy as a result? Were there other language puzzles which he was able to crack? Did he write books about the Rosetta Stone or other ancient topics, or did he go into some other type of profession? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn from Champollions achievement today. Charlemagne: First, Ill ask you when and where Charlemagne was born, and what his actual name was, and what the title Charlemagne means. Ill then ask how his people and his tribe was, and how and when he became king of them. Ill ask whether he was born a Christian or whether he converted to Christianity during his lifetime. Then, Ill ask about how Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Popewhen and where did this happen? What did this title mean to Charlemagne? Did he think he was now the protector of the popes in Rome? Did the title give him more legitimacy and power, and did he also think he was reviving the old Roman empire? And what did it mean to the Pope? Did it give the pope new protection and also more power? Then, Ill ask you what Charlemagnes greatest achievements were as Holy Roman Emperoryou should talk about his expansion of Christianity as he expanded his borders, and how he converted Saxons and other peoples to Christianity while he also fought the Muslims. How far did the borders of his empire stretch across Europe? You should also talk about his revival of learningwho led this revival and what kind of schools did Charlemagne set up? What kinds of books did the monks of his empire copy and preserve for later generations? Was Charlemagne himself able to read and write and participate in this revival of learning? You should also make sure to mention Carolingian minuscule, which was the type of handwriting which Charlemagnes scholars used. Its still the script which we use to write English todaywhy did they choose this particular t style of writing? Then, Ill ask about when and how he died, and what became of his great kingdom after his death.

Mary Chesnut: First, Ill ask when and where Mary was born, and what her maiden name was. Then, Ill ask about the kind of educations he got, and about the main subjects which she learned. How wealthy was her family? Did she have relatives in high political positions? If so, what were they? Did her family own slaves? What was Marys opinion about slavery? Did she mostly support it, and why? Or did she criticize it? If so, why? Then, Ill ask when and how she met James Chesnut, and when they married? What places did they live during their marriage, and which of the places they lived did Mary like the most, and why? How many children did Mary have? How much did Mary like to go to parties, socialize, and gossip? How interested was she in politics and the issue of slavery which led to the war? When the war broke out, where was Mary and how much of the first battle of the war did she see? When and why did she start writing a diary? As the war went on, did she write much about various battles? Which ones? What did she write after the Union navy captured New Orleans? What did she think was the main reason for Confederate defeats? What did she think of the job Jefferson Davis did as president of the Confederacy, and what did she think of Varina Davis, the First Lady of the Confederacy? How much did she write about relationships and personalities? I would like you to read at least two paragraphs from her diaryone focused on a battle and the war effort, and another quotation to illustrate how she wrote about other peoples personalities. How many of Marys friends died or were wounded during the war? Was she critical of people in her diary, or did she avoid making moral judgments about them? As the Confederacys condition got worse and worse, how dark did Marys mood become? Did she have illnesses? Did the Union army destroy or damage her familys plantations or property? How much was left of her property when the war was over? After the war, how long did she work on her diary, and did she ever publish it in her lifetime? How long did she live? Finally, what are the most important lessons we can learn about the Civil War from her diary? Vittoria Colonna: First, Ill ask where and when Vittoria Colonna was born. Then, Ill ask about her educationwas her family wealthy enough to give her a good Humanist education? If so, what did she study? Did she know the Greek and Roman classics? Then, Ill ask about her marriagewhen did she marry and who did she marry? How many children did she have, and how long was she married? How and when did her husband die? When did she begin to write poetry, and what were the main themes or messages of this poetry? About how many poems or collections of poetry did she write? Were they mostly published and was she known as a poet? Or did her poetry mainly stay unpublished and known only to her friends? Id like you to quote a few lines from one of her poems to illustrate her style and message. How religious was she, and when and why did she decide to live a more monastic or religious life? Did she actually live in a convent

during this time and devote herself to prayer like a nun? Then, well turn to her relationship to Michelangelo. When and where did they first meet? How old were they when they met? What did they think of each other? Did they like each other right away? How much time did they spend with each other, and how close did they become? Was there a physical relationship between them, or did it remain close friendship? Did she write poetry about Michelangelo? If so, Id like you to quote from some of her poetry about him. Did he write about her? Did they also exchange letters? Which of them died first, and was the other one there close to them at death?

Confucius: First, Ill ask where and when Confucius was born and what his name in Chinese actually was (Confucius is a Westernized version of it). Then, Ill ask what kind of education Confucius receivedwho were his teachers and what did he study? Why did politics interest him, and what kind of political career did he hope for? Was he ever able to achieve the political position which he wanted? How and why did he become a teacher himself? What were Confucius main beliefs and teachings? Ill ask you about his teaching of Jen (or Ren in English pronunciation), and also Ill ask about the basic relationships and their importance. What was his attitude toward authority? Were his thoughts about politics democratic or more autocratic? How did the political strife and military conflict of his time influence his teaching? Did he teach mostly about moral improvement, or did he also teach about the gods and how to worship them? Of course, Confucius was famous for his sayings, and Ill ask you for some of his most famous and wise sayingsbe ready to tell us three of these short wise sayings and then be ready to explain what they mean. How popular were the teachings of Confucius? How many students did he attract? Finally, Ill ask you how much influence he had on China during his life but also after his life. Ill also ask what Americans today can learn from his teaching (so much there for us!).

Constantine: I'll first ask where and when Constantine was born, and then I'll ask how he became a general in the Roman army, and then later how he became one of the four rulers of the Empire. Which part of the empire did he rule? Then, I'll ask you about how Constantine marched army south to Rome and fought a battle at the Milvian Bridge for control of the western half of the Empire. When was this battle and who was Constantine's opponent? What Christian vision did Constantine see before the battle, and what symbol did he put on his soldiers' shields? What was the result of the battle? Then, I'll ask you about Constantine's Edict of Milan, which granted toleration to the Christians. Why did Constantine do this? Was it thanks to the Christian god for his victory? Or was

it also a shrewd political move? Was Constantine ever a Christian, at this time or later in his life? Then, I'll ask about how Constantine fought a second battle, this time for control of the whole empire, and won it, and you'll also need to talk about how and when he moved his capital city from Rome to Byzantium, which he re-named "Constantinople". Finally, I'll ask you about the Church council of Nicaea which Constantine called in 325 C.E. What was his purpose in calling the council, and what were the main results for the Christians and the empire of this council? Did Constantine get baptized before he died? If so, why?

David Copperfield: First, I'll ask you when Dickens wrote the book starring David Copperfield. Then, I'll ask if the character of Copperfield was based on any actual person, or if Dickens simply invented him. Then, I'll ask you to tell us David Copperfield's story from beginning to end--of course, you can't go into much detail on any one event, but you should summarize the main events, and include the other main characters, and you should quote at least two passages from the novel which describe very important events or turning points in the book. I'll also ask you about the personality of David Copperfield and to what extent he was prey to dishonest, greedy, and unscrupulous characters. Then, I'll ask about the main messages which Dickens was presenting through the story of David Copperfield--what were his main social and moral messages in the book? I'd like you to find a quotation from the book which expresses this main message. Then, I'll ask how popular the book was, and how critics responded to it. How many movies have been made based on the book? Finally, I'll ask why we should still read it today and what we can learn from it. Coyote: First, Ill ask which tribes or people developed the legends and myths about the character of Coyote. When did these oral legends and myths first appear? Here, you wont be able to find a precise date, but you should be able to give us a century (like 15th or 16th century, for example). Then, Ill ask you what Coyotes personality was like was he a trickster and a clever character in most of his myths and stories? What other personality traits does he exhibit, like wisdom and goodness, or compassion? Why was the coyote associated with cleverness and trickiness? How important a role did Coyote play in the mythology of these native peoples? Was he often involved in the creation of the world? Then, Ill ask you to tell us at least two stories about Coyotetry to choose shorter ones, and of course you will need to summarize and condense action down into a few minutes. Ill ask you to tell us the story, and then after each telling, Ill ask what the main message of the story was. Are stories still being told and written today about Coyote? Why has Coyote been so popular, and what is He still so popular among some

Native and even white Americans? Bing Crosby: -I'll first ask where and when Bing Crosby was born, and was his real name was. How did he get the name "Bing" and when? Then, I'll ask about how he became interested in music and singing? Who influenced him in this direction? Did he start out in another profession and then switch to music, or did he have musical training from an early age? When did he first begin singing professionally, and where? Who were the previous singers who influenced him? When did he become a big star as a singer, and what types of songs did he record? Why was he called a "crooner"? What did that word mean? At this point, I'll play one of his songs from the 1930s called "Pennies from Heaven". I'll play it on You tube and then I'll ask you to tell us about the song. Did he write it as well as sing it? Was it already known, and was this just Bing's version of it? What was the main message in this song? How popular was it and what did people think of the message? Then, we'll move to another famous song by him--"White Christmas". Who wrote this song, and when did Bing first record it? How many copies has it sold since then? Why was it so popular, and how many records sold during its first year? I'll then ask about Bing's movie career, for which he was just as famous as for his singing. When did he make his first movie, and how many movies did he make altogether? I'll ask you about the movie he made called "The Bells of St. Marys"--what was this movie about, what character did he play, and why was it so popular? I'll also ask you about the movies he made with Bob Hope which are called the "On the Road" series, since they all had the title of "On the Road to somewhere". I want you to pick one of these, watch a bit of it, and then I'll ask you what it was about, and why it was so popular with audiences. Finally, if there's time, I'll ask about his later career on television--did he have his own TV show? How many Christmas specials did Bing do? ask you to list two of his most famous songs from his early career, from the 1920's and 1930s.

Milo of Croton: I'll first ask when and where he was born, and then I'll ask how he became involved in the Olympics and in wrestling. Then, I'll ask how he trained, and how effective the training was. How old was he when he started competing in the Olympics, and how many times did he compete? How many times was he Olympic champion? Was he ever defeated? If so, how and who did it? How was the wrestling competition different then than it would be now, and what made Milo so great as a wrestler? I'll also ask you to show us some of his great and legendary feats of strength, as we talked about outside class: the pomegranate trick, the "little finger" trick and another one, if you can find one. What did Milo win as champion of the Olympic wrestling? How did Milo get treated as Olympic champion back home? Did he have to work for a living, or could he train as an athlete full time? Then, I'll ask about his tragic and sad death--interesting story! Finally, I'll ask why we should still learn about him today and

what we can learn from him.

Kate Cumming: I'll first ask when and where she was born. Then, I'll ask why she was devoted to the Confederate cause, and why and how she became interested in being a nurse. Did she have any preparation for nursing, or did she learn it as she went? I'll also ask where she served as a nurse and with what arm she served, and I'd like you to describe two or three of the experiences which she describes in her journal, to illustrate what her daily life was like. Make these experiences good and gory. What was the hardest part of being a nurse? What was the worst thing she saw? What were the most important ways in which she helped the soldiers? What about writing letters, bandaging wounds, feeding, and the rest? Did she ever help with surgery or amputations? Did she ever treat or nurse Yankee soldiers? I'll ask about her family while she was away as a nurse--did they keep in touch, and how did her family help her? If there's time, I'll ask about her life after the war. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study her life and what we can learn from it. See you in class, Madame Curie: I'll first ask where and when Marie Curie was born, and then I'll ask about her education. Which schools or colleges did she attend, what did she study there, and what were the main obstacles which she faced in getting a scientific education? How did she overcome these obstacles? Did she face problems because she was a woman studying science and chemistry? If so, how did she deal with them? Then, I'll ask you about her most important work in discovering 2 new elements: what were these two elements, how did she discover them? How and when did she discover radioactivity, and how and when did she develop X-ray technology? How did she learn to measure radioactivity? Did she develop equipment on her own or did she need help from others to create the technology to measure radioactivity? Was this dangerous for her? If so, what were the problems with her health as a result of her exposure to radioactive elements? How did she use radioactivity and X-ray to help soldiers during World War I? When did she get married, and whom did she marry, and how many children did she have? How did her husband help her in her work? How many books did Madame Curie write on these discoveries? What awards did she win for her work, and when did she win them? Why and how did she become known as "Madame" Curie? Overall, what were the positive and negative results and uses of her discovery of radioactive elements? Would she look back and regret any of her discoveries? Why or why not? The Dark Lady: First, after I introduce you as Shakespeares Dark Lady, and after I build up the suspense and the tension, Ill ask your name, and here, you need to choose

one woman as the Dark Lady. Based on the sonnets themselves and other books which youve read, you should pick the woman whom you think most likely to have been the one, whether its Emilia Lanier or someone else. Then, Ill ask you when and where she were born, and how wealthy and powerful her family was. What type of education did she receive? Did she write poetry or novels? Was she an artist? When did she marry, and whom did she marry? How many children, if any, did she have? Then, well move to her and Shakespeare: when did they meet and get to know each other, and how old were they both when they met? What did she look like at this time? When did Shakespeare first write sonnets to her, and how many did he write to her? Ill ask you to read Sonnet #131 among the Dark Lady. I would also like to put this sonnet up on the screen. Then, Ill ask you to interpret the sonnet and explain it to uswhat is the main message? What was their relationship like and how close did they become? Were they lovers or just very close friends? Were they in love, or was only Shakespeare smitten? Did the Lady love someone else, and therefore break Shakespeares heart? If so, when did this happen and who was the other man involved? Did Shakespeares wife every know of their relationship? How long did their relationship last and what ended it? Did the Lady like or love the sonnets dedicated to her? Did others know who she was when they were published, or did it remain more or less a mystery? Who are the other women who have been claimed to be the Dark Lady? If theres time, Id also like you to read another one of the Dark Lady sonnets which you can choose. King David: First, Ill ask where and when David was born. Ill then ask about his life as a shepherd and his battle with Goliath. Why did David decide to fight Goliath? How did David defeat Goliath? Also, Ill ask how the prophet Samuel designated David to be the next king when David was still quite young. Then, Ill ask about Davids relationship with King Saul of the Israelites. How important was Davids playing of the harp to Saul? Why did Saul try to kill David? Why and how did Saul die and how did David become king of the Israelites after him? Once he was king, what were Davids main achievements? How far did he expand the kingdom of the Israelites? Which peoples did his armies defeat in battle? You should describe how he captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites. What were Davids religious achievements? Was he a devoted follower of Yahweh, or did David stray and worship other gods, too? Did David succeed in making Jerusalem the religious capital and the political capital of Israel? What about his writing of the psalms in the Bible? What psalms by him are the most famous? You should be ready to recite a passage from Psalm 23, one of the best known, but also you should choose one more on your own and have a quotation ready from it, too. What about Davids biggest sins? Here, you should describe his affair with Bathsheeba. How long did David rule as king, and who did he choose to be king after him? What qualities made him a great king and supposedly the greatest king the Israelites ever had? Finally, what

can we learn from his life which can inspire us today? Jefferson Davis: I'll first ask where and when Jefferson Davis was born, and how wealthy his family was. Did they own many slaves and grow cotton? What kind of education did he receive, and when did he become interested in politics? To which political party did he belong, and what were his personal and political views on slavery? Then, I'll ask when and how he met Varina Howell, and what he thought of her when he met her. When did they get married? Did they share political views on issues like secession and slavery, or was Varina more liberal than Jefferson? How many children did they have? When was he elected to the U.S. Senate, and then when was he chosen for Secretary of War? Then, we'll move to his reaction to Lincoln's election. Was Davis a moderate who was cautious about secession or more of a radical or "fire-eater" who was enthusiastic about secession? Why was he chosen as the President of the new Confederate States of America, and how did he react when he learned the news? What were Davis' best and worst qualities as president? How well did he get along with his political allies and his generals? What was the main strategy which he favored in fighting the war, and how did he try to keep up the spirit of the Southern people? What were his physical problems and illnesses during the war, and how much of a toll did they take on him? How close was Davis to Robert E. Lee, and did he always trust in Lee's judgment on military matters? When did he first begin to doubt if the Confederacy could win its independence? Did his popularity as President stay high, or did Southerners begin to blame him personally when things didn't go well for the South in the war? When the end came near in 1865, and the Union armies were closing in on Richmond, where did Davis go? Did he get away, or was he captured? What happened to him after this? If there's time, I'll ask how long he lived after the war, and how much he wrote about the war afterward. Did he offer any explanation for why the Confederacy fought and why it lost? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from studying his life. Varina Davis: I'll first ask when and where Varina was born, and what he maiden name was. I'll then ask about her political views, especially on slavery and secession? Was she strongly in favor of both, or was she more moderate on those issues? Did her family own a plantation and own slaves? How and when did she meet Jefferson Davis, and what did she think of him when they met? How old was she and how old was he? What attracted her to Jefferson and lead her to marry him? Did they agree or mostly disagree on political issues of the day? When were they married, where was their plantation, and how many children did she have with him? Then, I'll ask what life was like for her when Jefferson Davis went to Washington, D.C. as the Secretary of War and also a U.S. Senator. Did she enjoy it there, or did she prefer to be back home in Mississippi? Did

she support her husband's decision to go with the Confederacy when secession came? When Jefferson Davis became president of the new Confederacy, what did she think of it? Was she more joyous about it or more fearful? As the First Lady of the Confederacy during the war, how did she try to help her husband and help the Confederacy? What were the hardest things she had to endure during the war? What about the death of her son? How did that happen and how hard did that hit her and her husband? Did Jefferson Davis consult her on important decisions, or was she kept out of political discussions? Did she defend her husband's reputation during the war, and how did the Southern people feel about her? Was she more popular than her husband? Who were her main friends during the war, and did they manage to still have a social life? Then, we'll move to the end of the war--what happened when the Yankees took over Richmond in 1865? Did Varina flee with her husband, or did she go separately with her family? Where did they go, and when did they find out that Jefferson Davis had been captured? Was she captured and put in jail, or did she have to go into exile? Where did she live after the war? You should describe the book she wrote about her husband and how she continued to defend him until late in her life. Did she ever re-marry? Why or why not? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from her story today. Deborah: I'll first ask you when and where Deborah was born, and you should get as close to a precise year as you can, and it's okay to say "about" when you list the year. You should list the tribe of Israel which she belonged to. Then, I'll ask you how Deborah became a judge, when judging was a male job for the Israelites then. Did the Hebrew God Yahweh gave her great wisdom because she was so devoted to Him? What kinds of cases did she decide as a judge? I'd like you to give one specific example of a case which she decided. Did she get married and have a family while she was also a judge? Did Deborah face any criticism from Israelite men because she was a woman who judged? Then, I'll ask how she became a leader of the Israelite troops in the war against the Canaanites--why did the Israelite generals want her to help inspire the troops, and how did she inspire them? What was the name of the most important battle which the Israelites fought against the Canaanites? Did she fight in the front lines in the battle or stay behind the lines? What was the result of the battle, and how did the Hebrew god, according to the Bible, help his people defeat the Canaanites? You should also tell the story of Deborah's friend Jael and how she drove a tent stake through the head of the Canaanite general. I'll also ask you to read some of the "Song of Deborah" in the Bible, which she sang in praise of Yahweh after the great victory over the Canaanites. Finally, I'll ask you why we should still study Deborah's story today and what we (and especially women) can learn from it today. I think your only primary source will be the Bible, so don't worry about trying to find a second primary source.

Delilah: I'll first ask you when and where Delilah was born--be as precise as you can; I know you won't have an exact date of birth or even an exact year, but list a specific year anyway, one which you think is pretty close. Then, I'll ask about Delilahs people the Philistineswhy were they fighting the Israelites and who was winning that war during Delilahs time? Ill also ask about her professionwas she a prostitute? Or was she simply a woman who had a reputation for beauty? Did the Bible give her an unfair reputation as a bad woman? How did she first meet Samson, and what did she think of him? Did she decide to try and discover the secret of Samsons strength, or did the Philistine leaders come to her and ask her to do it? Was she paid for doing it? Was money her main motive, or was she also being patriotic and trying to advance the cause of her people? How did Delilah try to get Samson to reveal the secret of his strength? You should describe her methods in detail here, how she bound him with different materials and how he kept deceiving her. Didn't Samson know that she was trying to hurt him and the Hebrews? Why did she stay with her? What were Delilahs feelings for Samson? Did she fall in love with him? Or was she just interested in getting to know his secrets? Did Samson fall in love with her? Did she use the feelings of Samson to manipulate him? I'll then ask about the episode in which she discovers his secret and has Samson bound and made a prisoner. What happened to him after he became a prisoner? Did Delilah ever see Samson again after that? How did Samson get his revenge against the Philistines? Did he ever get revenge against Delilah for what she did? Finally, I'll ask you what we can learn today from Delilahs story. Emily Dickinson: Ill start by asking when and where Emily Dickinson was born. Then, Ill ask about her educationwhich schools did she attend, and what subjects interested her the most at these schools? How long did she attend Amhearst Academy, and why did she leave there and return home? When did she begin to write poetry, and were these written for her own pleasure, or did she share them or send them to people she knew? After attending school, how often did Emily leave her home? Why did she stay there for so long? Was it a painful shyness, or was it simply that she was happy there and didnt need or want to travel? How much contact with people did she have, through visitors, letters, and other means? Then, well turn to her poetry in more detailwho many poems did she write during her lifetime? How many of these were published in her lifetime? Why were so few published? What were the major themes or topics of her poetrywhat interested her the most? Social pressures, death, love of the natural world were all part of her poetry. At this point, Id like for you to read 2 of her short poems which you think illustrate two of these themes. Let me know which ones you pick, and Ill put them up on the screen while you read them. Ill also ask you to analyze and explain each poem and its message. What made her poetry so unique and different from

earlier poetry? What professional advice did she receive about her poetry, and did she follow it? Was her poetry known much at all before her death? Finally, well turn back to her personal life. Did she have a relationship with a man which could have developed into something more serious? If so, who was he, and did she ever receive a marriage proposal? At this point, Ill put up her poem Wild Nights on the screen and ask you to read the first few lines. To whom was this written? What about her being in love with her sister-in-law Susan Gilbert? Was there truth in that, or were they simply close friends? Was it written instead to Thomas Higginson? Whats the connection between her staying at home and the structure and content of her poetry?

Diogenes: I'll first ask where and when Diogenes was born, and then how and why he became interested in philosophy. What was it about Greece in his time and events in his own life which turned his thoughts away from the material world and the world of economics and politics? Did he have much training or education? Who were his tutors or teachers in philosophy? Also, what were the main teachings of Diogenes' "Cynic" philosophy, and what did the word "cynic" mean literally? How was the word symbolic of Diogenes' teaching? How did Diogenes live? How did he get food, shelter, and other necessities? Why did he carry a lantern around Corinth in the middle of the day looking into the eyes of people? What was he looking for? What did this act symbolize? How many followers did he gather? What did people think of him, his teachings, and his lifestyle? I'll also ask about his famous and legendary meeting with Alexander the Great-where and when did this happen? What did the two men say to each other? Did Diogenes ever write down his ideas, or was his teaching just by word of mouth? Did he live and teach only in Corinth, or did he go to other cities? If so, which ones? Also, I'll ask how much impact his Cynic philosophy had on future generations in the Greek world? Did it live on long, or die out quickly? Why? Finally, I'll also ask what Americans today can learn from his philosophy. Donatello: First, Ill ask where and when Donatello was born, and what his full name was. Was Donatello a shortened name or nickname? Then, Ill ask what or who got him interested in sculpturedid he demonstrate an interest in it at an early age? How did Donatello learn the art of sculptingwith which artist did he serve as apprentice, and which other artists did he assist? When did he became a sculpting master with his own studio? Then, Ill ask you about his statue of St. Mark for the church of Orsan Michele when did he carve it? What is the message displayed in it? How long did it take to carve? Was he well known because of the St. Mark? Then, well move on to Donatellos bronze David and his marble statue of St. GeorgeIll put images of both of these on the screen,

and Ill ask you to describe when they were made, for whom he made them, how they represented changes in style from his earlier work (more naturalistic and life-like) and the message conveyed in how he depicted them. For example, why did Donatello make his David quite feminine, rather than masculine? And why was David presented nude? Was this shocking at the time? Also, what did casting the David in bronze allow Donatello to do with the anatomy of the figure which was harder to do in marble? What is the message conveyed in his St. George, and where were both of these sculptures originally placed? (They werent in museums). Finally, Ill ask you to talk about one of his later works Mary Magdalene the penitent, but I also want you to pick one of his later sculptures which you find interesting. Ill ask similar questions about these sculptures, but I will also ask how his style and subject were changing as he grew older. For example, there seems to be much more sadness and emotion in some of these later sculpturesthey are not very beautiful physically, but morally or spiritually they still have great meaning. Finally, Ill also ask about Donatellos place in the history of Renaissance artis he one of the early masters? Which later sculptors did he teach or influenced?

Frederick Douglass: Ill first ask where and when he was born, and who his father and mother were. Did he have a chance to get to know either his father or his mother? Did he grow up mostly without parental supervision? What was life like for him growing up as a slave? What were his first jobs? Was he ever beaten or did he ever witness beatings? What were the main restrictions which he faced, and how much food and clothing did he get? How did Douglass try to learn how to read and write, and how successful was he? Who was the person who tried to teach him to read and write? When and how did Douglass escape from slavery and get North? You should describe his escape in some detail. Once he was up North, where did he settle, and how did he continue the battle against slavery? When did he write his autobiography, and how did the Northern and Southern public respond to it? How much was he involved in John Browns raid on Harpers Ferry? Did he marry and have children? When the war broke out, how much influence did Douglass have with President Lincoln on the issue of emancipation? How often did Douglass speak with Lincoln, and was Douglass able to meet with Lincoln in the White House? Did Douglass have a role in persuading Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation? What was Douglass response to the Proclamation? Which Union regiment did Douglass sons fight for, and how did Douglass himself help to recruit this regiment? What happened to his sons during the wardid they survive? How did Douglass react when the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, was passed? If theres time, Ill ask about his career after the war as a champion of civil rights for black

Americans. Finally, Ill ask what we can learn today from Douglass story about the issue of race in America. Isidore Duncan: For Isidore Duncan, I'll ask where and when she was born. Then, I'll ask how and why she became interested in dance--who influenced her in this direction, and how old was she when she started dancing? Did she have formal education in dancing? If so, what schools and colleges did she attend? When did she know that dancing could and would be her profession and that she could make a living at it? Did she get married and start a family? If she did, how did she manage to pursue her love of dance and her family? When did she begin performing professionally, and where did she perform? What types of dancing jobs and other jobs did she take early on? Then, I'll ask about her interpretative dancing--what made her dancing so unique and different? How did she make her dancing much more expressive and sensual than earlier dancers? What messages or emotions did she express in dance? How did people react to her dancing? Were many people shocked? Did they condemn her? What bothered her critics about her dancing? At the height of her career, how popular was she, and did she tour, or mostly perform in one place? I'd like you to find a you tube clip of her dancing if you can, at least a few minutes long, and then I'd like you to interpret what we saw and explain how the clip illustrates her new expressive style. How long did she perform, and what kind of influence did she have on future generations of dancers? Finally, I'll ask why we should still study her life and what we can learn from her.

Amelia Earhart: I'll start with where and when Amelia Earhart was born, and then I'll ask about how and why she developed her interest in flying. When did she take her first solo flight, when did she buy her first plane, and how was she able to afford it? Then, I'll ask about her flying career: what types of flying jobs did she have? Was she in airplane races? Did she do stunts? How quickly did her fame spread around America? When did she fly across the Atlantic solo, and why was this such a great achievement? When did she get the idea to fly around the world? Who helped her prepare for this flight and when did she start it? Who was with her during the flight and what was her route around the world (I can put up a map of the flight path from the computer at this point). When and where did things go wrong on this flight, and what went wrong? What happened to her and her plane? Of course, this is still not exactly known and there are various theories, but you should pick the explanation which you think makes most sense and go with that. Don't say that it's still a mystery--we want you to solve the mystery for us! Finally, as stated in the syllabus, I'll ask you why we should still study her life and what we can

learn from her. Gustave Eiffel: As for Gustave Eiffel, I'll ask first when and where he was born. Then, I'll ask what people or events in his youth influenced him toward architecture and design, and I'll ask how much formal training he received in architecture, engineering and design. What were his main design projects before the Eiffel tower, where were they built and what was their purpose, and how popular were they? I'd like us to then move quickly to the Eiffel Tower--who commissioned him to design the tower, and how did he come up with the design? Was it part of the celebration of a special event? What materials did he decided to use, and what messages did he want to convey in its design? How tall is it? How much does it weigh? What were the major problems, if any, which he faced in the construction, and how did he overcome them? Did Eiffel collaborate with others in the design? Did he oversee the construction of it or mainly turn that over to other people? How long did it take to complete the Eiffel Tower, and when was it finished? How did people react to the Eiffel Tower? Was Eiffel already well known before the Tower was created, or did it make him famous? If there's time, I'll also ask about his major projects after the Eiffel Tower--the "Doors of Paradise" is especially interesting, so you should know about that. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study his career today and what we can learn from it. Queen Elizabeth I: Ill first ask when and where Elizabeth was born. Then, Ill ask what the political situation in England was at the time of her birth. You should talk about King Henry VIII, her father, and his desire to have a male child and his taking of various wives to try and make that happen. Who was Elizabeths mother, and what happened to her mother after Elizabeth was born? What did this mean for the young Elizabeth growing up? Was Elizabeth in a favored position in the royal court under King Edward, who came after Henry VIII? How did things change for Elizabeth after Queen Mary became ruler of England? Why was Elizabeth put in prison, and for how long? Was Elizabeths life in danger when Mary was queenhow close did Elizabeth come to being executed? Then, well move to when Elizabeth became the queenwhat year did this happen, and how old was Elizabeth? What were her main challenges as queen? Was there a lot of pressure from Parliament and other advisors for her to marry? Why didnt she get married? Why was she known as the virgin Queen? How did Elizabeth successfully deal with parliament and other powerful men in England? Who was her most trusted advisor? Also, how did she deal with the religious tensions in England at that time, especially between the Puritans (who hated the Pope and Roman Catholics) and the Catholics? What were Elizabeths religious beliefs and how did she steer a middle path or make a compromise between the Puritans and the Catholics? Was the Church of

England under Elizabeth more Protestant and more Catholic, or was it an even mix of both? How successful was this religious settlement by Elizabeth? Then, Ill ask about the threat of Catholic Spain against England. When did the great Spanish Catholic fleet try to invade England? How did Elizabeth respond to this threat? How did the English fleet win the battle of the Armada, and how did Elizabeth rally and support her people? You should find a quotation from the famous speech she gave to her people at this time. How long did Elizabeth reign as the English queen, and when did she die?

Elmer Ellsworth: First, Ill ask where and when Ellsworth was born, and why and how he became interested in serving in the military. Did he serve at West Point? What kind of military training did he get as a young man? Did his father, grandfather, or other ancestors serve in the military? Also, how did he meet Abraham Lincoln before the war, and how close did he and Lincoln become? Did Ellsworth have strong feelings about slavery, or was he more motivated by a desire to keep the Union together? What regiment in the Union army did Ellsworth organize, and when did he do this? What made this regiment unique, especially in their uniforms, but also in the background of the soldiers? When the Civil War began, where was Ellsworths regiment stationed, and what was Ellsworths rank? Then, well move to the day on which Ellsworth died and became a hero to the Union. You should tell the story of the day in as much detail as you can how Ellsworth saw the rebel flag above a hotel, how he took it down, and how the owner of the hotel shot him. Did Ellsworth die immediately, or did he live for a while? What were Ellsworths last words? What happened to the man who shot him? Then, Ill ask how Ellsworth was made into the first Union martyr and herowhat kind of funeral did he have? How many people came to pay their respects? Was President Lincoln there, too? Did Lincoln give a eulogy? How did the newspapers describe him, and what about the song written about him? How did his death help the Union in recruiting more soldiers to the cause? Finally, what can we learn today from Ellsworths story about service to our country but also about how the deaths of soldiers can be used for political purposes? Erasmus: Ill first ask where and when Erasmus was born, and then Ill ask about his education. Where did he study, and what were the topics which he studied? You should describe his study the Greek language, the Bible, but also other ancient Greek and Roman writers or philosophers whom he studied. Then, Ill ask about his religious viewswhen and why did he become a Roman Catholic priest? What did he think of the abuses and corruptions within the Catholic Church at that time? Which corruptions did he criticize most harshly, what was the name of one of the books which he wrote about this corruption, and when was it published? What was his attitude toward the new Protestant branches of

Christianity, like Lutheranism and Calvinism, and what did he write about Martin Luther and John Calvin? Ill then ask about his book Handbook of a Christian Soldierswhen was this published, and what was the main message of this book for Christians? You should quote one short section from this book to illustrate this main message. Ill also ask you about his edition of the New Testament in Greek. Why did he publish it in Greek, when most people couldnt read Latin, much less Greek? Was he trying to get back to the roots of Christianity? Was this book a challenge to the Roman Catholic popes and church in some ways? How influential were Erasmus writings during his lifetime? Did he actually help to create some reforms within the Catholic Church? Should we consider Erasmus to be a humanist of the Renaissance? Why or why not?

Eratosthenes: First, Ill ask where and when Eratosthenes was born. Then, Ill ask about his educationwho taught him, and what were the main subjects which he studied while he was young? What subjects did he enjoy the most? Then, Ill ask when he became involved in the great library of Alexandria and what he did for the library. Then, Ill ask you to explain one of Eratosthenes greatest achievementshis determination of the circumference of the Earth. You should tell us the story in detail. How and why did he begin to think about this question? What information did he find which he found curious, and how did he use this information to figure out the problem? You should describe each stage of the process in detail. What was Eratosthenes estimate of the earths circumference, and how accurate was he? What other books did Eratosthenes write, and what other major discoveries did he make? What was his famous nickname, and why did people call him that? Did he deserve to be called that, or was the nickname unfair? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn from Eratosthenes achievements today. Leif Eriksson: I'll first ask where and when Leif was born. Who was his father, and how did his father influence Leif in his choosing to become an explorer? What kinds of voyages did Leif go on when he was young--what lands did he see while he was young? What types of ships did his father and Leif use for longer range exploring? What did they look like, how stable were they on the ocean, and how much cargo and how many men could they carry? What were the main factors which encouraged Leif to want to sail west for new land? Was it his father's voyages to Iceland? Was there a shortage of land at home? Were there other political or social problems which caused Leif to want to explore? Was Leif interested in finding new lands and new goods and then returning, or was he more interested in colonizing new lands, settling there, and living there permanently? What was Leif's religion, and how much did his religious beliefs influence his desire to explore? Then, we'll get to Leif's voyage to "Vinland"--when did he set out on this voyage, how many men were with him, and how long did he take him to reach

Vinland? What did the name "vinland" mean? Where is Vinland on today's map? Why did this area look good to Leif--what resources attracted him to make a settlement here? What is the name given by archaeologists to this settlement, how big was it, and how long did it last, according to archaeologists? Was it just a temporary advance camp or was it intended to be a permanent settlement? What artifacts have been found at this site, and what do the artifacts tell us about why this settlement didn't survive? Is there evidence, written or archaeological, for conflict between Leif's men and native peoples there? Has any evidence of human remains been found, and if so, what do they show us about conditions there? Is it possible that Leif's men also went further south, to "Markland", to what is now part of the United States? What evidence is there in the Northeast for this conclusion? Is there any evidence that Leif or other Norse explorers went further inland into America through the rivers? How long did Leif stay in Vinland before he returned home? Did he go back to Vinland and back to the North American coast on other voyages? Did any members of his family take later voyages to the West also? When did Leif die, and did he leave any written account behind of his exploration? Why didn't Leif get credit for "discovering America" about 500 years before Columbus sailed? Why didn't the story of his exploration spread to other parts of Europe? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from Leif's life and story. Esther: I'll first ask you when and where Esther was born, and then I'll ask you what her name means in the Hebrew language. Then, I'll ask you how it was for her to grow up Jewish in the Persian empire and what it was like for her people there among the pagan Persians. I'll then ask you to tell us the story of how Esther became the queen of the Persian king. Then, I'll ask you who Mordecai was and about the plot of Haman to kill all the Jews, especially Mordecai, and how Esther eventually intervened after Mordecai urged her to do something. You should describe how Esther had to have an appointment with the King, and how she waited several times before mentioning that she was Jewish and that her people needed to be saved. But in the end, she did talk to the King, and I'll ask you what happened after she revealed herself as Jewish and pleaded for her people. What happened to Haman? I'll also ask you about the feast of "Purim", which was started to honor Esther's heroic efforts--what are the main rituals of the Purim feast and what do the rituals symbolize? Ezekiel: Your main primary source will be the book of Ezekiel in the Bible. First, Ill ask where and when Ezekiel was born. Then, Ill ask how he got his calling to be a prophet of the Hebrew God Yahweh? What did it mean to be a prophetwhat did God want Ezekiel to do? What vision did Ezekiel see to learn that he was a prophet? Did God appear directly to Ezekiel, or did the message come through angels? Who and what were

the flying creatures who came to Ezekiel, and what did they represent? How did Ezekiel respond to being a prophet? Was he eager or afraid? How did God give Ezekiel strength? What was the message which Ezekiel preached to the Israelites? What were the warnings which he gave them? How did the people respond to him? Did they listen? You should quote from the Bible book of Ezekiel to tell us the messagepick some powerful passages, raise your voice, and preach the word! Then, Ill ask about the strange things which God asked Ezekiel to do, like lying on one side for so long and then the other side what happened, and what was the symbolic message of this? And what about eating dung or excrement? Why did God want Ezekiel to do that? Was it human excrement or animal excrement? Then, Ill ask about Ezekiels vision of the valley full of dry bones what happened in this vision? What was the religious and symbolic message of this vision? Finally, Ill ask how the punishment of God which Ezekiel warned about actually happened. Did Ezekiel have any comfort for the Israelites in his message at all, Ill ask how Ezekiel died, and about when the book bearing his name in the Bible was written. Finally, Ill ask what we can learn today from Ezekiels life and message. Philo Farnsworth: After asking when and where Philo Farnsworth was born, I'll ask you how he become interested in science in general and how he first came up with the idea of electronic television. There is a story that while he was plowing a field on his father's farm as a teenager, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration--make sure to tell us that one. Then, I'll ask about his high school education and how he demonstrated his ideas to his teacher then. What were his ideas about electronic television? You should be able to explain it to us clearly and even be able to draw a basic diagram on the board to illustrate it--there should be some good diagrams on the web showing his work. Then, I'll move on to his work--when did he first get funding to work on television, and who funded him? How long did him take him to get a working model done, and where and when did he first demonstrate it? What was the first picture which he showed on his television model, and what did this television look like compared to today's tvs? Then, I'll ask about his patent and about the legal battle with RCA over who should get the patent for electronic television. Why did RCA claim the right to this patent? Who was the Russian who was working on the same invention, and who was actually ahead in developing electronic television--him or Farnsworth? How long did it take for Farnsworth to fight this legal battle and how did it turn out for him? What did he eventually do after the legal fight-did he start producing televisions or did he sell his rights to the patent so others could make them? What kind of mental and physical toll did the legal battle with RCA take on Farnsworth and his family? If there's time, I'll try to show a clip from you tube of Philo Farnsworth on a game show in the 1950s, in which panelists try to figure out his claim to fame (I think it was called "What's My Line"? It's a fun clip--see if you can find it and watch it. Finally, I'll ask how much television he allowed his kids to watch and what he

would think of his invention today if he were alive? Did he think it would be commercialized so completely? Did he want it to be more educational and of more public service?

David Farragut: Ill first ask where and when Farragut was born. Did he want to go into the military and the navy from a young age? Was military service a tradition in his family? Why did he want to serve in the navy, and when did he first join the navy? Since there was no Naval Academy then, how did he get his training? Which wars did Farragut serve in before the Civil War, how much combat did he see, and how far up the ranks did he climb before the war started? When the war began, did Farragut have any doubts about joining the Union? Was he an admiral from the start of the war? Then, Ill move to his first big victory, at New Orleans in 1862how tough was this victory for Farragut? What was his strategy and how well did it work? What were his best qualities as a commander? How did his sailors and officers feel about him? Then, Ill ask about his role in the capture of Vicksburg in 1863how did Farragut and his fleet contribute to Grants capture of Vicksburg? Then, Ill ask about his famous capture of Mobile Bay in 1864. What was Farraguts strategy for capturing this city, how many obstacles did he face, and how difficult was it for his fleet to overcome them? What famous statement did Farragut make in the middle of this battle? How much control did Farragut have over the Union blockade of Confederate ports? Was he able to improve the blockade and make it tighter and more effective? If theres time, Ill ask how long Farragut lived after the war.

Jane Fonda: I'll first ask when and were Jane Fonda was born. Then, I'll ask why and when she got involved in acting? was it the influence of her famous father, Henry Fonda? Did he push her into acting or did she choose to do it? Then, I'll ask about her early career: when did she make her first film and what was it about? How quickly did she become a start, and which film really got her attention from critics and made her a "star"? I'd like you to find a clip from her movie "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?", which was one of her good early performances. What made her a good actress? What qualities and skills did the critics and audiences like about her? While this was happening in the 1960's and early 1970's, what were Jane Fonda's beliefs of the Vietnam War? Did she start out as a supporter of the war and then turn against it, or was she always against it? What turned her against it? How did she express her rejection of the Vietnam War? When did she start to protest, and what form did these protests take? Then, I'll ask about her controversial trip to North Vietnam--why did she decide to do this, and when did she visit? What specific events of our military was she protesting, and

what message was she hoping to send? What did she see while she was there, and how did the North Vietnamese people and government respond to her? How did Americans respond to her visit? Was she mainly seen as a traitor giving comfort to the enemy? Was she also seen by some protesters as a champion of peace for doing this? How did she respond to the criticism? Did her visit to Hanoi have any real impact on our government or military's policies? Did her anti-war position harm her movie acting career? How many movies has Jane Fonda made up to now, how many times was she nominated for Best Actress, and how many times did she win Best Actress and for which movies?

Lavinia Fontana: Ill first ask where and when Lavinia Fontana was born, and how wealthy and powerful her family was. What kind of education did she receive growing up? Was it the same type of study program which a young man of the time would have received: the study of the Greek and Roman classics in philosophy, history, literature, and the arts? Who taught her? Would you say Lavinia Fontana was a Renaissance woman? If she was, why? Then, Ill ask how she began her career as a painter. Who influenced her in this direction? Which painting master did she apprentice for, and for how long? How old was she when she began to receive commissions to do paintings, and what kind of subjects or topics did she paint? Here, Ill put up an image of the painting by her on p. 34 of your textbookPortrait of a Noblewomanand then Ill ask you to describe the painting. When did she paint it, what kind of technique and paints did she use to paint it and how big is it? You should describe who this woman was, what she is wearing and how her dress shows her rank and title, and t the symbolic significance of the dog. How is this portrait an example of the ideas and themes of Renaissance art, especially the idea of the nobility of men and women? Then, Ill ask you about her marriagewho did she marry and when, how many children did she have, and how did this impact her painting career? Did she face a hard time getting commissions or jobs because she was a woman? Was she accepted by male artists, and was she regarded highly as an artist? Then, Ill ask you about another of her best known paintingsyou can choose this one. Well put an image of it on the screen, and just like with the Noblewoman, Ill ask you to explain the origin of the painting, the techniques and medium used, the person or scene represented, and the meaning. How long was Lavinia Fontana active as an artist, how many paintings did she make over her lifetime (get as close as you canthere probably isnt an exact figure)? Henry Ford: I'll first ask when and where Henry Ford was born. Then, I'll ask about how he became interested in engines and how he was introduced to the idea of a "horseless

carriage". What events or which people influenced him in this direction? Why didn't he want to work on his family farm? When did he produce the quadricycle, and how important was this vehicle as a forerunner to the automobile? I'll put an image of the quadricycle on the screen as you talk about it. What kind of work did he do for Thomas Edison, and how long did he work for Edison? When did Ford start his own early auto company? When did he produce his first Model T, and how many of these cars did he eventually produce during his career? How much did the MOdel T cost when it was first produced, and how much did its price sink? Were ordinary workers able to afford a Model T? What was the secret to its success as a car? Was it the longevity of hte car, or were there other features which people liked? Was it comfortable? Did it have many frills? Then, I'll ask about how Ford revolutionized the assembly of automobiles--what kind of assembly line did he devise, and how long did it take to complete a Model T with this system? How much did Ford pay his workers? How did Ford also interfere into the personal lives of his workers and try to control their behavior? Did Ford eventually produce other models? If so, which were the best selling ones? Then, we'll move to Ford's controversial political views? What was his attitude toward Jews? How did he feel about Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich? When did Ford retire from control of the Ford Motor company? Did he realize how dramatically he had changed American life by producing so many cars? Nathan Bedford Forrest: Ill first ask where and when he was born, and then Ill ask what his views were on the issues of secession and slavery in the years before the war. Also, what did he do for a living before the war? How did he become so wealthy? Did he own slaves or buy and sell slaves? Did he go to West Point or get any other formal military training? When the war broke out, how soon did Forrest join the Confederacy, and what kind of fighting unit did he create from his own money? How did he get men to join this unit? What was Forrests main role or task as a cavalry leader? How often did he lead his men on raids behind Union lines, and how successful were these raids? What was his most famous and daring raid? How often did he and his cavalry scout for the infantry? What was the role of Forrest and his cavalry at the battle of Shiloh? How did he avoid surrender at Fort Donelson? What were some of the military principles which Forrest followed when leading his men? You should tell us in Forrests own words and then explain the principle. Make sure to include his famous saying: Get there fustest with the mostest. Then, Ill ask you about the battle which many consider his masterpiece: the Battle of Brices Crossroads. When and where was this battle and what happened? How did Forrest defeat the enemy? Why was it considered his greatest battle? Ill also ask about his role in the massacre of black soldiers at Fort Pillow in 1864. Did Forrest order this? Did he know about it and just let it happen? Or did he try to stop it? How guilty was he in this crime? Finally, if theres time, Ill ask about his role as the first

leader of the Ku Klux Klan after the war: why did he take this job, what was his goal as leader, and when and why did he resign? Nancy Franklin: Ill first ask when and where Nancy Franklin was born. Then, Ill ask when she married, and who she married, and how many children she had. How did she and her family make their living? How isolated were she and her family from other people? Did Nancy or her family take sides with the North or the South when the Civil War started? Did she have any views for or against slavery or for or against secession, and what were those views? Even though she and her family lived in a Confederate state, did she consider herself and her family part of the Confederacy or the South? Was she hoping just to stay out of it, mostly? What about her sons? Did any of them join the either the Confederate or Union army, or did any of them take sides one way or the other or ride with raiders who were either pro-Union or pro-Confederate? Then, well move to the day she and her family were attacked while at their cabinwhat day and year did it happen, was it pro-Confederates or pro-Union men who attacked her family, and why did they attack? What happened during the fight? Here, you should describe the event in as much detail as you can, based on the article and other sources you can find. How many of the attackers were killed and wounded, and how many of Nancys family members were killed or wounded? After the attack, how did she and her sons react? Did she take revenge, did she leave the area, or did she stay stubbornly? What was her attitude toward the Civil War after this incidentdid she become more involved in the war because of this? How long did she live after the war, and how did the memory of this event live on in her family through the years, right down to the present? Is there evidence which casts doubt on the way her family descendants remembered the story? If so, what is the evidence and what does it tell us about her and the attack?

Robert Frost: I'll first ask where and when Robert Frost was born and where he grew up. Then, I'll ask what or who got him interested in poetry. Did his teachers and/or parents influence him in this direction? When did he move to the Northeast and how did this change of scenery influence his decision to write poetry? Which colleges did he attend and what did he study the most while he was there? When did Frost begin writing poetry, when did he get his first poem published, and what was the name of it? What was the his major collection of poems titled, and what were most of the poems in it about? When did Frost move to his New Hampshire farm, and how much of his poetry was about the surroundings there and the people? Then, I'd like you to read to us one of his famous poems: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and then tell us when he wrote it and what the main message was. How does this poem show his mastery of language and his ability to paint visual images with words? Then, I'd

like you to read part of another one of his poems, titled "Mending Wall" and I'll also ask you the same questions about it. Please read the last several lines of this poem--you can decide exactly where to start--it's just a bit too long to have you read the whole thing. Try to find Frost's own explanation of these poems, that would be great. Besides writing and publishing poetry, how did Frost make a living for most of his life? How long did he live on his farm in New Hampshire? How popular was his poetry and how well known was Frost? Towards the end of the his life, which new president asked him to read a poem at the inauguration, which poem did Frost read, and what was the difficulty which he had during the ceremony? How many Pulitzer prizes for poetry did Frost win and when did he win them?

James Garrett: I'll first ask you where and when Garrett was born. Have you found that? Then, I'll ask when he enlisted in the Marines, and why he chose the Marines. I'll then ask about his service before Guadalcanal--what was his rank and where did he serve? When did he start keeping a diary? Then, we'll focus on Guadalcanal--when did he arrive there, what unit was he with, and what was his unit's part of the overall mission for the Marines? Why was control of Guadalcanal so important for our forces? Then, I'll ask you to share descriptions from his diary about the battle--how much action did he see and how much progress did he and his unit make toward their objective? How tenacious were the Japanese and what kinds of defensive positions did they take? What weapons were necessary for the Americans to take these positions? What were Garrett's most dangerous and difficult moments in the campaign? What was the terrain and weather like there, and what kind of toll did it take on him and his fellow soldiers? How like did it take the Marines to control the island? If there's time, I'll ask about his service after that point, and which battles in the pacific campaign he was part of. Artemisia Gentileschi: I'll first ask where and when Artemesia Gentileschi was born. Then, I'll ask why she became interested in art, and who taught her painting. Did she have a formal apprenticeship with a well known artist, or did she study with her father at home? Then, I'll ask about how she was raped by one of her father's friends--how old was s he? Was this man ever punished? Was there a trial? What styles of painting (oil, fresco, etc.) did she learn, and when did she begin to receive commissions for her own paintings? What were the main topics or subjects which she painted? Were they mostly religious? I'd like you to focus on her painting of "Judith Beheading Holofernes", one of her best known works. When did she first paint this? What story in the Bible did it depict? How did this painting reflect the ideals of the Late Renaissance and Baroque? For example, you should talk about her use of dark and light, but also how she expressed strong

emotion in this painting. Did her rape influence the way she depicted this story? Did she paint this same story more than once? If she did, how did she change the later versions? I'll put the image up on the screen, so we can see it while we talk, and you can also stand up and point to some specific features. I'd like you to pick the other well known painting--just let me know which one you want to feature, and I'll pull up an image of it. The, I'll ask if she faced problems because she was a woman--did her work become well known and did she receive good commissions like other male artists did? Did she marry and have a family? If she did, was it hard to balance her home and her work? How many paintings altogether did she produce?

Roman Gladiator: Ill let you choose a name for your gladiatortry to choose one name which youve found in your research, and let me know ahead of time what name you chose. Ill first ask where and when your gladiator was born, and then Ill ask why and how he became a gladiator. Here, too, you can choose from the stories which you ve read about: he could be a criminal, perhaps, or maybe a captive of war, and even someone who chose to fight as a gladiator. Ill then ask about his training as a gladiator how long did the training last, and what kinds of activities did the training involve? What types of weapons did he use during training? How well was he treated? What were the major methods of fighting which he learned? Then, Ill ask what type of gladiator he wasthere were a few major types, with their own names, weapons, styles, so you can pick one of these. Ill then ask you to take us through a typical fight in the great Coliseum in Romewho did your gladiator fight? How did the two combatants get into the arena? What were the customs or rules of the fight? How long did a fight usually last? How bloodthirsty was the crowd, and how did the crowd react if the two gladiators werent drawing enough blood or fighting hard enough? When one opponent was disabled, what role did the crowd and/or the emperor play in determining whether the defeated one lived or died? What were the signs for life and for death which the crowd would give? Who had the last word on whether a defeated gladiator diedthe crowd? The emperor? The gladiator himself? Then, Ill ask about how often your gladiator fought, and whether he survived and eventually gained his freedom. How did gladiators get their freedom? Were they celebrated heroes and celebrities? Did they earn lots of money? How many gladiators, on average, survived a career in the arena? How many became trainers or owners of other gladiators? Finally, Ill ask if your gladiator was troubled by the violence of the gladiatorial games, and what he thinks we could learn today from his experiences. D.W. Griffith: First, I'll ask when and where D.W. Griffith was born. Then, I'll ask how and why he became interested in making movies. What were his first jobs in the movie

industry? When did he direct his first silent movie and what was the name of this movie? How long were most movies then, and what gave Griffith the idea to make a much longer film? How many films did he act in or direct before he decided to make "Birth of a Nation"? Why did he choose to make "Birth of a Nation" and to focus on the war and the Reconstruction period? What were Griffith's views about what happened to the South after the Civil War? What did he think of African Americans and the idea of them having social and political power? Which book influenced Griffith's story in "The Birth of a Nation"? Then, I'll ask you to tell us about the story in "Birth of a Nation"--who are the main characters, and what happens to them? What part does the Ku Klux Klan play in the movie and how is the Klan depicted heroically? How are black people presented in racist and negative ways in "Birth of a Nation"? Was Griffith himself a part of the Klan? Did he favor it? How long was "Birth of a Nation"? Then, I'll ask how people reacted to the film? Did some people and groups condemn it as racist? How about President Woodrow Wilson--what was his reaction to the film? Did Southerners take it as true history? How many films did Griffith make after "Birth of a Nation", and did he ever make films with sound? Finally, I'll ask what "Birth of a Nation" can teach us about how history can be turned into myth and distorted.

Francisco Goya: For Goya, I'll first ask when and where he was born. I'll then ask what people or events turned his interest toward art--were members of his family artists, or did he pick it up from other people or in school? How much formal training in art did he have, and where did he study? What made his art part of the "Romantic" school? What were his main purposes for painting? What type of art did he specialize in: oils, watercolor, etc. . .? Then, I'll ask you to present to us three of his best-known paintings up on the screen, and explain the story behind each painting and its meanings. I'd like you to pick one of his political paintings, since he lived in a time when Spain was battling Napoleon's armies. I'd also like you to use one of his "Black" paintings from later in his career, and then you can pick one other painting from any time of his career. You can have these on a flash drive in a power point, but I can easily pull them up on google image if you let me know which ones you're using. For each of these three paintings, you should also explain how they fit into the Romantic school of art. If there's time, I'll ask you how well known Goya was during his life and if his art was recognized and celebrated. How many paintings did he paint during his lifetime? Finally, I'll ask why we should still study his art today and what we can learn from it. Pope Gregory the Great: I'll first ask when and where he was born. Then, I'll ask about how wealthy and powerful his family was, and what political offices he held when he was

a young man. Then, I'll ask about his becoming a monk--why did he give up a political career to start a monastic life of solitude? Where was this monastery, and how long was he there? Then, I'll ask when and how he was chosen to be the pope of the Roman Catholic church. Who chose him and what were the personal qualities of Gregory which made him attractive? As the pope, what were Gregory's greatest achievements? You should talk about how he wanted to spread Catholic Christianity to new lands, like England--which missionary did Gregory send to England, when, and how successful was this mission? What other lands did Gregory try to convert to Catholic Christianity? What about his writings? How many books and sermons did he publish, and what was his best known and most important book? What was the main message of this book? I'll also ask about how he reformed Church music and simplified it. What is "Gregorian Chant", what was its purpose, and how did Gregory develop it? I'll play a short selection of Gregorian chant, and then I'll ask you to explain what is purpose was and how Pope Gregory developed it. I'll also ask how long he was pope, and when and why he became known as the "Great". Finally, I'll ask how Gregory's life can still inspire religious and spiritual people today. For example, was he a good example of a deeply spiritual man with power who was not corrupted by that power but used it to help others? Rose Greenhow: Ill first ask where and when Rose Greenhow was born. Ill also ask when she first married, who she married, and how many children she had. Why was she such a strong Southern and Confederate supporter? Then, Ill ask when her husband died, and where she lived at the time the Civil War began. Ill also ask why she decided to become a spy for the Confederates. Was it her idea or did someone in the Confederate army or government ask her to be a spy? How did she get information from the Union officers or from members of Congress? What type of information did she get from them? What was her system for smuggling the information to the Confederatesdid she go South herself with it, or did she have couriers who took it? Was there a written code? Where did the couriers hide the papers? How did Roses spying help the Confederate army in the Battle of First Bull Run, which was the first major battle of the war? When did Rose get caught, and how was she caught? Where was she put in prison, for how long was she there, and what were the conditions like? How did she get out? Then, Ill ask about her mission to Europewhy did the Confederate government send her there, how long was she there, and how successful was she in completing her mission? When did she return to the South from Europe? Then, Ill ask about her death at seawhere was she, and what happened to cause her to drown? Ill also ask about how her body washed up on shore, and what she had with her. What kind of funeral service did she receive from the Confederate government? Was she considered a hero for the Southern cause? What happened to her daughter after her death? Finally, Ill ask what her story can teach us or how it can inspire us today.

Woody Guthrie: I'll first ask where and when Woody Guthrie was born, and what his full name was. Also, I'll ask when and why he became interested in music. How did he learn to play the guitar? Then, I'll ask about the tragic events which happened to his family while he was growing up, including the death of a sister, the loss of two homes, and his mother's mental disorders. How old was Woody when he left home? When did he get married, where did he live then, and how many children did he have? Did he and his family get hit in the Dust Bowl? If so, how did they cope with it? Was Woody making a living by playing and/or writing music then, or did he have to find other jobs? When and why did Woody leave his wife and family and head for California? When did he get his first good paying job at playing and singing in California, and what types of songs did he do on the radio? At this point, I'll ask you to play parts of two of his greatest songs from this era--one song should be "This Land is My Land", but the other one is your choice. After we play parts of both songs, I'll ask you to explain their meaning and message. You can bring them in on a CD or we can pull the songs up on You tube. Then, I'll ask if Woody brought out his wife and family to California or just kept his distance. I'll also ask how and why Woody made it to New York and working with a radio station there. I'll ask you to play a song from these years in Woody's life, and then I'll ask about the disease which started to rob Woody of his mobility and muscle control? When did Woody die and where, and how old was he? About how many songs had he written during his short life? Finally, I'll ask why we should listen to Woody's music and what we can learn from it today (especially in the hard economic times which we've been through over the last 2-3 years). Merle Haggard: I'll first ask you when and where Merle Haggard was born, and how he got involved in music. Did his family teach him to sing and play the guitar? Was he in bands as a young man? Who were the musicians or stars who influenced him? I'll then ask about the trouble he got into with the law--what crimes did he commit, why did he go to prison, and how long was he in prison? I'd like you to play part of one of his hits, "Mama Tried", and then I'll ask you how accurate the song is as a description of his own life. Was he ever "doing life without parole" as the song says? How did he begin his recording career once he got out of prison? Besides "Mama Tried", what was one of his early big hits? I'd like you to play a part of this song and then tell us about it. Then, I'll move to the Vietnam War era and ask you to play part of his song "Okie from Muskogee", and then I'll ask you what prompted him to record this song. What was his message in the song about the Vietnam War and about patriotism? Did he support the Vietnam War throughout the whole time we fought it, or did he eventually admit that it was a mistake an turn against the war effort? If there's time, I'll also ask you to

summarize his career over the last few decades--has he kept recording albums and performing? How has his health been over the last several years? Finally, I'll ask why we should still listen to his songs and what we can learn from them.

Winfield Scott Hancock: I'll first ask you when and where Hancock was born, and about his education as a soldier--did he go to West Point? How well did he do there? Where was he stationed in the army before the Civil War, and what was the highest rank he earned? Then, I'll ask about his friendship with Lewis Armistead--when and where did they meet and how close was their friendship in California? How many years did they stay in California as friends? Then, I'll ask about why Hancock chose the North when the war came, and how Armistead chose the North. How did Hancock feel about leaving his friend Armistead to fight on the other side? Tell us about the pledge they made not to fight against each other in the war if possible. Then, I'll move to Hancock's career during the war--what were the major battles he fought in and how many troops did he command as part of the Army of the Potomac? I'll them move to the battle of Gettysburg--what happened to Hancock and his men on July 3, during Pickett's Charge? He knew that Armistead's men were opposing him, but did Hancock ever get to see Armistead on that day before he died? Finally, I'll ask what the story of Hancock and his friendship with Armistead can teach us about the Civil War. Lady Hao: I'll first ask when and where Lady Hao was born, and which Chinese dynasty ruled during her life. Was she born into a royal and wealthy family? How did she become the wife of the ruler of China? As a queen, what were Lady Hao's main duties and her main achievements? Did she do more than most women could have done at that time? How and why did she become a warrior in battle, and how successful were her armies in conquering other territories? What were her other achievements? Did she have children as queen, and if so, how many? Did any of her children take over as ruler eventually? How old was she when she died, and what was the cause of death? Then, I'll move to her famous tomb--where was her tomb, how big was it, and about how many of her personal items were put into the tomb? What were her beliefs about life after death? Did she expect to live forever from the tomb, like the Egyptian kings? What were some of the most interesting tomb items? Here, you should describe 3 or 4 of the most dazzling items which were found with her--I"ll put some pictures of the tomb objects on the screen as you talk about them. What about Lady Hao's body? How was it prepared for burial, and how preserved was it when it was found? Also, was anyone else buried with her, such as her servants? Was there any evidence of human sacrifice in her grave? Then, I'll ask who discovered her tomb and when the discovery happened. What can the tomb

objects tell us about royal life during her time? Finally, I'll ask why we should still study her life and burial and what we can learn from them. John Wesley Hardin: First, Ill ask where and when John Hardin was born, and why he was named John Wesleywas it because of the great Methodist preacher John Wesley? Then, Ill ask why and how violence entered into his life. Who was the first man whom Hardin killed, why did it happen, and how did Hardin react when federal soldiers came after him? How did the resentment against Yankees in Texas motivate Hardins actions? After this first encounter with trouble, what did Hardin do for a living and how did he like to spend him time? You should talk about his love of horse racing and gambling and his time as a cowboy. Did Hardin ever get married and have a family? If he did, how many children did he have and was he around long enough to be a good husband and father? After his first killing, when and where did Hardin kill again, and why did it happen? Did he really shoot and kill a man just for snoring? If so, when and where did this happen? Has the story been exaggerated? If so, how? Then, Ill ask you about Hardins gunfight with Deputy Sheriff Webbwhen and where did this happen? Why was Webb after Hardin? What happened during the gunfight, who got killed, and who got wounded? How did Hardin get away, and when was he eventually caught? How long did Hardin spend in jail, and how did he educate himself while he was in prison? Did Hardin ever get married and have a family? If he did, how many children did he have and was he around long enough to be a good husband and father? After he got out of jail, how did Hardin make a living? How did his life end, and where did it end? Was he a cold-blooded killer as some like to believe, or was he a killer because of his situation and circumstances?

Hatshepsut: I'll first ask you where and when she was born, and also I'll ask about whether she was born into a royal and ruling family and if she had a relationship to the king or not. How did she become the ruler of Egypt? How old was she when she gained power? How did the men around her, like the priests and nobles, react to her being in control? How did Hatshepsut try to maintain her power? How did she dress? Did she wear a false beard? What title did she use? Had there ever been a woman ruler of Egypt before her? Then, I'll ask about her main achievements during her reign--how did she expand trade for Egypt, and which lands did she focus on in her trading policy? Did she have great temples or other buildings constructed? What did her temple look like, and where was it in Egypt? Was she married during her reign, or did she refuse to marry? How long did she rule? How did she lose power? Did she die or was power taken from her? Who ruled after her, and how and why did this ruler try to eliminate any memory of

Hatshepsut? Did some of her monuments or temples survive? Also, what about her tomb? Did she have an elaborate tomb, filled with treasures? Has this tomb been found by archaeologists? If so, what was found in it? Has her mummified body been found? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from her life, especially how inspiring her story is for women today.

Katherine Hepburn: I'll first ask where and when Katherine Hepburn was born, and if that was her real name, or if it was "Katherine Hepburn" was a movie name. I'll then ask her how and why she became interested in entertainment and in the movies. What were her first jobs as an entertainer--did she sing or dance, in addition to acting? How did she get her start acting? Was she on the stage in plays at first, or did she move right to movies? What was her best known early movie, the one which really made her a name and led to her getting other roles? What kinds of movie roles did she play when she was younger, and how did these roles change as she got older and got more experience? How many films did she make with Spencer Tracy, and who were some of the other major leading men with whom she starred in the movies? What was her most successful and most critically acclaimed role in the movies before "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"? Was it "African Queen" in 1951? I'd like to show a clip from the movie, so you can let me know and we'll hopefully pull up a clip of her on You tube. Then, we'll move to her role in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"--what was her character's name, and what was the main plot of the film? Why was the film so controversial in 1967? What was the main message of the movie, and what was one line from her character which really drives home this message? I'd also like to show a short clip of this film, and I'm sure we can get something good off You Tube also. Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from watching her performances. Helena: For Helena, I'll first ask where and when she was born. I'll ask what the social status of her family was, and if she came from a prominent political family. Whom did she marry, and when was her son Constantine born? As Constantine rose to power, how did Helena's life improve, too? When and why did Helena convert to Christianity? Did she become a Christian before Constantine did and influence him to convert, or was it the other way around? Then, I'll ask about how her son sent her to Jerusalem and what was then Palestine. When did she go there, and why? What was her mission? What important locations connected to the life of Jesus did she locate, and how did she do this? Was she able to use local legends, or did she supposedly have divine revelations? How many churches did she order to be built in the Holy Land? How long was she in the Holy Land, and how did she help her son, the emperor Constantine, consolidate his power over the

Christians? How important was her work in helping stabilize the early Christian church int he Eastern Roman Empire? When and why was she made a saint of the church, what is her saint's day? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from studying her life. Hiawatha: I'll first ask where and when Hiawatha was born, and to what Native American tribe he belonged. You will find legends about him, and you should include these legends in your account. You'll be presenting Hiawatha as a blend of historical figure and legendary figure. How did he become a chief or leader of his tribe? Did he earn leadership because of his bravery and skill in hunting and battle? What were some of his most legendary and famous feats of bravery? How did he defeat and then convert the evil sorcerer whose body was actually crooked because the man was so evil? How did Hiawatha unite other tribes and persuade them to work together and stop fighting? When and how did he become a legendary figure, and what qualities did the legend of Hiawatha symbolize? How did Longfellow present Hiawatha in his famous poem about him? How much of the Hiawatha in the poem matches with the earlier legends? How long did Hiawatha live and serve as leader, and how do the stories about him continue to inspire Native Americans? What can Americans of all backgrounds learn from the stories of Hiawatha? Billie Holliday: Ill first ask where Billie Holiday was born, and what her real name was. When and why did she take the name Billie Holiday? Then, Ill ask about her early life, and how hard it was for her. What happened to her mother, and who ended up raising Billie? What kinds of jobs did she have to work when she was young, and how much of a role did her father play in her life? Do we know who her father was, or is there still some debate about it, and if so, who are the men who could have been her father? What problems or obstacles did she face because of her family problems? Then, Ill ask how and why she became interested in singing? Did she sing in school? Or did someone in her family influence her? When did she first begin to perform in front of audiences and receiving pay for singing, and where was this? How many clubs did she sing in, and what style was her singing? Then, Ill ask when and how she became a recording star and started making records? What band did she sing with in her first record, and how successful was it? What made Billies voice distinctive and different? Ill ask you to play parts of a couple of her great songs: God Bless the Child and Strange Fruit. You should be able to find them on You Tube, but if not, you can find them on I-Tunes. Ill ask you when she first recorded these songs, and then what they are about, and what the main message was in them. What were the big name bands which Billie sang with? Did she marry and have children, or, if not, what kinds of relationships with men did she have?

Then, Ill ask about how she got into trouble with the law over having narcotics? Did she have a drug problem, and, if so, what drugs did she take or get addicted to? How did this problem hurt her career? During the 1940s, and 1950s, what was her biggest and most popular song? Ill let you choose this one, and well also play part of it and you can answer the same questions which I asked about the other 2 songs. When and why did Billie Holiday die, and how old was she at the time? How did she change jazz vocals and who were a couple of the singers whom she inspired? Harry Houdini: I'll first ask you when and where Harry Houdini was born, and what his real name was. Then, I'll ask you how old he was when he came to America, and where his family settled. I'll next ask how he got interested in magic, and when he first started to make a living at it. Was he doing typical magician's tricks at first and then later moved into escaping, or was he doing escapes early on, too? How did he come up with the stage name of "Harry Houdini"? Who worked with him in his early days? Then, we'll move to his great escape tricks--you should tell us about his handcuff escapes, and if you want, you can tell us the secret of how he did (if you know--you may not), but that's up to you. I'll then ask about his more complex water escapes and his straight jacket escapes, for which he became famous. How did he set them up and how did they work? How did he create incredible tension and fear in the audience to generate more income? How long could he hold his breath under water? How flexible was his body? Is that how he got out of straight jackets so easily and how of water-filled containers with chains on? If there's time, I'll move to the death of his mother, and how he began to seek contact with her beyond the grave. How did this quest lead him to expose the fake spiritualists? How long did he do this and what was the famous wager which he offered to anyone who could verify their seances as real? I'll also ask how he died--sad story--and when he died, which is very appropriate for him! Finally, I'll ask why we should study his life and what we can learn from him--one point you should mention is the great influence which he had on many later magicians and illusionists. If you can bring in a Dollar Tree pair of handcuffs and do a little "trick" for us, that would be great! Julia Ward Howe: I'll first ask when and where Julia Ward Howe was born. Then, I'll ask about her views on slavery and on secession before the Civil War. Was she strongly anti-slavery? Was she also strongly for the Union? How did her religious views influence her views about the Union? When did she marry, who did she marry, and how many children did she have before the Civil War? What other social causes did she support? When the Civil War began, where was she living, and had she written poetry or songs by this time? What type of poetry or songs had she written? How did she help the Union cause once the war began? Did she gather and send supplies or help as a nurse?

Then, we'll move to her famous song--when and how did the idea of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" come to her? Which event inspired her to write it? Did the words come quickly to her, in a flash of inspiration? How long did it take her to write it, and did she write it as a poem at first which later became a song? Did she think of the words only, or the tune, too? Then, I'll ask you about the words, starting with the first verse: "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord . . and so on. What did she mean by these words in the first verse? How many other verses did she write, and what was the main overall message of her song? When was it first published, and how popular was it? How much did the Union soldiers like it, and how often did they sing the song? I'd like you the song on You Tube, and we'll play part of it for the class at this point, so they can hear it. Finally, I'll ask how many other songs she wrote, and how successful they were.

Hypatia: I'll first ask you when and where Hypatia was born, and what her name literally means. I'll then ask what kind of education she received. What topics did she study? Who taught her? What were her special fields of expertise in science and math, and did she write books on these topics? How much did she teach others? Did she face opposition to being a scholar and teacher because she was a woman? When did she become the head of the great library of Alexandria and what were her duties there? You should describe this great library--about how many books or scrolls were there, and what other types of scientific work was done there? Then, I'll ask about her pagan religion. Why didn't she convert to Christianity? How much pressure did she face from the Christian church because she wasn't Christian and because she was a woman? Who was the bishop who opposed her? Then, I'll ask about her gruesome death at the hands of the Christian mob--what did they do to her? Give us all the gory details here. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study her life and what we can learn from her today. Ibn Battuta: First, Ill ask where and when Ibn Battuta was born, and what his full name was. Then, Ill ask about when and why he decided to leave his home for Mecca. Did he think he would be gone for many years, or did he expect just to be gone 1 or 2 years to Mecca and back? How old was he when he started this journey, and how did he feel about leaving home? Was he married with a family when he left? How did he travel across North Africaby camel caravan? On foot? A mix of both? Where did he go in the Middle East before he got to Mecca? What were the major cities which he saw (You should mention Cairo and Jerusalem) and what impressed him the most about these cities? Where did he stay as he traveled through these cities? How long did it take him to reach Mecca, what did he do there, and what was the most important thing he saw? Why

and how did Ibn Battuta decide to keep traveling rather than return to his home in North Africa? You should talk about his dream and the way it was interpreted by a wise teacher. Where did he go after Mecca? What did he see in Persia and in India? How long did he stay in these places, and what kind of study did he do in these cities? Ill also ask about how he got robbed and leftwhere and when did this happen, and how much did the robbers take? How did he get back to civilization and safety? As he traveled, he wrote about what he saw, and what were a couple of wonders or wonderful things which he saw which amazed him? You should use his own writings here to find two interesting examples. When did he finally return to his home in North Africa, and how many miles and how long had he traveled? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn from reading about his travels today and how he can inspire us to travel and learn about other cultures today.

Isaiah: Ill first ask when and where Isaiah was born, and then Ill ask how and why the Hebrew God Yahweh chose Isaiah to be a prophet. Where was Isaiah when Yahweh appeared to him? What vision of Yahweh did Isaiah see? What did the winged creatures which flew toward Isaiah look like and what did they each represent or symbolize? How did Isaiah react to this vision? Was Isaiah anxious to be the prophet or Yahweh, or was Isaiah afraid to be a prophet? How did Yahweh purify Isaiahs lips during the vision? Then, Ill ask about the message of Yahweh which Isaiah spoke to the peoplewhat did Yahweh tell his people the Israelites through Isaiah? Why was Yahweh angry with His people, and what did Yahweh warn would happen to the people for their sins? Here, you should focus on the first few chapters of the book of Isaiah in the Bible, and you should find a few sentences to quote in order to illustrate Yahwehs message. Which animals did Isaiah compare the Israelites to? How did the people respond to Isaiahs warnings? Later in the book of Isaiah, how does the tone and message of Isaiah and Yahweh change? How will some of the Israelites be saved in the end? You should find the passage in Isaiah chapter 42 which speaks of the one who will deliver Israelmany of called this the promise of a messiah or leader. How were the Israelites actually punished and how did they suffer after Isaiahs warnings? Did Isaiah suffer along with his people, too? What happened to him after he spoke his message? Finally, Ill ask you what we can learn today from Isaiahs story. Ishtar: First, Ill ask where and when Ishtar first began to be worshipped, and what her name means. Then, Ill ask what Ishtars main role as the goddess of fertilitywhy was this so important to the Mesopotamians, and what kinds of rituals were involved in the cult of Ishtar? What was her personality like? Was she a loving and forgiving goddess or was she more angry and demanding? Or did she combine these qualities and others in

her personality? What are the main myth about Ishtar? You should talk about the story of her and her lover Tammuz, the god of vegetation, and how Ishtar had to go to the underworld to try and rescue Tammuz. Tell us the story, including the tests which Ishtar had to pass in order to get to the underworld, and how Tammuz was able to return to the living only for half the year, starting in spring. What is the most important symbolic message of this myth? Also, You should tell us the story of Ishtar and Gilgamesh, and how he scorned her and she punished him. What did Ishtar look like and how long was she worshipped by the cultures of that area? What were the names by which she was known among other peoples who worshipped fertility? When and why did the worship of Ishtar begin to decline? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn today from the story of Ishtar, and how she can teach us the importance of the power of fertility.

Isis: First, Ill ask when Isis was born (or created) according to Egyptian legendthere is a good primary source for this on our Moodle websitethe Egyptian creation myth. Was she always a goddess? Or is it possible that she was once an actual human being? Then, Ill ask about her relationship to Osiriswere they brother and sister as well as husband and wife? If it was an incestuous relationship, what did that symbolize? What qualities or values did Isis represent as a goddess? What was her main role as the queen for her husband Osiris, according to legend? Then, Ill ask how and why Osiris was tricked and then killed by his brother Seth and how Isis felt about it. What did she do to try and get Osiris back? You should emphasize her great love for Osiris. Here, you may find that legends differ, but use them all to make a complete story. Where did Isis go in search of Osiris and his coffin? Who went with her and how did this god help her? How and where did she find Osiris? How did she bring him back to life long enough to conceive a child? What did Seth do when he found Osiris? How did Isis retrieve Osiris pieces and put him back together? Then, Ill ask how her son took revenge against Seth and restored maat to Egypt. How important a goddess was Isis to the ancient Egyptians? How did they worship her? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn today from her story. Jezebel: First, Ill ask about when and where Jezebel was born, and then Ill ask about her faith in the Canaanite god Baal and the other Canaanite gods and goddesses. How strong was this faith? Then, Ill ask how Jezebel became queen to Ahab, king of Israel. Why did Ahab choose her, especially when she didnt worship Yahweh? Was it her beauty and intelligence? Her power? Or was it a combination of all these? How much conflict was there between them because of her worship of Baal and his worship of the Hebrew god Yahweh? Did Ahab have any problems with her worshiping Baal? How

about the people of Israelhow did they feel about Jezebel? Did she ever start worshiping Yahweh or did she stay loyal to Baal? Then, Ill ask about Jezebels confrontation with the prophet Elijah. What caused this showdown, and what happened in the showdown between the priests of Baal and Elijah, the prophet of Yahweh? Who won this conflict, what happened to the priests of Baal, and how did Jezebel react to this result? What did Jezebel try to do to Elijah? Ill then ask about how Jezebel diedgive us all the gory details of this story. Then, Ill ask you about the reputation of Jezebel as a wicked woman in the Bible and how her name came to stand for a wicked or bad woman. Is this reputation fair? What is a more positive way to see Jezebel, and how skewed was the Bible version of her character? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn from her story today, especially what women can learn. Andrew Johnson: I'll first ask where and when Andrew Johnson was born. What was his profession before he went into politics, and how and why did he first get involved in politics? Where was he living when he held his first political office, and what was this office? When did Johnson rise to become a senator? What political party did he belong to and what were his views on slavery and secession? What made Johnson stay in the U.S. Senate rather than resign and go to the Confederacy? Was his life threatened as a result? How did he respond? Which position did Lincoln assign to Johnson during the first 3 years of the Civil War, and how well did Johnson do his job? Then, I'll ask why Lincoln picked Johnson to be his vice presidential running mate in 1864. How did Johnson embarrass himself and Lincoln during the 1865 inauguration? I'll then move to the plot to assassinate Lincoln in April, 1865--was Johnson also to be killed as part of this plot? Who was supposed to kill Johnson and why didn't it happen? After Lincoln died, how did Johnson do as the president? What were Johnson's main goals for the Reconstruction of the Confederate states, and what was Johnson's attitude toward the giving of the vote to black men in the South? Why did he veto the bills which gave civil rights to blacks, and what did the Republicans in Congress do in response to his vetoes? How did Johnson's temper get him into trouble in his disputes with the Republicans? I'll ask when the Congress impeached Johnson, and what charges they filed against him. I'll also ask if he was removed from office, and what was the final vote count in the Senate was. Historians have seen him as one of our worst presidents, serving right after our best president--I'll ask you whether you agree with this view, and if not, why not? Jack Johnson: First, Ill ask when and where Jack Johnson was born. Then, Ill ask about his family and his level of educationwas he from a poor family? How far did he go in school? How and why he became interested in boxing, and who was his main teacher about boxing? Then, Ill ask when he began to fight professionallywhat was his boxing style? What made it unique? Did he fight both

black and white opponents early on? What was his weight classification? Did he usually knock out opponents, or did he win many decisions? When did he win his first professional title, and what title was it? How badly did Johnson want to box the best white fighters, and how many fights and victories did it take before he got a shot at the World title? Whom did Johnson beat to get this title, and what was the reaction of both black and white Americans to this? Who called for a Great White Hope to take this title away from Johnson, and which white boxer took up the challenge and pledged to win the title back for the white race. When and where was this Fight of the Century held? How hard was it for Johnson to win this fight, and how long did it go? How much did this victory increase his fame and popularity? Then, Ill turn to his private life. What caused Johnson to flout convention so much, and how did he flout it? How many white women did he have serious relationships with, and how many did he marry? Did he have children with any of his wives? How much racist criticism and discrimination was directed at him for this? Were there threats against his person and life and his wives? Why was Johnson arrested and sentenced to a jail term? Where did he escape, and how long did he stay out of the country? When did he return and serve his sentence? How did Johnson respond to all this controversy and the criticism? How long did Johnson hold his boxing titles? Did he try to re-capture them and was he successful? How long did he fight and when was his last fight? Finally, Ill ask how much Jack Johnson benefitted African Americans and how much he helped them gain better and more equal rights.

Mother Jones: I will first ask where and when Mary Jones was born, and I'll ask when she married and how many children she had. Then, I'll ask you about how disease struck her family and how her children and husband died. Did she lose all her children and her husband? What was the disease? When did it happen and how old was she when it happened? I'll then ask you about how she coped after these deaths, and how she got involved in helping workers. When and why did she begin to organize workers and help them fight for their rights? When and how did she get her nickname "Mother" Jones? Where did she travel to help workers, and how did she help them? You should describe at least two specific strikes as examples, such as the West Virginia coal miners' strike in which she organized the women to keep out the replacement workers or "scabs". Then, I'll ask you about the Children's March on Washington--when was that, and what was it all about? How many children were involved, what was her main message about working children, and did she get any reforms passed as a result of the March? If there's time, I'll also ask about the strike by miners in Colorado, in 1914, which led to the deaths of many strikers by gunfire--what was her role in this tragedy? Finally, I'll ask why we should still learn about her career today and what we can learn from her. You should

mention the progressive magazine "Mother Jones" which is very popular and which still champions the causes of working people, like she did. Ben Jonson: Ill first ask where and when Ben Jonson was born. Then, Ill ask about his educationwhere did he go to school, and which topics did she study? What types of literature interested him the most when he was young, and which writers from the past influenced him the most? When did he become an actor, and how long did this career last for him? When did he begin to write plays and poems? Ill ask you about two of his early most popular plays: Every Man in His Humour and Every Man Out of His Humour. What were these plays about? What was the main story or plot in them, and who were the main characters? Where these plays meant to be comedy and fun, or did Jonson have satirical messages about society which he wanted to express in them? Then, well move to Jonsons masqueswhat was a masque, and how many of them did Jonson write. What was his most popular and well known masque, and what was it about? When did Jonson write it and when was it first performed? How close did Jonson become to Queen Elizabeth and other royal people at the time? Then, Ill move to Ben Jonson and Shakespeare, who were active and working at the same time. Did Jonson know Shakespeare well? Were they friends who spent time together? How strong was the rivalry between them? Did Jonson resent or feel jealousy at Shakespeares popularity and success? Was Jonson considered on the same level as Shakespeare as a writer? Did Jonson ever act in a Shakespeare play or did Shakespeare ever act in Jonsons plays? What did they think of each others work-did they admire each other? When Shakespeare died, what did Jonson write about him? Scott Joplin: As for your Scott Joplin presentation, I'll first ask when and where he was born, and how he learned to play the piano--did he have formal education in music? Or did he learn some other way? What kinds of playing jobs did he get when he was young? What was it like for him as an African American in this period? Did he face discrimination or even threats of violence? Then, I'll move on to "Rag Time"--what kind of music was it and how did Joplin create it from a blend of other types of music? Make sure to be precise here and specific. Then, I'll ask you to play a couple of his best known rag time tunes--you should play the "Entertainer" and then the other one can be your choice. Can you burn them onto a CD? If not, you can pull them up on You tube on the class computer. After we play the songs, or clips from them, I'll ask you how people responded to Joplin's music. Did he become very popular? Was his audience mostly his fellow African Americans and did it include a lot of white listeners, too? Then, I'll ask how many rag time tunes he wrote, and if he ever tried other types of music. Was he

famous in his later life, or was he forgotten? Finally, I'll ask why we should still study his life today, and what we can learn from his life and music. Juliet: I'll first ask when and where she Shakespeare play "Romeo and Juliet" was performed. Then, I'll ask whether Shakespeare used any real-life person on which to base the character of Juliet and whether the story of Romeo and Juliet was known before Shakespeare's time. How much did Shakespeare add to what had already been written about Romeo and Juliet? Or did Shakespeare made her up and invented the story? Then, I'll ask you to tell us about Juliet's story in the play, from start to ending. What was the name of Juliet's family? How did she meet Romeo, and what did she think of him? When and how did she fall in love with him, and why did they have to keep their relationship discreet or secret? I'll also ask you to talk about the famous balcony scene, where Juliet speaks of Romeo and then sees Romeo, and I'd like you to quote some lines from this famous scene, lines which illustrate how Juliet felt about Romeo. What were the problems and issues which kept them apart and which threatened their relationship? How did Juliet deal with these problems? I'll also ask about her decision to marry Romeo and their marriage by Friar Laurence. Then, I'll ask how and why everything went wrong for them--why did Juliet take a potion which would make her appear dead for a short time? How did this lead to Romeo's tragic death, and when she awoke, how did Juliet react? You should also quote some lines from Juliet from this scene. How popular was the play during Shakespeare's time, and about how many plays, musicals, operas, and movies have been devoted to this story over the years? What is the main message which Juliet conveys to readers/viewers in the play, and what can we learn today from her story? Juvenal: First, Ill ask where and when Juvenal was born, and what his full Roman name was. Then, Ill ask what kind of education he received, and why he became interested in being a writer. Did he pursue another career before becoming a writer? If so, what career? When was he and other members of his family exiled, which Roman emperor did this, and why? Where did Juvenal live in exile and how long was he there? How bitter and angry was he at this, and how much wealth and possible political power did he and his family lose? Why did he begin to write satire? Was he trying to get back into favor with powerful people, or was he just expressing his anger? What were the main targets of his criticism in his satires? Did Juvenal return to Rome and manage to gain wealth and status? How did he feel about Rome during this time? Was he proud of being in the Roman empire, or was he ashamed? What did Juvenal hate most about Rome and its society? How did he feel about Roman women, and what did he write about them in his satire against them? What other people, places, or problems did he satirize or mock in his writing? Here, Ill ask you to read a couple of quotations from two different satires

which he wrotetell us the title of each satire and then read a few lines from each. Make sure to pick quotations which express his biting anger but also his wit. Did Juvenal marry and have children? If so, how did his family do while he was writing? Were his satires published and did they sell, or did he continue to live in a poor condition? If theres time, Ill ask what other books or types of literature he wrote. Finally, Ill ask why we should still read his satire and what we can learn about Rome but also if there are parallels to our own society which we can see in his work. Frida Kahlo: For Frida Kahlo, I'll first ask when and where she was born, and then I'll ask how and why she first became interested in art. Who influenced her in this direction? What kind of formal schooling or training did she have in art and painting? When did she begin to paint, and what kinds of paintings or drawings did she do--what were the main topics of her early work? Then, I'll ask about the tragic accident she suffered--what happened and when? What kind of physical problems and pain did she suffer as a result? How did she react to this pain, and how did she express it in her painting? I'll also ask about when and how she met Diego Rivera, and what attracted her to him. I'll ask how close they were, and how stormy the relationship was. To what extent did they influence each other's painting?Then, we'll go to specific paintings of hers. I'd like you to choose three of her paintings which we can put up on the screen, and which you can then analyze and explain to the class--you can choose them and let me know, and I'm sure we can easily get them on Google image. You should be ready to tell us when she painted them, the titles, and what she was expressing. If you can find some quotations from her own writing about these paintings, that would be great. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study her painting today and what it can teach us. Anna Karenina: I'll first ask who wrote the novel titled "Anna Karenina" and when it was published. Then, I'll ask if the author based Anna Karenina's character on any particular real person, or if he invented her. I'll then ask you to tell her story through the book, and you'll need to start by describing her situation at the start of the book, then describe how and why she became unhappy, move on to her love affairs, and finally describe why and how she became so desperate that she ended it all. You won't have time to go into great detail on any phase of her story, but make sure you cover all the important events and mention the main characters in her life. I'd also like you to read at least two quotations from the novel to illustrate the problems she had and her state of mind. I'll ask you to explain the quotations and tell us what they reveal about her character. After you finish your summary of the book's main events, I'll ask you what the author's main messages were about women and especially middle-class women? Also, I'll ask you if Anna Karenina represented many real women of that time, and if so, how

women readers reacted to her story? Was the book a best seller and very popular? Why or why not? Finally, I'll ask you why we should still read about her story today and what we can learn from it. Kathleen Kenyon: First, Ill ask where and when Kathleen Kenyon was born, and then Ill ask about why she became interested in archaeology. Who got her interested in this type of work, or what events in her life moved her toward archaeology as a career? Which colleges did she attend, and then what were the first archaeological digs on which she worked? What were the main lessons she learned about how to conduct a scientific archaeological expedition? What was the reputation of archaeology when she was young? Was it still seen as an amateur job for treasure hunters? Was it considered a science for experts? Were there many other women archaeologists during her time, or was she one of the few? Was she pioneering the way for other women to join her profession? How did people respond to her being a woman? Did Kathleen Kenyon want to improve the reputation of archaeologists and show the world what a proper dig was all about? How and why did she get interested in digging at Jericho? When did she start her work at Jericho? Was she focused mostly on the story of the battle of Jericho in the Bible, or was she more interested in showing the ancient history of this site? As she and her team dug, what were her main findings about the story of how Joshua captured Jericho in the Bible? Could it have happened, according to Kenyon? If not, why not? Also, what were the major artifacts she recovered from digging at Jericho, and what did these artifacts teach her about the history of Jericho? How big were the defensive walls she found, and how many sets of walls did she find? How old was Jericho and when did people start living there, according to her findings? What types of homes did she find, and what about human remainsdid she find any and what did they reveal about the way people lived at Jericho? How many years did she dig there, and how much did her conclusions contradict earlier digs at Jericho? When she published her findings, how did people react, especially those who had believed the Bible story of Jericho? If theres time, Ill also ask about her digs after Jericho. Finally, Ill ask what her excavations and her life can teach us today. Ron Kovic: I'll first ask when and where he was born--was he always proud of the fact that he was born on July 4th? Then, I'll ask why and when he became interested in serving in the military, and why he chose the Marines. Who or what events influenced him to join the Marines? When did he arrive in Vietnam, and what was his unit or regiment? What kind of fighting and combat did he see while he was there? Was he able to see the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese whom he was fighting, or was it a war of ambushes and patrols in which he rarely saw the enemy? Then, I'll ask about two events which changed his life--the first was when he fired and killed one of his fellow soldiers

accidently, and the second was when he was severely wounded. You should describe these events in some detail from his autobiography, "Born on the Fourth of July", including his precise wounds and how he was unable to walk as a result. How long was he in the hospital back in America before he was discharged? What were the conditions like in the military hospitals for him? When did he go back home, and how was he greeted by people he knew? Did they give him a hero's welcome, or ignore him, or even condemn him? Then, I'll ask how and why he began to turn against the Vietnam War and what America was going there--what changed his thinking on the war? How did he begin to express his opposition to the war? Did he face drug and alcohol problems during this time? You should tell us about his protests at the National Republican Convention in 1972. Did he give back or throw away any of his medals like some other returning Vietnam Vets do? Was he at the dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in the 1980's, and what does he think of the Wall as a symbol of that war? When did his autobiography come out and when was the movie made about his story? What can we learn today from his story? Allison Krause: I'll first ask you where and when Allison Krause was born, and then why she went to Kent State University. What were her plans? What was her major? In what year was she in 1970? Then, I'll ask about her political views. Was she against the Vietnam War? If so, why? Did she take part in demonstrations before 1970? Then, we'll move to the events in 1970 which led up to her being shot by National Guardsmen. When President Nixon announced that we invaded Cambodia in April 1970, how did Allison react? Was she part of the burning of the ROTC building in the days before the shooting? Was she involved in the destruction of downtown properties during the weekend before the shooting, or was she at home? Then, we'll get to the Monday when the shooting happened. What was she doing that day--demonstrating? When did the National Guardsmen arrive on campus, and how close to them was Allison? Did she ever get very close to the National Guardsmen or threaten them in any way? When the shots rang out, how close was she and where was she hit? Did she die right away or soon after? Then, I'll ask you why we should still care about this shooting and what we can learn from it. Roland de Lassus: First, Ill ask where and when he was born. Then, Ill ask you what kind of education he received: did he go to certain schools or colleges? If so, which ones? Or was he mainly educated by private teachers at schools or at home? Besides music, what were the main topics which he studied: art? Philosophy? The Greek and Roman thinkers? Then, Ill ask how and when his interest in music began, and who influenced him the most in this decision? When did he begin to write songs, and what

type of song did he write when he was 18 years old? What was the name of this song? Its in your Fiero book on page 76. I would like you to find a recording on You tube or the internet of this song, so you can play part of it for us. Then, after playing it, Ill ask you to comment on why the sounds and lyrics were so popular and what they mean. What type of song was a madrigal, and what does the name madrigal literally mean? When did Roland de Lassus begin to write madrigals, and how many did he eventually write altogether? What was one of his best known and most popular madrigals? Here, too, I want you to find a recording on the internet, so we can hear some of it in class. Tell us the name, when he wrote it, the message in it. Which types of people liked madrigals, and for which class of society did de Lassus write most of his music? Was he wealthy and famous because of his compositions during his life, or did he have to struggle to get by? Did Roland de Lassus also play and sing himself much, or did he mostly just write the works for others to sing and play?

King Lear: When did Shakespeare write the play "King Lear", and when and where was it first performed? Was this character based on any real person? Were there legends and stories about King Lear before Shakespeare wrote about him, or did Shakespeare invent the character? Then, I'll ask you to tell us the main plot of the play and King Lear's place in it. Where and when is the play set? What is King Lear's condition when the play begins, and what decision does he make concerning his estate? What are the names of his 3 daughters, and who do they each treat him? How does he favor two daughters and why does he disinherit Cordelia, who loves him the most? How does Lear's power and his mental state decline as the play goes on, and why does this happen? How does he react to the treachery of 2 of his daughters? I'll ask you to quote a passage from one of his speeches in the play to indicate how confused and hurt he was. How does Lear get caught up in a conflict between the English and the French? What happens to Lear's faithful daughter Cordelia and is he able to save her? What happens to Lear at the end of the play? and why is he in this condition? How does his condition worsen as the play moves along, and how does he react to this? You should quote a few lines from one of Lear's speeches to show just how hurt and confused he is in the play. Then, I'll ask what the major messages are in this play, and what ideals or truths does Lear's character represent? Mary Lincoln: After asking when and where she was born, I'll ask if her family was wealthy, if they had slaves, and what she thought about the issues of slavery and secession. Was she strongly political one way or the other? When and where she met Abraham Lincoln and what did she think of him? What were the most attractive features

of Abraham Lincoln to her? Did it bother her that Lincoln had been in love with Anne Rutledge? When did Lincoln propose to her, and what did she think when he got cold feet? Were there other men who wanted to marry her? What about Stephen Douglas? Then, I'll ask if she wanted him to some day be president, and if she pushed him harder toward this than he was pushing himself. When Lincoln was elected president, what was it like for Mary in the White House? What about all her decorating and spending money? How hard was it to go through the death of her sons during the war? Was she accused of being a traitor since she was from a border slave state? Then, we'll move to the day of Lincoln's assassination--what was her mood as she and her husband went to the theater that day? How did she react when Booth shot and killed her husband? How hard was it for her to stay stable after his death? Didn't she end up in an asylum at one point--when and why did that happen? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from her story. Mona Lisa: You'll be portraying the woman painted in the "Mona Lisa", but you'll also need to talk in detail about the painting itself and its history. I'll put up the image of the Mona Lisa on the screen, say that it is one of the most famous paintings in the world, and then I'll introduce you. I'll first ask what your full name was, and when the portrait was painted. How old was Mona Lisa at this time? What was her social position and the position of her family? Then, I'll ask about the circumstances leading up to the portrait: what was its purpose? Was it a gift? Did Mona Lisa herself commission Leonardo to paint it, or did someone else ask Leonardo to do it? Was the Mona Lisa getting married at this time, or was she already married? Then, I'll ask how long it took to paint the portrait, where it was painted, and when it was finished. What type of paint and surface did Leonardo use, and how big is the painting? How much was Leonardo paid for the painting? Then, I'll ask about specific features of the painting: What kind of background did Leonardo provide for Mona Lisa? How is the Mona Lisa dressed in the portrait? Then, I'll ask about her most famous smile--what emotions are expressed by her smile? Then, I'll move to the "secrets" of the Mona Lisa which have been revealed by recent new high-powered photography of the portrait--I have a DVD which I'll bring to class which you can use--it will explain all of these features. There are over 20 such "secrets", but you should just know the first few and most important revelations. Finally, I'll ask you if this portrait was well known during Mona Lisa's life, or if it gained fame only long after her death. Where does the painting hang today? Mary Livermore: I'll first ask when and where Mary Livermore was born, and then I'll ask you to summarize her life before the Civil War began. Did she get any formal education? Did she marry and have children? Was she involved in the issue of slavery before the war--if not, why not? If she was, how was she involved and how did she

oppose slavery? Then, I'll ask you how she got involved with helping Union soldiers and the U.S. Sanitary Commission--when did she first join the Commission? What types of things did she do for soldiers as part of the Sanitary Commission? You should give us specific events from her book here. How far did she rise in the ranks of the Commission? What qualities made her such an effective aid worker and leader? How many hours on average did she work a day? I'll also ask you when she started visiting Union hospitals, and what types of conditions she found there. What did she do to help clean up the hospitals and what types of things did she do for the sick or wounded soldiers: cook food? write letters? Did she encounter any intereference or opposition from Union officers or soldiers? How did she deal with that? How far did she travel in her attempts to help get supplies to Union soldiers? Did the wounded and sick soldiers become attached to her? What is one very sad and pitiful story about a soldier which she tells in her book? Make it good and sad! If there's time, I'll ask you to briefly summarize her life after the war, but we'll move quickly to the last question: why should we still study her life, and what can we learn from her? La Llorona: Ill first ask what the name La Llorona: means in Spanish. Then, Ill ask where and when the legend of La Lorona began to be told. Was it based on a specific event which happened to a specific person, whom we can name and date? Or has the origin of the legend been obscured so that no one really knows? Be as precise on dates as you can. Then, Ill ask you to tell us the main version of the story, or the most commonly told version of the story. There may well be some variants, and you can decide what to leave in or leave out. You should tell us the legend in as much detail as you can, and then Ill ask you if there were significantly different versions of the story, and if so, what these various changes were. When and why were those changes made? How was the legend changed to adapt to new peoples or cultures or places, or has it pretty much stayed the same and stayed popular in Mexico and the American Southwest? Why was the story so popular and why has it lasted so long? What are the main messages in the story, especially for children? Are there particular days or occasions in Mexico or the American Southwest when it is told? If so, why on those days? Livia: I'll first ask when and where she was born, and what her life was like before she met Octavian, especially her marriage. Who was her first husband? Did she already have children? Then, I'll ask how and when she met Octavian or Augustus, and why she was so attracted to him. Did it trouble that she left her husband behind? Also, I'll ask you what her political views were--did she think the old Republic should be restored? Or did she think Rome needed one strong ruler or an emperor? I'll also ask how she helped Augustus rule this vast empire. What are the main ways that she helped him? How much

of the running of the empire did Augustus put in her hands? What obstacles did she face because she was a woman? We'll then move to her attempts to have her son Tiberius become the next emperor over all of the other young men who could have been emperor. Did she actually poison or murder some of the young men who stood in line before Tiberius? Which ones? Did she just get lucky with the death of others? What about her son Drusus or "Germanicus"? There were rumors that Livia engineered Germanicus' death because she sent her doctor to supposedly "help" him after he suffered an injury? You can respond to these charges by either admitting them, denying them, or a combination of both admittance and denial--I will leave it up to you, based on the sources you've read. Did Livia kill her own husband Augustus by poisoning his figs? After Tiberius took over in 14 C.E., how much power did Livia have? Did she get along well with Tiberius? Was Livia popular with the Roman people? What was her main goal at this late stage of her life? Did she reach that goal eventually? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from Livia's story today.

Leonard Lommel: I'll first ask when and where Leonard Lomell was born, and when and why he joined the army and became a ranger. What made the Army Rangers special? What kind of special training did they have which made them specialized? Then, I'll ask about his service during World War II--what was his first campaign, where and when did he first see action? I'll then ask about his role as an Army Ranger at DDay--what was his role on that day, what unit did he serve with, and did he successfully carry it out? What were the main obstacles which he faced? How many casualties did his unit take? How did he and his men eventually find the German big guns and take them out? Where did he serve from D-Day until the end of the war? Was he ever wounded? If so, where and how? Did he get a G.I. education after the war? What did he do as a career--did he stay in the military and strike out for another career? Finally, I'll ask why we should still study his story today and what we can learn from it? Hopefully, you can find his diary for D-Day.

Lysistrata: For Lysistrata, I'll start by asking who wrote the play about her, when it was written, and where and when it was performed. Then, I'll ask you about the situation in Athens was at the start of the play, and then I'll ask what Lysistrata's idea was for stopping the war between her own city Athens and the Spartans. How hard was it for Lysistrata to recruit the women of Athens and Sparta for her plan? I'll ask you to describe the scene in the play where Lysistrata lines up her women, as if they are troops, and she does a mock "inspection" of them, the way a man would inspect male soldiers.

That part is very funny. How did the soldiers of Athens react when they first knew of Lysistrata's plan? Also, What kind of opposition did Lysistrata and her women followers face from the older men of Athens? You should describe how the women of Athens took control of the treasury of the city in the Acropolis, and how the old men and old women fought each other, but how the old men couldn't get through the doors. I'll also ask how Lysistrata compared running the city of Athens to weaving cloth, which was a traditional job of the woman then. Then, I'll ask you how long it took the men of Athens to give in to Lysistrata's plan and agree to end the war. Also, I will ask you about the major themes or messages in the play about war, and about men and women and their roles in society--for example, think of how the play turns the traditional roles of men and women upside down, giving political power to women and taking it away from men. Also, the play presents Lysistrata as a very strong willed and determined woman, which was not how women were usually presented by men back then. Of course, your research about the play may give you other answers to this question. Finally, I'll ask you what lessons women and men today, in America, can learn from this play. Macbeth: Ill first ask when and where the play Macbeth was performed, and then Ill ask whether the character of Macbeth was based on a real person or not, although you are presenting yourself as the character in the play. Then, Ill ask you to tell us the main plot of the playwhere and when is the play set?What is Macbeth's status and position in Scotland when the play starts? What is the relationship between Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth at the start of the playhow close are they? Then, I'll ask you what prophecy the witches give to Macbeth and how he responds and reacts to what they tell him. How does Lady Macbeth respond to this news when Macbeth tells her? Who developed the plot to kill the king of Scotland and take the throne for herself and her husband? Was it Macbeth or his wife, or both? How much did Lady Macbeth have to convince Macbeth to commit this terrible murder? Was it more her idea than his? You should read a quotation from Macbeth in the play to demonstrate just how he felt about killing the king just before he does it. Then, I'll ask you how Macbeth killed the king and other nobles. Did Macbeth feel guilt after the murders were done and he became king? Then, Ill ask how long it took for the plot to be discovered, and who discovered it. How did Macbeth react to this news? How did his wife's life end in the play? How did Macbeth react to the news of her death? You should quote this passage, which is famous--start where Macbeth says that there would have been a time for this news, and then go on until he says that life signifies nothing. Ill then ask about the main messages which Shakespeare wanted to express through this play and through the character of Macbeth: is it a warning about ambition or threats to the established political order? What does the play say about the willingness of people we think of as good to do terrible acts? You should investigate how have scholars interpreted the character of Macbeth

and his meaning and use their insights.

Lady Macbeth: Ill first ask when and where the play Macbeth was performed, and then Ill ask whether the character of Lady Macbeth was based on a real woman or not, although you are presenting yourself as the character in the play. Then, Ill ask you to tell us the main plot of the playwhere and when is the play set? What is the relationship between Lady Macbeth and her husband at the start of the playhow close are they? You should describe her reaction to the prophecy which the witches give to her husband, and you should also describe how she developed a plot to kill the king of Scotland and take the throne for herself and her husband. How much did Lady Macbeth have to convince her husband to commit this terrible murder? Was it more her idea than his? You should read a quotation from her in the play to demonstrate just how ambitious for power she was, and how she was willing to break all Christian rules of behavior to get this power. Ill also ask you if she felt guilt after the murders were done and her husband became kingyou should tell us about the blood stains on her hands which she imagined to be therethis would be a good place for reading another quotation from the play. Then, Ill ask how long it took for her plot to be discovered, and who discovered it. How did she react to this news? How did her life end in the play? Ill then ask about the main messages which Shakespeare wanted to express through this play and through the character of Lady Macbeth: is it a warning about ambition in women? Is there a negative stereotype of women in the play and what happens when women become too powerful? You should investigate how have scholars interpreted the character of Lady Macbeth and her meaning and use their insights, as well as develop your own ideas.

Robert McNamara: After asking when and where he was born, I'll ask you about his education and his service in World War II--what role did he play in the war and what branch of the service was he in? What about his career after the war? You should talk about his rise to be head of Ford Motor company and I'll also ask how successful he was in that position. Then, I'll ask how he felt when President Kennedy picked him to be Secretary of Defense. Did he feel fully prepared? What advice did he give to President Kennedy about Vietnam and the situation there in 1961-1962? Did the President follow this advice? Why did McNamara think that protecting South Vietnam was so important?

What did he think would happen if South Vietnam was lost to Communism? What was McNamara's role in America's response to the Tonkin Gulf attacks of 1964? Did McNamara cut corners and ignore evidence that there may not have been a second attack on our ships? What was the goal in sending American marines to Vietnam in 1965? What was McNamara's overall strategy for victory in Vietnam? When did he begin to realize that it wasn't working, and what alternatives did he present to President Johnson? How much difference was there between what McNamara was saying to the public and press and what he was saying privately to the president? When did McNamara resign from Secretary of Defense, and why? Later on, after the war, what were the main mistakes which he thinks we made in the Vietnam War? The last part of his book about the war would be very helpful here, if you haven't already read it. We may have to move through these questions pretty quickly, but I'll try to hit them all Aimee Semple McPherson: I'll first ask where and when she was born, and what her maiden name was. Then, I'll ask about when she first became deeply religious--did she have a conversion experience as a child or young person, or was she simply raised to be a Christian by her family? What was the name of her Christian church or denomination while she was growing up? For example, was she a Pentecostal, Prebyterian, etc? Then, I'll ask when she received the call or the when she developed the desire to preach. How difficult was it for her as a woman to become a pastor and a preacher? How quickly did she rise to the point that she got her own radio program? What was the name of her program, and how popular did it become? What kind of Christian message and teaching did she preach on the radio? Was her message more about the love of Christ or about the need to avoid Hell and God's judgment, or was it a mix of both? Was she more interested in saving souls, or improving people's lives, or a mix of both? Was she a "fundamentalist"? That is, did she preach against evolution and science? Was she also against alcohol and for Prohibition? I'd like you to try and listen to some of her broadcasts through searching on the Internet. If you find a link, let me know. Also, if you can find her sermons recorded, choose a small part (maybe just 30 seconds) which you think is interesting and would illustrate her style. How many listeners did Aimee have at the height of her popularity on the radio? Then, we'll move to the scandal which happened to her. How did this scandal begin with her disappearance? Where and when did this happen? When did she re-appear and what was her story to the media? What evidence emerged to cast doubt on her story, and why did many people not believe her tale? Based on the evidence which you find, what do you think really happened to Aimee? Was she really kidnapped or did she actually take a long weekend with one of her workers, who was married? Was Aimee married at this time, too? Did she lose listeners and prestige because of this scandal? Did she continue to be just as popular on the radio and recover from the scandal quickly? What about Aimee's "Angelus Temple"--when did she open this and where? How popular was it and how long did she preach there? Is it still functioning today?

Mary Magdalene: I'll first ask when and where Mary Magdalene was born, and you should give me your best estimate on that. In finding answers here, you should use the New Testament gospels, but you should also use the Gnostic "Gospel of Mary Magdalene". Incorporate information from both of them. Then, I'll ask about how she came to know Jesus, and how he healed her. Was she a prostitute? Or did that idea develop later on? Also, was it Mary Magdalene who cleansed Jesus' feet with her hair, or was that probably another Mary? I'll also ask whether she was his wife--here, you should use the gospels but also other secondary sources by historians. For example, some historians think that a rabbi like Jesus was always married because of social pressure, so they bend toward the idea of him being married and suggest that Mary is a good choice because she is so close to him. You should use your own judgment on this after you look at all the sources. Then, I'll ask you how she reacted to his crucifixion and death--you should describe the New Testament gospels here, which describe her and other women going to Jesus' tomb and finding it empty. Then, I'll ask you about how the risen Christ appeared to her--was she the first person to see the risen Christ, according to the gospels? How does the Gospel of Mary Magdalene describe this scene? What did the risen Jesus say to her? When she went to the male disciples to announce this news, how did they react to her? I'll ask about where she went after Jesus rose from the dead? Is there any tradition or information of her going to France or somewhere else? Finally, I'll ask why we should remember her and what we can learn today from studying her life. Maggie. I'll first ask the name of the novel in which she is the main character, who wrote the novel, and when it was first published. Then, I'll ask if the author based Maggie on any actual person, or if he invented her completely. Then, I'll ask you to tell her story and the main plot of the book--you can't put in every detail, of course, but you should talk about the main events and what happens to her, as well as her relationship to other main characters, especially her brother and her boyfriend. You should also explain what happens to Maggie right through to the end of the story. I'll also ask you how Maggie's personality and character changed as the story goes on, and what hard lessons she learned about life. Was Maggie a victim, or was she to blame herself for what happened to her? Then, I'll ask you what messages about American cities and American women the author was sending in this book. What did he want his readers to learn? What did he want them to do as a result of reading the book--what kinds of reforms did he want? Lucretia Marinella: I'll first ask where and when Lucretia Marinella was born, and then I'll ask about her education. Did she have formal education in schools, or did she learn at home? Was kinds of topics did she study? Did she have brothers, and if so, did she get as good an education as they did? Was she a humanist? Did she know Latin, Greek, and

other languages? Was she also a devout Christian? Then, I'll ask about her writing career--how many books did she write altogether, and in what period were most of them written? How many of these were poetry? I'll ask you about her poem "The Holy Dove" and "Cupid in Love and Driven Mad"--what were the main themes or messages in these works? Were these poems popular and did she receive recognition for them? Then, I'll ask about the books she wrote on Christian saints--who were two of these saints and how she did present their stories? Did she face discrimination in her career because she was a woman? Then, we'll move to her best known book, "The Nobility and Excellence of Women and the Defects and Vices of Men". When did she publish this book, and what happened to cause her to write this book? Who was she replying to in this book? What were her main arguments for why women were more noble and excellent than men, and in what ways were women superior to men? What kind of evidence did she use? I'll ask you to quote a passage from this book to illustrate how she defended and praised women, and another quotation in which she criticized men. Did she face much criticism for this book, or was she highly praised? Did she ever marry and have children? If so, did she have to balance raising children with a writing career? To what extent was she an early feminist? Was she ahead of her time in this way?

Medea: I'll first ask who wrote the play titled Medea, and when and where this play was first performed. Where did Medea live according to the play, and which kingdom did she live in? Was she a princess of this kingdom? Was she also a witch? How did she meet Jason, according to the legend of the Golden Fleece, and how did Medea help Jason get the magical fleece? Then, I'll ask you to tell about how Medea married Jason, moved to Greece, and how many children she had. I"ll then ask how and why Jason decided to divorce Medea. What did Medea do about Jason's decision? How did Medea get her revenge against Jason's new bride and against his new father-in-law? Then, how did Jason get revenge on Jason himself? Why did Medea go to such extreme measures to get back at her husband? How did Medea symbolize or represent the condition of Greek women during the time of the play? Did Medea represent Greek women of that time and how powerless they were? To what extent did the character of Medea show the strength that Greek women really had over their husbands and their families? What are the other major themes or messages in the play? What about the theme that women were too passionate and were in danger of going out of control dangerously if men didn't control them? What can American women today learn from her story?

James Meredith: Ill first ask where and when James Meredith was born? Then, Ill ask about what it was like for him growing up as a black manhow good was his education? What kinds of discrimination, prejudice, and even violence did he face growing up, and how did he respond to it? Was he involved in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s? Did he take part in events like marches, sit-ins, or voter registration drives for black people in Mississippi? Which college did Meredith first attend, and for how long? Why did he decide to try and attend the University of Mississippi, when he knew that no white person was studying there? Did he realize how dangerous and difficult it would be to get enrolled? How long did it take Meredith to actually register as a student there, and how dangerous was it for him? How many times did he try to register before actually being enrolled? Was he in fear of his life during this time? When did the federal government step in to protect Meredith? When was his first day of class at the University of Mississippi, and what was his experience like going from class to class and attending day to day? How did white students react to him? Did he get much sympathy, or was it mostly hostility? How soon was it before other black students could go to school there, and how many black students are enrolled today in the University of Mississippi (you can use Wikipedia or the internet to find this statistic if you want to.) When did Meredith graduate from the University of Mississippi and what was his degree in? Then, well move to his 1966 march and what happenedwhere was this March to start and end, what was it called, and what was the purpose of it? What happened to Meredith soon after this March started, and how long did it take him to recover? Who were some of the prominent Civil Rights leaders who took part in the March? Whats the name of the book which Meredith wrote about his experiences during these years in Mississippi? After 1966, what career did Meredith follow? Did he have a family and children? What were his political views through the 1970s and 1980s and how did they change over that time? Why did he eventually join the Republican party, and what was his view of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday?

Margaret Mitchell: I'll first ask you when and where Margaret Mitchell was born? I'll also ask about how and why she became interested in writing, and I'll ask about her education, if she went to college, and what her career was when she started working. I'll ask you if she had family members or ancestors who were in the Civil War, and what she learned about the war from them. Did they give her a very sympathetic view of the South in the Civil War, and a sympathetic view of slavery, too? I'll then ask you when and how she got the idea of writing "Gone with the Wind" and how long it took her to write it. You will need to tell the main storyline or plot of the novel, especially the relationship between Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler, and Scarlett's love for Ashley Wilkes, who

married Melanie instead. You should also talk about what happens to the Tara plantation where Scarlett lived in the book--how it was devastated by the war, and how Scarlett had to struggle to keep it after the war. I will also ask you about how Mitchell depicted slavery in the novel--the movie has been heavily criticized for depicting a rosy and positive view of slaves and slavery. Was this also the case in the novel? Did she include any negative or brutal scenes of slavery, or did all the slaves feel happy about being slaves in the novel? Did Mitchell really care if her novel was historically accurate? I'd like you to read a couple of quotations from the book--one about Scarlett and Rhett Butler, and another to show how Mitchell depicted slavery. Did she do much historical research for it, or did she present it as a novel, not worrying that it might not be historically accurate? I'll then ask how popular the book was when it was published, and if many people criticized it. Then, I'll ask whether Margaret Mitchell was involved in the making of the movie in 1939, and what she thought about it. Did she think it accurately portrayed her novel? Did she like the film? If there's time, I'll ask you about her life after the book and the movie, and whether she wrote other novels. I'll also ask about the tragic accident in which she died, if there's time. Finally, I'll ask why we should still read "Gone with the Wind" today and what we can learn from it. Monica: I'll first ask when and where she was born, and then I'll ask about how and why she became a Christian. Were her parents already Christians when she was born, or did she convert to Christianity? Then, I'll ask about her marriage--what was her husband's name, and why did she marry him if he wasn't Christian? Did Monica try to convert him--did she succeed? Was it a problem for her being married to a pagan? Then, I'll ask about her children--how many did she have, and where did Augustine fall in the sequence? As Augustine was growing up, how did Monica try to influence him toward Christianity? What about her prayers for him? Did Augustine respond at first to any of her efforts? You should tell us about how he pursued philosophy and other religions, like the Manichean beliefs. Then, I'll ask when Augustine did convert to Christianity and how it happened. Did he credit his mother and her prayers for this conversion? Was Monica still alive when Augustine converted--if so, what was her reaction? When was she made a saint, and what were the reasons for it? Saints have always had miracles associated with them--what miracles did Monica do? Was the conversion of Augustine considered her "miracle"? What is her saint's day or feast day in the Catholic church's calendar? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from her story?

Anne Moody: I'll first ask where and when Anne Moody was born and what her name was then. Then, I'll ask about her life as a child: how poor was her family, and how much

did she and her family have to struggle to get by? How would you describe the first home she lived in? How many siblings did she have? What happened between her parents that caused them to split up? What tragedy happened to her home when she was young? Then, I'll ask about how and when Anne became aware of segregation and discrimination against black people. What happened at the movies which made her aware of this? Then, when she was older, how did she learn about the murder of Emmitt Till, and how did she react to this? When did she take the name "Anne" and why? When did Anne begin to work in the Civil Rights movement, which organization did she join, and what kind of work did she do? Which colleges did she attend, and where was she attending when she joined the sit-in in Jackson, Mississippi at the Woolworth lunch counter? What did some of the white crowd do to Anne? How did Anne help to get people registered to vote in Mississippi, and how successful was she at this? What obstacles did she face, and how often was she threatened? When did she come closest to being hurt and even killed in Mississippi, and how did she escape? What did she think of Dr. Martin Luther King's speech in the March on Washington in 1963, and then what happened shortly after this speech which shocked and saddened her? How did she react to this terrible news, and what did she say to God as a result of this? When did she publish her autobiography, what was it called, and how popular was it? Mulan: I'll first ask where and when Mulan was born, and what her social status was-were her parents farmers? Were they rich or poor, or somewhere of middle status? What did her name mean? Then I'll ask about the threats to China's borders during her time? How great was the threat from the Mongols in the North? Who was the Chinese emperor at the time, and how big was the Chinese army? How successful was the Chinese army in defending its borders? Then, I'll ask how and why Mulan got involved in the military? Did she actually fight as a soldier, or did she help the army in other ways? Of course, you may be dealing with more legend than documented history with her, but if legend is all we have, you should go with that. If she was a soldier, how was she able to hide her identity? Did she actually perform any deeds of heroism which helped save her fellow soldiers or China? When and why did she leave the army? Did she marry and have a family afterward? How quickly did her legend begin to spread? When was the ballad written about her life? Who wrote it? Finally, I'll ask what Mulan's story meant to the Chinese after her, and also what we can learn from her story today. Mumtaz Muhal: First, Ill ask when and where Mumtaz was born, and what her name means. Then, Ill ask how she became the queen of the ruler of Moghul India, Shah Jehan. Was she of a royal and noble family, or was she more of a commoner? How much did she love Shah Jehan? Did he have other wives? If so, how did Mumtaz Muhal feel

about that? Then, Ill ask how many children she had with Shah Jehan, and how she became ill and died with her last childbirth. What happened, and how old was she when she died? Then, well move to the beautiful Taj Mahal which her husband had built to hold her body. Ill put a photo of it up on the screen as I ask you about it. What were the main materials used, how many workers were involved, and how long did it take to build? What types of architectural styles were used? You should talk about how its a combination of both Hindu and Muslim architecture and be able to point out examples from the building of each of these. Where is the burial site of Mumtaz Muhal in the building? What are the most unique and interesting qualities of the Taj Mahal? For example, you should talk about the marble changes color from sunrise through the day to sunset. Also, doesnt the white marble symbolize the love and purity of Mumtaz Mahal? Finally, Ill ask you what we can learn today from her life. Audie Murphy: I'll first ask when and where Audie Murphy was born. Was he interested in the army as a boy? Then, I'll ask how hold he was when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. Did he try to join the army soon after that? Was he old enough to join? If not, how long did he have to wait before he could sign up? Who influenced him to want to be a soldier? Had his father or grandfather or other members of his family been in the military? Did he come from a family which had fought in the military, like his father or grandfather? Why did Audie Murphy choose the army rather than the other branches of the military? How long was his basic training, and in which countries did he serve during World War II? Where did he first see combat? How did he react to combat? Did he think that he performed well in battle and under pressure? What did he write about his life in the army in his letters back home? When did he win his first citations for bravery? Then, we'll move to the day on which Murphy became a "hero" and won the Medal of Honor. When and where did this happen, and what battle was going on? What did Audie Murphy do to save his fellow soldiers from the Germans? You should describe the action step-by-step and explain how dangerous it was for him--make sure to find the Medal of Honor official citation, which describes what happened. Did he get wounded during this action? If so, where were his wounds and how serious were they? How many decorations and awards did he win during World War II? How did he respond to being called a hero, especially when he returned home? When did he get his photo on the cover of LIFE magazine? How did Audie Murphy get into the movies, and what was the name of the film about his own story, in which he played himself? How popular was this film? How many other films did he make, and how popular was he? What tragic accident led to his death? Georgia OKeefe: For Georgia O'Keefe, I'll first ask when and where she was born, then I'll ask how and why she became interested in art and painting. Who influenced her in

this direction? What kind of formal training in art did she receive and which schools did she attend? Then, I'll ask how she began her professional career--what were the topics or themes of her first paintings? What types of materials or paint did she prefer? Why was she painting, beyond just to make a living? What was her philosophy of art and its meaning? I'll also ask you about her marriage, and whether her husband's profession stimulated her art and how. Then, I'll ask about her move to New Mexico and how this changed her art work and the topics she painted. I'd like you to present two of her paintings from this New Mexico period--you can choose them and let me know on Thursday which ones you chose, and we'll pull them up on Google image. You should describe the paintings--when they were painted, what is being depicted, and what the message of each painting is. Which artistic movement would come closest to fitting her work? I'll then ask what the public reaction to these types of painting was, and how well known she became in her later years. Finally, I'll ask why we should study her paintings today and what we can learn from them. Osiris: First, Ill ask when and how Osiris was born (or created) according to Egyptian legendthere is a good primary source for this on our Moodle websitethe Egyptian creation myth. What is the meaning of his name? Was he always a goddess? Or is it possible that he was once an actual human being? Then, Ill ask about his relationship to Isiswere they brother and sister as well as husband and wife? If this was an incestuous relationship, what did that symbolize? What qualities or values did Osiris represent as a goddess? What was his main role as the king of Egypt, according to legend? Then, Ill ask how and why Osiris was killed by his brother Seth. How did Seth trick Osiris and kill him, and send his body away? What about the eye of Osiriswhat was it? Why did Seth want it? What did Isis do to try and get Osiris back? Here, you may find that legends differ, but use them all to make a complete story. Where did Isis go in search of Osiris and his coffin? Who went with her and how did this god help her? How and where did she find Osiris? How did she bring him back to life long enough to conceive a child? What did Seth do when he found Osiris? How did Isis retrieve Osiris pieces and put him back together? Then, Ill ask how her son took revenge against Seth and restored maat to Egypt. What happened to Osiris at this point? How did he become ruler of the afterlife? How was Osiris usually pictured in Egyptian art? How important a god was Osiris to the ancient Egyptians? How did they worship him? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn today from his story. Ovid: Ill start by asking when and where Ovid was born, and what his full name was. Then, Ill ask about his educationwhat kind of teachers did he have, and what did he enjoy studying the most? Did Ovid get married and have children? Then, Ill ask how

many books Ovid wrote, and when he wrote his very important book Metamorphoses. What was this book about? Why did he decide to write it, and how popular was it? You should talk about how Ovid took Greek myths and legends and made them popular. Did he add much to the legends from his own imagination? Ill also ask you to tell us briefly about one of the stories or myths in this book. Then, Ill ask you about his book titled Ars Amor or Art of Love. When did he write this book, and what was it about? Ill ask you to quote a couple of short pieces from the book (in English, of courseyou dont have to quote it in the original Latin). You should find quotations which show that Ovid not only wrote about how to love, but also how to cheat on your spouse. If theres time, Ill ask about Ovids later life and if you continued to write, or if he pursued other professions. Finally, Ill ask you why we should still read Ovids books todays and what we can learn from them.

Lady of Oplontis: I'll ask you first about when she was born (you can give an approximate year, based on how old she was at death), and then I'll ask where Oplontis was and how close it was to Pompeii. Was it a suburb of Pompeii or a different, nearby town? Then, I'll ask you on what day and in which year, Mt. Vesuvius erupted, and what happened that day. You should start by describing the ash cloud out of the volcano, which rose to thousands of feet and then split like the trunk of a tree. Then, it began to fall down on Pompeii. How many hours did the ash and pumice fall? Why didn't the Lady of Oplontis get out? (Here, you'll need to speculate, but we know that probably many people thought the ash fall would just stop. They had never seen an eruption before and didn't know what was coming. Ill also ask about the deadly burst of poisonous gas from the volcano about midnighta pyroclastic flowand how it killed her and so many others from suffocation. Then, I'll ask you to describe what position she was in when she died, which scientists know because of her resin cast. How and when did scientists use resin to make a cast or image of her and to study her? What can we learn about her life and social status because of this resin cast? How old was she when the eruption happened? Did she have children? How healthy was she? Scientists can determine this from studying her bones. Hopefully, you can find an image of this resin cast as well as a full description of it. Why did scientists use resin for her instead of plaster? Finally, Ill ask about what we can learn today from her sad story.

Bonnie Parker: I'll first ask you where and when Bonnie Parker was born. Then, I'll ask about why and when she met Clyde Barrow and what she thought of him. What attracted her to him? Then, I'll ask when the two of them started to get into trouble with the law, and what kind of trouble it was. When did they start robbing banks, how long did their crime spree last, how wide an area did it cover, and about how many banks did they rob? Why did Bonnie do this? Was it the excitement, the money, or a combination? Was she in love with Clyde--did they ever plan to get married? I'd like you to describe one of these robberies in a little more detail so we can get an idea of how they did it. Also, how many people were in the gang? How many people did the gang kill in these robberies? Also, I'd like you to quote some of the poem which Bonnie wrote and had published in the newspapers, which is very interesting. I'll also ask you about when they were ambushed and killed--go into some detail on this event. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study Bonnie's story and what we can learn from it today.

Rosa Parks: For Rosa Parks, I'll ask when and where she was born, and then I'll ask how she first became involved with the Civil Rights movement. Was she active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People even before her famous bus incident of 1955? What kind of burdens did she have to bear from segregation growing up where she did? Then, I'll ask you to take us back to the day in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat on the public bus. How often did black people have to give up seats? Didn't black people also have to pay for a ticket at the front of the bus and then get on in the back? Was there plenty of room for the white people on the day on which Rosa was asked to move? How did the driver respond when she refused? And why did Rosa Parks do this on that particular day? Did she plan it ahead of time or was it truly a spontaneous action? Once she was taken to jail, whose idea was it to launch a boycott of the bus system? Did she already know Dr. King before this bus incident, or did they get to know each other when it happened? How long did the boycott go on and what kinds of hardships did it mean for black people there? How did this victory in Montgomery change Rosa's life? Did she become much more active in the Civil Rights movement and become a leader after that? Or did she remain in low profile while others took the lead? Was she an active member of Dr. King's campaigns to stop segregation in the 1960's? Was she there at his speech in Washington, D.C. in 1963 and at the signing of the Civil Rights bills of 1964 and 1965? If there's time, I'll ask how active she was in the movement in her later years, and when she died. Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from her story today. St. Patrick: Ill first ask where and when Patrick was born. Then, Ill ask whether he

grew up a Christian, or whether he was converted to Christianity at some point. Then, Ill ask how he ended up in Irelandyou should tell the story of how he was captured, went to Ireland, and then tell us how long he stayed there before getting away. What was his status during this first period in Ireland? Was he a slave? A worker? What kind of work did he do? What did he think of the religion of the Irish? Were they Christians at that time? If not, what was their religion? Then, Ill ask how and why Patrick felt he had to return to Ireland later onwhat was the vision or experience which convinced him that God wanted him to go back and preach to the Irish? Once he was there, how successful was he in converting the Irish to Christianity? What kind of opposition did Patrick face, and who opposed him? Did Irish work any miracles in order to convince the Irish? Did he use force in any circumstances, or just persuasion? How did he use the Irish shamrock to teach the Irish about the Christian trinity? Did he literally drive the snakes out of Ireland? If it wasnt a literal act, what was the symbolic importance of this story? Was Patrick a bishop in the Catholic church by this time? What was his official title? How long did he preach to the Irish, and by the time of his death, was Ireland solidly Christian, or were there still pockets of paganism left? Then, Ill ask when Patrick became a saint, and what miracle or miracles were used to justify his sainthood. What is Patricks day in the Catholic calendar? (easy question!) Finally, Ill ask what Patrick would think of the way people celebrate his day, by drinking and partying a lot, probably more than being in church. Remember to dress like a Christian bishop, not as a modern St. Patricks Day celebrant! George Patton: I'll first ask where and when George Patton was born. Then, I'll ask why he wanted to be in the military--did he have family ancestors in the military? Also, I'll ask you about his time at West Point and also about his performance in the Olympics. Then, I'll ask you to quickly summarize his service in the military after he left West Point, both in Mexico and in World War I--we wont' spend much time on this period since I want to get to World War II quickly, but I will ask you about his dedication to the tank as a weapon. What were his main ideas on how tanks could be used in warfare to make it faster and bring victory sooner? I'll also ask you about his belief in reincarnation and the idea that he had fought in previous ages--I'd like you to quote a bit from his poetry which shows his belief in reincarnation. Then, we'll move to World War II--what was his first campaign as a general leading an army, and where did it happen? How well did his troops do when they first went up against the Germans? What about his plan for invading and capturing Sicily from the Germans? What was the plan and how well did it work? Did Patton put his soldiers in unnecessary danger in order to beat the British general Montgomery to Messina in Sicily? Also, I'll ask you about why Patton got into such trouble for slapping soldiers who were suffering from "battle fatigue". When was he removed from command of his army, and was it because of slapping soldiers or other

reasons? Then, I'll move ahead to Patton's part in the liberation of France and the Battle of the Bulge--you should describe how his forces moved quickly through France--how many German troops did his army capture in 1944? How did Patton and his army help defeat the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge? How did he motivate his troops to fight so hard and march so far? You should give us a quotation from one of Patton's speeches in which he uses profanity. If there's time, I'll ask you how he died. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study the life of Patton and what we can learn from him.

Alice Paul: I'll first ask when and where Alice Paul was born. Then, I'll ask what kind of education she received and which schools and colleges she attended. What was her highest degree and what subject was it in, and when did she receive it? Also, I'll ask why and when she became interested in women's rights and especially the right of women to vote. What were the experiences in her childhood or youth which influenced her in this direction? How did she stand out from other girls when she was growing up? How did she express her greater independence and ambition? Then, I'll ask about her participation in the campaign to get women the vote in England--when was Alice Paul there, who was the leader of the this movement, and what types of activities did Alice participate in: marches, picket line protests, speeches, others? Was she ever put in prison, and if so, for how long? How effective was this voting rights campaign in England, and when did she return to America to join the crusade for women's rights here? What was her plan for how to get American women the vote, and what organization did she create? How were Alice's methods different from other women's rights activists? How involved was Alice in the great suffragette march in Washington, D.C. in March, 1916? How did this march turn violent, and how much publicity did the march receive as a result? Then, we'll move to the picket of the White House by Alice and other women. When did this begin, and why did Alice take such a controversial move? How did President Wilson respond to the women who were picketing, and how did the public respond to the pickets? What kind of signs did the women picketing hold? How often were these women attacked? What did the government finally decide to do with these women to stop the campaign? Did it work, or did the government's plan backfire? When did the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, pass the Congress? When was it ratified by the states so that it was the law of the land? Was Alice Paul there on these great events, and what did she say about them? How much credit should Alice Paul get for women getting the vote in America? If there's time, I'll also ask you what other civil rights campaigns Alice pursued after 1920. John Pemberton: I'll first ask when and where John Pemberton was born. Then, I'll ask when and why he decided on a military career, and if he attended West Point or other

military schools. I'll also ask how he met and married a Southern woman and where she was from, and where they lived together. How many children did they have? Did his wife influence Pemberton to become sympathetic to the views of the South on slavery and secession? Did he own slaves? When the war broke out, how quickly did Pemberton rise to the rank of general? When was he given command of the rebel army at Vicksburg? Did he face opposition and suspicion because he was from the North? How did Pemberton try to stop Grant in his campaign to surround and capture Vicksburg? Did Pemberton do enough to stop the Union boats from running the batteries? Why couldn't Pemberton's forces keep Grant from crossing the Mississippi below Vicksburg? Once Grant's forces got across, why didn't Pemberton either evacuate Vicksburg and save his army or either join with Johnston's army to attack Grant? What were Pemberton's orders from Jefferson Davis? When the siege began, did Pemberton think of trying to break out of Vicksburg? What kind of suffering did Pemberton's men go through during the siege, and why did he surrender on July 4? How were his men treated when they surrendered? Were they quickly paroled? What happened to Pemberton after Vicksburg fell--did he ever command a Confederate army again? Finally, I'll ask you why we should study his Civil War career and what we can learn from it. Petronius: First, I'll ask where and when Petronius was born. Then, I'll ask about his education--who taught him, and what were the main subjects he studied? When did Petronius become a writer and novelist? When did he write the novel "Satyricon", and what was this novel about? In what language did he write the book? Who were the main characters in the story, and what do these characters do? I'll ask you to read a passage of at least 3 or 4 sentences from the part of the novel called "Trimalchio's Banquet" which you find funny. After you read the quotation, I'll ask you to explain what the message was and why people then would have found it funny? What made the "Satyricon" a satire? What people or problems in society was Petronius poking fun at and criticizing in this novel? How popular was the book? I'll then ask about what work Petronius did for the emperor Nero and how well Petronius liked this work. What other books did Petronius write which were important? Then, I'll ask about how and why Petronius died. Finally, I'll ask why we should still read the "Satyricon" and other books by Petronius and what we can learn from them. Pickett, George: I'll first ask you where and when George Pickett was born. Then, I'll ask you about why and when he decided he wanted to serve in the military. Did he have family members or ancestors who had fought in the war, and if so, who were they? When did Pickett start his education at West Point, and how well did he do as a cadet there? When did he graduate, and what were his military assignments before the Civil

War? Did he see action in Mexico? What action did he see in the Oregon territory, and what was his highest rank in the army before the Civil War. Then, we'll move to the beginning of the Civil War--what regiment was Pickett originally with, and what was his rank? How quickly did he become a general for the Confederates? Did he see any combat action before the battle of Gettysburg? If not, why not? If he did, which battles did he fight in before Gettysburg? At the battle of Gettysburg, how many men did Pickett command, and what did he think about the order to charge the Union line on July 3? Was Pickett eager to charge, or did he think it was an impossible mission? How many men did Pickett lose during the charge, and how did Pickett feel after the battle? What question did General Lee ask Pickett after the battle, and what was the answer from Pickett? What were the main battles in which Pickett fought after Gettysburg? Was he married during the war, or did he marry after the war? Did Pickett blame General Lee for the defeat at Gettysburg on July 3, or did he blame Longstreet more? When did this charge become known as "Pickett's" Charge, and why? How long did Pickett live after the Civil War, and did he write about the charge at Gettysburg on July 3? What did he write about it and his role in it? Christine de Pisan: Ill first ask where and when Christine de Pisan was born, and then Ill ask about her education. Did she have any formal education in schools, or was she taught at home by tutors? What topics did she learn about? Did she know Latin and Greek, and who were the main Greek and Roman writers and philosophers whom she learned about? When did she marry, whom did she marry, and how many children did she have? What happened to her husband which forced her to be on her own and to make her own living? How did she manage to get by? Then, Ill ask you about her main books, starting with the Book of the City of Ladies. What was this book about, and what was her main message about women in the book? Who are the main characters in the book? What does this book tell us about the roles of women in society then and how they were confined mainly to the home? You should describe how this is a dialogue between a woman and Reason, which she pictured as a woman rather than a man. You should read us a couple of quotations from this book to show how she felt women were being held back by men, and also to show how she felt women should receive a good education and the opportunities which men received. How did she explain the fact that most women then werent well educated and werent involved in politics? How did she think this should change? Why is Christine considered by scholars to be one of the first feminists? Was this book popular and how did men in authority respond to it? Then, Ill ask you about two of her other books: the Letter from the God of Love and The Tale of the Rose. When did she write these books, and what were the main messages in them? How did these books also praise women and support them, and how did they criticize men and their stereotypes about what women should and should not do? What

did Christine de Pisan think about the success of Joan of Arc?

Pliny the Younger: First, I'll ask where and when Pliny the Younger was born. Then, I'll ask about his social status--was it a wealthy and patrician Roman family? Who was his uncle and what was his uncle most well known for writing? What kind of education did Pliny the Younger receive, and did he want to become a writer and scholar from an early age? What books had Pliny the Younger had written before 79 C.E.? Did he serve in the government or follow another profession? Then, we'll get to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Where was Pliny the Younger living when Mt. Vesuvius erupted, and on what day and year did the eruption begin? Then, I'll ask about what he saw that day and you should describe what he described in his famous letter, the first eye witness account of a volcanic eruption which was documented. What about the cloud of ash? How far and how high did it extend, and how long did it last before beginning to collapse? What the the fall of pumice and ash on Pompeii and the nearby areas? Did he see roofs collapsing? What about the fatal blast of poisonous and deadly hot gas which came from the volcano around midnight? Did Pliny the Younger experience these things firsthand, or did he see it happening to others? Did he see people dying or collapsing? What were people saying about the eruption and what it meant? What about the sky and how dark it was? How did Pliny the Younger interpret all these events? When did Pliny's uncle decide to get a boat and try to help people? What was Pliny himself doing during this time? Did he go with his uncle or stay behind? Did Pliny the Younger have a family and wife to care for during this emergency? What happened to Pliny's uncle? How did Pliny the Younger survive? Did he leave the area or try to stay there? Then, I'll ask about his famous letter--when did he write it and to whom did he write it? If there's time, I'll also ask about his career after the eruption of Vesuvius, and I'll ask if he wrote any books which became well known during this time, or whether he went on to another career. Finally, Pocahontas: I'll first ask where and when Pocahontas was born, and what her real name was, and what the nickname "Pocahontas" meant. What tribe did she belong to, what was her father's name, and how powerful and big was her father's empire? How far did it stretch along the Eastern shore and inland? What was Pocahontas' personality like? At what age did Pocahontas begin to advise her father? How seriously did he listen to her ideas? How old was Pocahontas when the English settlers came to Jamestown? What did Pocahontas think of them when she saw them? What was the reaction of her father to them? How did Pocahontas influence her father's attitude and actions toward the white

settlers? Then, I'll ask about her and John Smith--when did they first meet and how close did they become? Were they ever in love, as the movies depict them? How much older was Smith than Pocahontas? What did Pocahontas do to help Jamestown survive its first winter? Then, we'll move to the famous episode when John Smith and was captured and Pocahontas supposedly save his life. Many historians and Native Powhatans now reject the idea that she saved him out of love? What are the alternative explanations? Was she engaging in a ritual adoption ceremony by saving him in a ceremony? Why would Powhatan and Pocahontas want to adopt Smith into their tribe? In the end, was Pocahontas able to prevent war between her people and Jamestown, or did it break out anyway? How did she become a hostage held in Jamestown, and how long was she kept there? When and why was she released? When did she marry John Rolfe, and hwo did Pocahontas help tobacco farming to be successful in Virginia? Why was she baptized, and what Christian name did she take? How many children did she have with Rolfe, and how did her father and people feel about her becoming a Christian, adopting a Christian name, and dressing like an English woman? Did this marriage and her conversion help bring peace between the Powhatans and the English? Finally, I'll ask how and when Pocahontas died, and what we can learn from her role as a peace maker today. Jackson Pollock: I'll first ask you when and where Jackson Pollock was born. I'll then ask you what kind of education he received--how far did he go in school? To colleges? To art academies? If so, which ones? Why and how did he become interested in art and painting, and who were his main teachers in painting? What type of paintings did Pollock like best when he started out--and which great artists of the 20th century did he like the most? How was he influenced by Native American art? How did his battle with alcohol and his experience with Jungian pscyhotherapy influence his work? Also, when and how did he learn the techniques of painting which he became famous for, like pouring art and the vibrant use of colors? What types of images did he like to paint? At this point, I'll ask you what two of his best known and most famous paintings you should pick two which you find interesting. I'll put images of each one up on the screen. Then, for both paintings, I'll ask you: What was it called, and when did he paint it? What was the inspiration for it? How large was each painting, and how did art critics and the public respond to them? How many major paintings did Pollock create during his life? How famous did he become for his work, and what was unique about his work in his techniques and his message? How old was he when he died, and how did he die? Chesty Puller: For your Chesty Puller presentation, I'll first ask where and when he was born, and how he became interested in a military career. Did he have a military tradition in his family? Which military school did he go to? Why did he choose the Marines?

You mentioned to me that he was "a Marine's Marine"--what do you mean by that? What personality traits made him so suitable for the Marines? How did he get his nickname "Chesty"? I'll ask you to then briefly review his military assignments before World War II, since I want to spend most of your time on his World War II experience. I'll ask you what unit of the Marines he commanded during World War II and what his rank was. Then, I'll ask about his role and his unit's role at Guadalcanal--how did his troops contribute to the American victory there? I'll also ask about the campaigns in which he and his men fought after Guadalcanal--what were the most important campaigns and why? What about his role at Cape Gloucester in 1944? Did he win any medals during World War II? Which ones, and why did he win them? What kind of commander was he, and how did he relate to his men? How far did he rise in rank during World War II? If there's time, I'll also ask about his role at the Inchon landing during the Korean War. Finally, I'll ask why we should remember his career and what he can teach us today. Clifton Prentiss: Remember that for your character, you need to get the book by David Jones titled "Two Brothers: One North, ONe South", which should be at OSU's library. I'll first ask when and where Clifton Prentiss was born, and then I'll ask what his views were about the issue of slavery, the expansion of slavery, and secession in the years just before the Civil War. How close was Clifton to his brother William, and how were William's views on these topics different? When the Civil War began, why did Clifton fight with the Union rather than the Confederacy? How did Clifton feel about his brother William fighting for the South? Were there hard feelings between them as they headed off to war in different armies? Which regiment did Clifton serve in, and how many major battles was he involved in? When and where was Clifton wounded, and how badly? Where was Clifton taken to the hospital, and how did his brother Wiliam happen to end up at the same hospital? Who was the person who served as a contact between them? Did Clifton and William both survive the war? Remember that this book is a novel, but it's based on real people and real events. William Prentiss: Remember that for your character, you need to get the book by David Jones titled "Two Brothers: One North, One South", which should be at OSU's library. I'll first ask when and where William Prentiss was born, and then I'll ask what his views were about the issue of slavery, the expansion of slavery, and secession in the years just before the Civil War. How close was William to his brother Clifton, and how were Cliftons views on these topics different? When the Civil War began, why did William fight with the Confederacy rather than the Union? How did William feel about his brother Clifton fighting for the North? Were there hard feelings between them as they headed off to war in different armies? Which regiment did William serve in, and how

many major battles was he involved in? When and where was William wounded, and how badly? Where was William taken to the hospital, and how did his brother Clifton happen to end up at the same hospital? Who was the person who served as a contact between them? Did Clifton and William both survive the war? Remember that this book is a novel, but it's based on real people and real events.

Ernie Pyle: I'll first ask when and where Ernie Pyle was born. Then, I'll ask about his education and how and why he got into journalism. Before World War II began, what writing jobs did he have, which papers did he write for, and how well was he known. What types of stories was he best known for writing? How far did he travel before World War II and how much did he write about his travels? Then, I'll move to his work as a war correspondent--when did he first begin to write about World War II and in what part of the world did Pyle observe the war and spend time with American soldiers? What paper did he write for, or did his work appear in many papers and publications? What made him so popular with both readers and with the soldiers? What types of soldiers and stories did he focus on? I'd like you to read from one of his columns about the soldiers which was very popular--you can pick it, and you should read a few lines from it to give us an idea of his style. Was he often in danger, or did he stay safely behind the lines? Did he live with the soldiers, and visit them in hospitals? By 1945, how many columns or stories had he written, and what prizes or awards had he won? When did Pyle to the Pacific theatre of the war? Where was he when he was shot, and how did it happen? On what day did he die? How did soldiers, generals, and the American public react to his death? How much did Pyle help the morale of the soldiers and the American people with his stories? What was the last story which he wrote before his death--what was it about? I'd like you to quote a few lines from it. William Quantrill: After asking where and when he was born, I'll ask what William Quantrill's views were on the issues of slavery and secession while he was growing up. Did he have strong views one way or the other? What profession was he interested in? What events or people influenced Quantrill to move westward toward Missouri and Kansas before the Civil War? Did he get involved in the dispute between slavery and anti-slavery people in Kansas during the 1850's? What pushed him to sympathize with the Southern cause? I'll then move ahead to the time of the Civil War--when did Quantrill volunteer for the Confederate army? Did he spend any time fighting as a regular army officer in a regular army, or did he become a guerilla fighter quickly after the war began? How many men were in his guerilla band? What kinds of attacks did

they lead against Northern troops or pro-Union citizens? Why did Quantrill lead a raid against Lawrence, Kansas in 1863? What was his main goal? What happened to the town and to people there--were civilians murdered? Was the town needlessly burned? If you can find any quotes by Quantrill about Lawrence or his raiding, go ahead and read a couple of them. Besides Lawrence, what's another example of the type of raid or battle which Quantrill and his men waged during the war? Where did he operate mainly? Missouri or Kansas? Were and his men ever soundly defeated by the Union? If so, where? If not, why not? Was he ever wounded in battle? If so, where (both the location of the battle and the place on his body where he was wounded). Then, I'll ask if Quantrill and his men committed crimes or atrocities against civilians or other soldiers--what were some of these atrocities. For example, did they take prisoners, or execute them? Did they burn homes and take possessions and livestock? Did Quantrill consider himself a "soldier" or something else? Did he survive the Civil War, and if so, where did he settle after it? Finally, I'll ask why we should still study his life and what we can learn from him today.

Rama: Youll be telling us the main story or plot from the Ramayana poem. There are different versions of it, and you should try to blend them together as best you can, though you may have to choose some events over others if they contradict each other. Ill first ask where and when Rama was born, and Ill ask about the legends surrounding his birth. There are different versions What made him special and set him apart from others? What miraculous stories are connected to his birth? Then, Ill ask about his role as a prince who were his parents, and what kingdom did he expect to rule some day? Ill then move to when he met Sita. When did he first see and meet her, and what did he think of her? How beautiful was she, in Ramas eyes? How deep was his love for her? How and why was Rama banished to the jungle? How did Sita respond to this exile? Did she go with Rama or did she stay behind and wait for him? How long was this exile, and what happened to Rama and Sita during this time? What were Ramas feelings during this time? How did Rama eventually return from exile and reclaim his title and his power? What role did Sita play in this? Did Rama and Sita became king and queen together and live a long life together, or did Rama lose her? Then, Ill ask about the meaning of the story of Rama to the people who told it and to the people today who still love it. What are the qualities or values which Rama still symbolizes to people? What can we learn from Ramas story to inspire us in our own lives today?

Rameses II: First, Ill ask where and when Rameses was born. Ill then ask what his name meansall the Egyptian names had important religious meanings. Was his father the king of Egypt? Was Rameses II in line to become the next king from the time he was a child? Or did Rameses have to work his way up to the top above other sons of the kings? When did Rameses become king or pharaoh, and which city was his royal capitol? What were his main achievements as king of Egypt? What great cities or temples did he build? Where was the temple with the huge statue of him built? How big is this colossal statue, and how long did it probably take to build? Ill put up a photograph of it to show just how big it is. Did he really use the Hebrews as slave labor to build cities and monuments? Did he actually use any slaves at all, or were his workers paid? Did the Hebrews, under Moses, actually leave Egypt? Did Rameses actually face off against Moses, and was Rameses really forced to let the Hebrews go? Here, you should base your answer on the Egyptian evidence which you can find, or the lack of it. Dont follow the Bibles accountyou need to follow Egyptian records if you can find them. If there is no evidence for Moses and the Exodus of the Hebrews, you should explain that and claim that it didnt happen. What about Rameses military achievements? Who were his enemies and what were the main battles which he fought? Did he win? You should especially talk about the Battle of Kadesh against the Hittites. Ill also ask how many queens he had and how many children he had, and which one of his sons he chose to be the next king. How long did Rameses rule and how old was he when he died? How big was his tomb, and where was it? Why didnt he have a great pyramid like earlier rulers of Egypt? Have his tomb, any of his treasures, or his mummified body ever been found? Finally, Ill ask what qualities made him such a great ruler, and what we can learn today from his life. John Ransom: First, Ill ask where and when John Ransom was born. Then, Ill ask when he enlisted in the Union army, what regiment he served with, and what his main reasons for joining were. Was he strongly anti-slavery? Then, Ill ask briefly about the battles he fought in before he was captured, but well move quickly to the battle in which he was captured. When and where did this happen, and when did he arrive at Andersonville prison in Georgia. Then, Ill ask about the conditions there. What kind of shelter, if any, did he have? How much food did he get, and what type of food was it? What about the drinking water? Did he have to drink out of the soiled and contaminated stream running through the middle of the camp? Did he get sick like so many others? Was there a hospital and medical care available? How effective was it? Was he able to dig a well to get fresher water? What about the guardswere they brutal toward him and other prisoners? What was the dead line and did he see prisoners shot who went beyond it? Ill also ask about the other prisoners called the raiders, and how they

terrorized their fellow prisonersstealing, beating, and even killing other prisoners. Did Ransom take part in the capture and then the trial of the raiders? About how many prisoners were dying per day in 1864 during Ransoms stay in Andersonville? When did Ransom get released from the prison, and what physical and mental condition was he in? Ill also ask what Ransom thought of Capt. Wirz, the commander of the camp, and whether he thought Wirz was cruel by intention, or whether Wirz just didnt have the resources to do much better. Did Ransom take part in Wirzs trial for being a war criminal? Did he think the execution of Wirz was fair? Finally, Ill ask why we should still read Ransoms diary and what we can learn about our current prisoners of war from his experience.

Raphael: First, Ill ask when and where Raphael was born, and was his full name was. Then, Ill ask about his educationwas his family able to provide a classical Humanist education for him? Who were his teachers, did he study at school or mostly at home, and what were the main topics which he studied? Who were the Greek and Roman writers, thinkers, and artists whom Raphael learned about and who inspired him? Who inspired him to become an artist, with which painter did Raphael do his apprenticeship, and how old was he when he began to receive commissions for paintings and make a living? Did Raphaels talent for drawing and painting appear at an early age, or did he have to work hard to learn it and then to maintain it? Did he have enough family wealth to only take the jobs which he liked or wanted to do, or was he in a financial position where he had to take almost every job offer? Did he paint in the fresco tradition exclusively, or did he work in other media, like oil painting or drawing? What were the topics and subjects which he painted during his career? Were they mostly religious scenes and people from the Bible? How often did he do portraits of important people or secular or mythological scenes? Then, Ill put up two of Raphaels best-known paintings on the screen: The Ascension of Christ and The School of Athens. Ill ask you to tell us all about both of them and how they both reveal Raphaels genius and talent, and how both paintings fit into the Humanist themes of the Renaissance. Ill start with when he made the paintings, for whom, how long it took him to create, and how big they are. Then, well move to the meaning and message in both paintings, and then Ill move to the brilliant techniques and life-like naturalism. How did Raphael use the contrast between light and dark to highlight the emotions of his subjects? How did he use color and emotional gestures to convey his message? Then, Ill ask you about Raphaels relationship with Michelangelo. Were they intense rivals, or were they closer to being friends? How much did Michelangelo inspire and influence Raphaels painting? Or was it the other way around,

with Raphael inspiring Michelangelo? Did Raphael get upset because he wasnt chosen to paint the Sistine Ceiling by Pope Julius II? Finally, Ill ask how old Raphael was when he died, and why and how he diedsad story! Hiram Revels: I'll first ask when and where he was born, and whether he was born as free or slave. What kind of an education did he receive? Did he go to college? If so, which colleges, and what did he study? What was his chosen profession before the Civil War? What kinds of racial discrimination and prejudice did he face as a black man in the South, and did he ever face violence against him? Did he fight for the Union during the Civil War? If not, what was he doing during that time? Then, I'll ask about his political career--where did it start, which political party did he belong to, and what was the first political office which he held? When the Civil War ended, where was he living, and why did he decide to run for the Senate? Which white Southern politician had held this Senate seat before the Civil War? What were the arguments made by his opponents against him running for the Senate? How big was Revels' margin of victory in his race for the U.S. Senate? What were his most important achievements as a senator in Washington, D.C., and how long did he serve? You should emphasize that he was the first black man ever elected to the U.S. Senate (the second one ever was Barrack Obama). Why did Revels stop his career in the Senate, or did others force him to retire? I'd also like you to quote some lines from one of his speeches about the need for racial equality while he was in the Senate. Did Revels serve in political office after his time in the Senate, and if not, why not? Finally, I'll ask you what we can learn today from his story, and especially what we can learn about race relations in America today. Diego Rivera: I'll ask first where and when Diego Rivera was born and where he grew up. Then, I'll ask how and why he became interested in being an artist--who or what events led him in this direction? In which schools or academies did he study art? What were his political views growing up, and how did these views influence his art? Which political party did he join? How did Cubism influence him when he was young? When did he begin to paint murals which were very large, and why did he move to this type of painting? Then, I'll put up an image of his mural depicting the History of Mexico. When did he paint this mural, how large is it, and what are the events which he depicts in it? How did his political beliefs get expressed in this painting, and was it controversial? How much opposition did Rivera face because of his political views, and how did he respond to this opposition? Then, I'll ask when and how he met Frida Kahlo, and when they were married. How close were they, and what were the problems which they faced? How much did Rivera abuse Kahlo? Was Rivera faithful to her, or did he cheat often, and how stormy was their relationship? Then, I'll put up an image of his great mural "Detroit

Industry"--when did he paint this, where did he paint it, how big is it, and what events does he depict in it? What is his overall message in the mural? How many large murals did Rivera paint over his career? What was his most controversial mural? When did he die and what caused his death?

Jacob Riis: I'll also start with where and when he was born, and then I'll ask when and why he moved to America from Denmark. When he arrived in New York, how hard was life for him? How long did he have to struggle for food and for shelter? How long was he on the street, and how desperate did he become? Did he face illness or jail? Was he ever tempted to steal? How did he pull himself out of this condition and how long did that take? What was his first real job, and how did he become a photographer? How did he try to help the people on the streets and in the tenements, and what were his main political goals? How did his photographs help him pursue these goals? Was he motivated mainly by an altruistic desire to do good, or was it mainly profit, or a mixture of both? When did he publish his book "How the Other Half Lives", how many photographs were in it, and how did people react to it? What about the racist stereotypes which he wrote about in the book--did any of the immigrants or people representing them push back against those stereotypes? Did any real political or social change result from the book? Did Riis get to know many actual immigrants enough to see them as individuals, and did he later change is view or renounce his earlier views? How many other books did Riis write with a social reform agenda and how effective were they in changing things? Finally, I'll ask why we should look at his work today and what we can learn from him.

Elisha Hunt Rodes: I'll first ask you when and where Elisha Hunt Rodes was born. Then, I'll ask how old he was in 1861 when the Civil War began. Was he going to school, or was he working? When did he enlist for the Union army? Was it right after Fort Sumter when Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers, or was it later on? What did his mother think of him enlisting? Did she try to keep him from doing it? Why did he enlist? Was it because he was strongly against slavery, or was it more his love for the Union? Once he volunteered, what was his regiment, and what was his rank? How long did it take for his regiment to move out of Rhode Island, and where did they go? How did Elisha feel about the war at this point? Was he enthusiastic about it, or nervous about it, or a combination? How long did he think it would last? I'd like you to quote from his diary to illustrate how he felt about these questions. Then, we'll move to his experiences

during the war--what was the first major battle where he saw action, and what happened to him during the battle? What were his impressions of the battle? Here, too, you should quote a short passage from his diary. How did this first battle change his view of war and of the rebels? We'll then move on to the battle of Antietam, in September of 1862. What was his role in this battle--how much fighting did he see on the day of battle? You should describe the group of dead men and shattered cannons or battery which he describes in his diary. What did Rodes think of General McClellan and how he pursued the rebels? Was he frustrated with the lack of action? What did he think the army should do which it wasn't doing? Then, I'll ask about his life in camp, when he wasn't marching or fighting, which was how most of his time was spent. What did he do to spend his time in camp; what were the favorite activities for him and other soldiers? Did he see other soldiers doing things which he didn't like, and what were these things? We'll then move to 1864-what was Rodes' opinion of General Grant, and how did his mood change as the Union army fought against Lee's army in 1864? Finally, I'll ask about how he reacted to the Union victory in 1865, and to the death of Abraham Lincoln just a few days after Lee surrendered. I'd also like you to read from his diary at this point Auguste Rodin: For Auguste Rodin, I'll first ask when and where he was born, and how he became interested art and sculpture. Who influenced him in this direction? Did he have formal education and training in art and sculpture? If so, where did he study? When did Rodin produce his first major work of sculpture, and what was it? What materials did he use and what was the message it expressed? For whom did he make it? If you'll let me know which early sculpture you want to describe, I'll have a photo of it ready from the internet. I'll also ask you about two of his most famous pieces: "The Thinker" and "The Gates of Hell"--I'll put photos of them both up on the screen, and I'll ask when he carved them and for whom, and also what messages he was conveying in them. You should be able to describe specific and precise features of each sculpture, things which many people might not notice at first glance and without careful inspection. I'll then ask you how many sculptures Rodin carved, and how well known and famous he became. What was his most challenging and difficult sculpture, and why? You should mention the names of the his sculptures which are at Mary Mount museum in Washington, close to Columbia river. Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from his sculpture today.

Rosie the Riveter: For Rosie the Riveter, I'll first ask when and how she was created as an icon of women working in World War II. Was she based on one or two particular women, like Rose Monroe? What did Rosie the Riveter look like? I'll put a couple of images of her on the screen, starting with the Norman Rockwell version from the cover

of the "Saturday Evening Post", and then putting up the "We Can Do It" poster of Rosie. Then, I'll ask you to describe them in more detail. What kind of work was "riveting" and how heavy were the riveting machines which Rosie holds? How did both images blend a masculine, tough image with a feminine, softer image? Why was it important to make Rosie look like a worker while still giving her lipstick and make-up? Then, I'll ask about Rosie the Riveter's song--who wrote it and when? Did the song actually come before or after the images of Rosie? I'd like you to know the lyrics to the song, and I'll pull it up on the computer, too, and play a part of it (unless you would like to sing it!) and then I'll ask you to comment on the message of the song. I'll also ask you whether women working in the factories faced much discrimination--did they get equal pay for equal work with men? Die Rosie symbolize how women should work for better conditions and equality? Or was she symbolize how women should keep working and stay quiet about issues like working conditions and pay? How popular was Rosie the Riveter during World War II? What happened to Rosie as an icon when the war ended? Was she just forgotten, or was she transformed? Let me know if you have questions or need help, and see you in class,

Theodore Roosevelt: For Theodore Roosevelt, I'll ask you first where and when he was born. Then, I'll ask you about his politics growing up--was his family Republican or Democrat? What party did he join as a young man, and what were his main political views while growing up? For example, was he for a bigger, stronger federal government or a smaller and weaker federal government? Did he want to reform business or help business expand, or both? And how and why did he develop his belief that American should expand and have an overseas empire? Since I already covered his marriage to Alice Lee and her tragic death, we will skip that and go to his political career--when and where did he begin his climb up the political ladder? What were his main political jobs as he moved steadily toward becoming vice-president? What were Roosevelt's best qualities as a politician and a president--was he a great speaker and a great leader? What qualities made him good at leading people? What were Roosevelt's worst qualities as a politician and a president, and how did these qualities cause him problems? I'll also skip his days as a Roughrider in Cuba, since I covered that in class, too. I'll then ask how he became president and how old he was when he became president. Then, I'll ask about his major achievements as president--you shouldn't talk about the Panama Canal, since I covered that in class, too. Choose two other major accomplishments of Roosevelt as president and talk about them. After we talk about these accomplishments, I'll ask you how long Roosevelt served as president and why he decided to run again as an independent candidate in 1912. What party did he represent in that 1912 election, and how did he do? If there's time, I'll also ask you about Roosevelt's hunting expeditions and safaris in Africa and why this was so important to him. Finally, I'll ask you why we should still

study Roosevelt's life and what we can learn from him. George Root: Ill first ask when and where he was born, and then Ill ask about why and how he become interested in music. Was it his parents who motivated him, or someone else? Where did he get his education, and how much formal training in music did he receive? Did he play music and perform, or was he more interested in song writing early on? When did he go into the music business? Did he start his own music store, and if so, when and where? How successful was it? When the war broke out, where was he living, and why did he side with the Union so strongly? Also, why didnt he volunteer to fight for the Union? Ill then play a couple of his best known war songs: Battle Cry of Freedom and Tramp, Tramp, Tramp. After we hear these songs, Ill ask you to describe the message in each song, and how popular they were during the war. Make sure to know the setting of each songfor example, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp is about Union prisoners of war waiting to be released. Then, Ill ask you to list another couple of his popular war songs, of your choice, and, if time permits, well play selections from them and Ill again ask you to explain what they were about and their message. Ill also ask how many songs he wrote altogether during the Civil War for the Union and about how much money he made during the war. If theres time, Ill also ask about his songwriting career after the war. Finally, Ill ask why we should still listen to his songs today and what we can learn from them about the role of music during war. Eleanor Roosevelt: I'll first ask when and where Eleanor Roosevelt was born--was she born with the last name Roosevelt or did she take that name when she married? Then, I'll ask about her education--which schools and colleges did she attend, and what did she enjoy studying the most? When and how did she first meet Franklin Roosevelt, and what did she think of him when they met? How long did they see each other before they got engaged, and when did they get married? Were they related, and if so, how closely related? Was that a problem for either family at the time? How many children did they have together? Was Eleanor interested in politics during their early marriage, and what party did she belong to? Did she want her husband to seek a political career, and did she ever think of running for some political office? Why or why not? What about Franklin's cheating on Eleanor with Lucy Mercer--when did she discover this, and did she think about leaving him? Why didn't she? Then, I'll ask about Franklin's polio--when was he struck with it, and how did Eleanor cope with it? What hardships on her did this create? Was it a strain on their marriage? What role did Eleanor play in Franklin's campaign and election as president in 1932? Then, after she moved into the White House, how did she help her husband spread the news about the "New Deal"? How far did she travel as First Lady, where were some of the places she went which no First Lady had ever visited (like

coal mines), and how effective as she in supporting her husband's programs? Did she disagree with her husband's politics on some issues, like treatment of African Americans? What did Eleanor do when the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to let Marian Anderson sing because she was an African American? Did Eleanor stay close to Franklin during the presidency years and World War II, or did they drift apart? Did Franklin continue to cheat with either Lucy Mercer or other women? Then, when her husband died in 1945, what did Eleanor do after she left the White House? How long did she work with the new United Nations, and what did she contribute to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Did she stay involved in politics with the Democratic Party? How did she change the role of First Lady forever?

Ethel Rosenberg: I'll first ask when and where Ethel was born, and what her maiden name was. Then I'll ask about her political views as she grew up. Why was she attracted to the Communist party and to the Soviet Union? What did she like about the Soviet Union? When and how did she meet Julius? Did she share the same political views as Julius? Was Ethel a member of the Communist party in America? How long was she a member? When did she and Julius get married, and how many children did they have? Then, we'll move ahead to World War II. Did Ethel know what her brother David Greenglass' job was with the atomic bomb in Los Alamos? How involved was she in a plot to smuggle out information on the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union? Did Ethel decide to be a spy and pass along information, or was she just caught up in the work her husband was doing? Did Ethel ever meet secretly with agents, or was that Julius' job? Did Ethel help Julius relay information in any way? Did she know it was information about the bomb? Did Ethel ever type up notes or other information which Julius dictated to her? Then, I'll skip ahead to when she was arrested and accused. When and how was she arrested? What was the charge or charges against her? What was the main evidence against her during her trial? How did her own brother hurt her case during the trial? Did she think it was a fair trial? Was she condemned mainly because of the anti-Communist fears of that time? What happened to the Rosenberg's sons while they were in jail and during their trial? When the verdict of execution came down, did Ethel try to get it overturned on appeal? How much public support did she have? Did she have some contact with Julius before their execution? When and where was she put to death, and how was it done? Finally, I'll ask if you what we can learn today from Ethel's story. Julius Rosenberg: I'll first ask when and where Julius was born, and then I'll ask about

his political views as he grew up. Why was he attracted to the Communist party and to the Soviet Union? What did he like about the Soviet Union? When and how did he meet Ethel? Did she share the same political views as Julius? Was Julius a member of the Communist party in America? How long was he a member? When did he and Ethel get married, and how many children did they have? Then, we'll move ahead to World War II. Did Julius know what Ethel's brother David Greenglass' job was with the atomic bomb in Los Alamos? How involved was he in a plot to smuggle out information on the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union? Did Julius decide to be a spy and pass along information, or was he approached and persuaded to do it? Was Ethel just caught up in the work her husband was doing? Did Julius ever meet secretly with agents, and how often? Did Ethel help Julius relay information in any way? Did she know it was information about the bomb? Did Ethel ever type up notes or other information which Julius dictated to her? What specific information about the bomb or its parts was passed on to the Soviet Union? Then, I'll skip ahead to when he was arrested and accused. When and how was he arrested? What was the charge or charges against him? What was the main evidence against him during her trial? How did Ethel's brother hurt her case during the trial? Did he think it was a fair trial? Was he condemned mainly because of the anti-Communist fears of that time? What happened to the Rosenberg's sons while they were in jail and during their trial? When the verdict of execution came down, did Julius try to get it overturned on appeal? How much public support did he and Ethel have? Did he have some contact with Ethel before their execution? When and where was he put to death, and how was it done? Finally, I'll ask if you what we can learn today from Julius's story. Ruth: I'll first ask about when and where the story of Ruth in the Bible was written, according to Biblical scholars and historians. Also, where is the story of Ruth set, and was Ruth an Israelite? If not, what was the name of her people? Then, I'll ask you to tell us the story as it is told in the Bible--I'll ask how Ruth came to be a widow, and how she had to take care of her mother-in-law. Also, I"ll ask how hard it was for Ruth to make ends meet, and what she had to do just to get food for her family. Then, I'll ask about Ruth's character and what kind of personality she had. Did he worship the Hebrew God, or did she worship other gods? I'll ask about how she met Boaz, and how they got to know one another. I'll also ask how, in the end, she came to marry Boaz. Then, I'll ask what the main messages of Ruth's story were at the time it was written, especially for the Israelites. Is Ruth the model of a good woman and a good wife in the Bible? Was she meant to be an example for other Israelite or Jewish women to follow? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from studying the story of Ruth.

Babe Ruth: For Babe Ruth, I'll start by asking when and where he was born, and what his real name was. Then, I'll ask you how old he was when he got interested in baseball, and who got him interested. You should talk about his days at St. Mary's industrial school and Brother Matthias. I'll ask what position he was best at in those days, and then how he got signed by the Baltimore Orioles. How did he get the nickname "Babe", and who gave it to him? How long did it take him to get to the Boston Red Sox, and how well did he perform when he got there? How well did the Babe adjust to life in the big city? Then, we'll move quickly to how and when he became a member of the New York Yankees, and his home run hitting records, after he switched to outfield full-time and stopped pitching. What was his best year for home runs, and how many did he hit that year? How many World Series did he play in and how many did he win with the Yankees? What happened in the 1932 World Series against the Cubs--did Ruth really "call his own shot"? I'll also ask how he handled becoming the superstar that he did and if he maintained his sense of humor throughout all of it. What was his greatest regret as a player? I know that he never got to manage a big league team--was that something he wanted to do? When did he retire and how many home runs did he have then? How long did that record last? Finally, I'll ask you how Babe Ruth changed baseball for the better.

Ferdinando Sacco: First, I'll ask you when and where Ferdinando Sacco was born. When and why did he come to America, and where did he settle in America? What kind of job or profession did he pursue? How and why did Sacco become interested in Anarchism, and what did the anarchists believe? What were their political goals and their attitude toward big government and big industry? How active was Sacco in the Anarchist movement, and who was his main teacher? Did he take part in strikes, rallies, and was he ever involved in more violent protests? Did he marry and have children, and if so, how did he manage to support his family? Then, I'll move ahead to the accusation of murder against Sacco--when and where was he arrested, and which murders were Sacco and Vanzetti accused of? Why did police suspect Sacco of the crime? When the trial began, what was the main evidence used against Sacco? What was Sacco's defense? Were there any eyewitnesses to testify against Sacco, or was the evidence all circumstantial? What was the jury's verdict on the counts, and why did Sacco ultimately get a second trial? In this second trial, was Sacco able to offer any additional defense, and did the prosecution make the same case as before, or did they introduce new evidence? What were the main reasons why the jury found Sacco guilty of murder? Was the evidence really so persuasive, or could it have been mainly because he was a member of the Anarchist movement and perhaps also because he was Italian and an immigrant? How widespread

were the protests against Sacco's conviction and the imposing of the death penalty? How did prominent people try to get him yet another trial or to get the guilty verdict thrown out? How far did Sacco appeal his case, and what was the outcome when it reached the Supreme Court? Did any new developments happen to cause even more doubt about Sacco's conviction? In the end, when was Sacco executed and buried? Was there a review of Sacco's case after his execution? If so, who did this review and what were the findings? What are the most important lessons which we can learn from his story? Jonas Salk: I'll first ask where and when Jonas Salk was born. Then, I'll ask about how and why he became interested in medicine. Did someone influence him, or did some particular event lead him in this direction? Where did he go to medical school and when did he get his M.D.? When did he first begin to do research on vaccines, and what particular vaccine did he first work on? Then, I'll ask how and why he became involved in working on a vaccination for polio. Why was this so important to him? Was it partly because of his own children and the suffering he saw in other children? Did the death of President Roosevelt from Polio also influence him? Where and when did his work begin? How much of a problem was polio in America in the 1930's and 1940's? What was Polio (virus, bacteria, etc.) and how was it spread? How many Americans suffered from polio during that time, and how often did it lead to death? How did Salk set out to find a vaccine--what was the process which he followed and how long did he work on this vaccine? You should be able to explain it in terms we can understand, but don't oversimplify it too much. Please use medical terms, but make sure to explain what they mean. What types of tests did Salk run on the vaccine? When did Salk announce that the vaccine was ready, and how did Americans and the medical establishment react? Were many Americans doubters or frightened, or did most people and doctors welcome the discovery and praise Salk? Who were the first couple of people on whom Salk tried the vaccine, and why did he choose them? When did his vaccine begin to be widely distributed, and how did people take it? Was it always through a needle, or could it be taken orally as a pill then? What kinds of results did Salk get in the first few years of using the vaccine? How much did new cases of Polio decline during the 1960's? Did this disease actually get wiped out in America because of Salk's work? About how many lives were saved because of Salk's work? (Here, you hopefully can find a medical journal with some sound scientific estimates based on past frequency of Polio) If so, when was it effectively ended in America? How much money, if any, did Salk make from his discovery of a vaccine? If there's time, I'll ask about other diseases on which he worked. What awards, if any, did Salk receive for his Polio vaccine, and when did he die?

Samson: I'll first ask you when and where Samson was born--be as precise as you can; I know you won't have an exact date of birth or even an exact year, but list a specific year anyway, one which you think is pretty close. Then, I'll ask about Samson's dedication to the Hebrew God Yahweh and his status as a Nazirite (I think that's the correct word-correct if I'm wrong). What set the Nazirites apart from other Hebrews? How did Samson display his dedication to Yahweh and his great strength against the Philistines? You should talk about his slaying of the 1,000 with the jawbone of an ass and one other similar episode; we won't have time for you to go into more detail. Then, I'll get to his relationship with Delilah--who was she, and why did Samson end up with her? How did Delilah try to get Samson to reveal the secret of his strength? You should describe her methods in detail here, how she bound him with different materials and how he kept deceiving her. Didn't Samson know that she was trying to hurt him and the Hebrews? Why did she stay with her? Why didn't he leave long before she found his secret? Was he in love with her? I'll then ask about the episode in which she discovers his secret and has Samson bound and made a prisoner. What happened to him after he became a prisoner? Did he ever see Delilah again after that? How did Samson get his revenge against the Philistines? Finally, I'll ask you what we can learn today from Samson's story.

George Sand: For George Sand, I'll first ask where and when she was born, and what her actual name was. I'll then ask when, how and why she took the name "George Sand". I'll also ask about her education and her youth--did she get a formal education in schools and colleges, or did she have private tutors, or both? Also, when did she first begin to rebel against the expected behaviors for women of that time, and how did she rebel? Did she smoke? wear men's clothes? What about her relationships--were there many? Did she have sexual relationships with several men, and what about women? Then, I'll ask how and when she began her writing career--what was her first major novel? What was it about, and what were the major themes or messages in it? Did she have trouble getting published or being accepted because she was a woman? How did she deal or overcome these challenges because of her gender? How did her first novel and later ones present the view of women on various issues, which often wasn't heard or was swamped by the views of men? I would like you to quote at least two selections from two of her novels or other writings--after reading them to us, explain how they represent her attempt to present a woman's voice. How did people respond to her books? Was she successful and well known? Did she move in circles of other writers and musicians, and who was she closest to? Did she marry and have children? If she did, how did this impact her writing? If not, why not? Did most of her readers know she was a woman? If there's time, I'll also ask about her death from disease and how old she was when she died. Finally, I'll ask

about why we should still read her books today and what we can learn from them, and especially what women can learn from them. Sappho: First, Ill ask where and when Sappho was born. Ill then ask about her educationwho taught her and what did she learn? Ill also ask when she got married and if she had any children. Why did she begin to write poetry, and what were the main messages in her poetry? How much of her poetry survives today? You should read several lines from one of her surviving poems, and then Ill ask you to tell us what these lines mean. Why did Sappho gather a group of young women around her? What was she teaching them? Were women usually poets and teachers in Sapphos time? Did her husband or other men support her, or did they criticize her? Then, Ill ask whether she was a lesbian or bi-sexualcan we know this from her poetry? Didnt she write very passionate poems to other women? Was homosexuality accepted in Sapphos society for both men and women, or was it just only accepted among men? What happened to Sapphos husband her marriagedid it continue and was it a happy relationship? Finally, Ill ask you what we can learn today from Sapphos poetry and her life. Sargon: I'll first ask you where and when Sargon was born. Be as precise as you can with the date and the place, and make sure to tell us some of the legends about his birth. Wasn't he put in a basket or boat and floated down the river to hide? Were there any miracles or fantastic stories associated with his birth? Then, I'll ask how he came to be ruler of the Sumerians or Sumer--did he have to fight for this title? Or did he have a royal bloodline which allowed him to claim it? How old was he when he took over? I'll then ask you about his expansion of the kingdom. In fact, Sargon has often been called the world's first great conqueror. How far did he expand Sumer's borders and in which direction? Did his conquests start as defense against other empires, or did he aggressively seek to conquer new lands? Was he mainly interested in gaining new resources and taxes? I'll also ask you how big his army was and also about the main weapons they used, like the chariot and spear. Did his men have bows and arrows? Was there one major battle victory which was the key to Sargon's successful expansion? Then, I'll ask how he did at governing his vast empire--did he manage to keep it together during his lifetime, or did it begin to break up? Were there revolts against him? How long did he rule? What other major achievements did he perform while king? Did he have many wives or queens, and how many children did he have? Did he leave his kingdom to one of his sons? Finally, I'll ask why we should still learn about Sargon and what he can teach us today. Savonarola: First, Ill ask where and when Savonarola was born, and what his full name

was. Then, Ill ask about when and why he decided to enter the religious life. Who influenced him in this decision, and how was he when he decided to become a monk? Did he have a religious or mystical vision or experience which led him to take monastic vows? Which monastic order did he join, and where was his monastery? What kind of education did Savonarola receive as a monk? Did he study only religious topics, like the Bible, the early Church Fathers, and theology, or did he also receive an education in pagan Greek and Roman classics? What did he think of this pre-Christian pagan learning, and what was his attitude toward the Renaissance art being produced by people like Michelangelo? Did he think that it could praise God or did he think it was mostly profane and sacrilegious? What was his opinion of the Roman Catholic pope and the church of his time? Then, Ill ask when and why Savonarola went to Florencewhat was his mission there? What was his main message which he preached therewas he mostly concerned with corruption in the church and society? What types of corruption did he see and speak out against? Also, how and why did Savonarola come into conflict with Lorenzo the Magnificent of Florence? Did Savonarola play a big part in helping to overthrow the Medici family and chase them out of Florence? When did he become the main leader in Florence, and when did his followers begin to collect art and other luxury items and burn them? What was the name of the boys who did this, and how long did his anti-artistic reign of terror last? How many important works of art were destroyed? Finally, Ill ask when and why Savonarola was excommunicated from the Catholic church, and when he was burned in Florence.

Scholastica: For Scholastica, I'll ask where and when she was born. Then, I'll ask about her name--did her name mean that her parents wanted to her to be well educated, and did she get a good education for that time? Did she have dreams of becoming married and having a family? How and why she decided to dedicate her life to God as a nun--was it her brother Benedict who influenced her in this decision, or was it Scholastica who decided to start a monastic life first, and who influenced Benedict? Then, I'll ask about her lifestyle as a nun--where was the first community of women or nuns which she joined? What was her life like while she was there? How did she organize her day, and how often did she pray? What about the education of the sisters or nuns? Did they read the Bible and other holy books? Did they also study Roman or Latin literature or philosophy? Did her convent follow the Monastic rule of her brother Benedict? What changes did they make in it because they were women, if any? I'll also ask about how Scholastica became a founder of other convents--how many of these did she establish? Where were they? Finally, I'll ask how and when she became a "saint". Was there a particular miracle involving her which helped her become a saint? When was she made a saint, what is her saint's day in the calendar, and what special situations is she associated

with? Raphael Semmes: First, Ill ask where and when Raphael Semmes was born, and what kind of education he received growing up. What or who caused him to be interested in serving in the military and in the navy in particular? Why did he eventually side with the Confederacy? Did he or his family own slaves? Was he more motivated by the rights of the South to secede than by a defense of slavery? Did he attend West Point? Or did he follow another profession before the Civil War? When the war began, what military rank and assignment did Semmes have? When did he become commander of a ship? How successful was he as a naval commander? When did he first become captain of the commerce raiding ship the Alabama? Was the Alabama his first commerce raider? If not, what was the first ship and why did he switch to the Alabama? How successful was Semmes and his crew at capturing or sinking Union ships and supply ships headed for the Union? How many ships total did he sink with the Alabama, and how long was he the captain of this ship? What made the Alabama so effective? Did it have sails, steam power, or a combination of the two? How many guns did it have, and how fast could it move? How did Semmes treat captured prisoners at sea? Did he take them on board to take them to a port, or did he simply leave them to drown or risk drowning or being eaten by sharks? Did Semmes and his crew get to keep some of the supplies and money which they captured, or did they turn all of it over to the Confederate government? How important was Semmes and his ship in keeping the Confederacy alive in 1864? How did the Union finally capture and defeat the Alabama at sea, and where and when did this happen? Was Semmes captured, or did he escape and continue to serve in the Confederate navy? If theres time, Ill ask when he wrote his memories of the war, and what the title was. Finally, Ill ask what lessons about war or about life we can learn from Semmes life today. Mary Shelly: Ill first ask where and when Mary Shelly was born, and what her maiden name was. Then Ill ask about her early life and education. Who was her mother, and when did her mother die? Did Mary ever know her mother, and if not, who raised her? What kind of educational opportunities did she have, and why did she become interested in literature and writing? What were her fathers political views, and was Mary influenced by them? Then, well move to her relationship with Percy Shellywhen and how did they first meet? When did they begin a serious relationship? Did Mary know that Shelly was married at the time, and if so, how did she react to that? How long had they been together when Shelly left with Mary and abandoned his wife and children? Did Percy persuade Mary to accept this arrangement, or was she more than willing to leave with him? When

and where were she and Percy married? Where did they end up living in Europe, and who were their closest friends? Did Mary start writing novels and other material before she met Percy, or afterward, and what were the titles of these first books or essays? Then, well move to her best known novel: Frankenstein. When and how did she get the idea to write this story? What was the main plot or story line? Here, youll need to summarize the main events of the book briefly: how Dr. Frankenstein created a new form of life, and then the sad story of this newly made human and what happened to him. You should dispel the stereotypes which people still have about the book because of the series of movies: some people still call the creature Frankenstein, and of course, the movies portrayed the new man as a monster. How did Shelly present this new creation? How dangerous was he but also how confused and lost? Did Frankensteins creation every find a place to live and thrive as a human? How did she present the relationship between Dr. Frankenstein and his own creationfather and son? Or was it a more distant type of relationship? Id like you to quote a passage of a few lines from the book to illustrate this relations hip. Then, Ill ask you about the major themes or messages of the novelwhat was Mary Shelly saying about the relationship between nature and humanity, and also about science and its power and its danger? How much of the book was just a good adventure story? How successful was the book, and did Mary become well known as a writer on her own, instead of just the wife of Percy Shelly?

Phil Sheridan: First, Ill ask where and when Phil Sheridan was born. Did he grow up wanting to be in the military, and, if so, why? Did he have family members in the military? Did he go to West Point? If so, how did he do there and when did he attend? After West Point, what were his military assignments before the Civil War (make sure to include his time in Oregonhe helped lay out Fort Hoskins out in Kings Valley), and how far in rank did he move before the Civil War? When the War broke out, was Sheridan still in the army, and how quickly did he volunteer for the Union? What motivated Sheridan the most in wanting to fight for the Union? Was it opposition to slavery? Or was it more a belief in the Union? Did he begin as an officer, and did he start in the infantry or the cavalry? What major battles did Sheridan see action in? Was he wounded in any of them? When did he first become a commander of Union cavalry, and how long did it take him to rise to the rank of general? What were Sheridans best qualities as a commander? What was Sheridans role in the battle of Missionary Ridge in 1863? What was his role in the invasion and destruction of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia in 1864? How did Sheridan help keep his troops from being completely

defeated in the battle of Cedar Creek in 1864? In destroying the resources of the Shenandoah valley, did he deliberately destroy homes as well as crops? Did he troops commit any atrocities against helpless civilians? How effective was his campaign in robbing the Confederates of their major food supply? How was Sheridan involved in the finally forcing Robert E. Lee to surrender his army in 1865? If theres time, Ill also ask what he did after the war, and if he stayed in the military. Finally, Ill ask what lessons we can learn from his story. Sita: . Ill first ask where and when Sita was born, and what social status she occupied. Was she a princess or of royal or noble family, or was she of lower social status? Was she as well known or as famous for her beauty and her grace and intelligence?? What are the legends surrounding Sitas birth and early life? When and how did she first see and meet Rama, and what did she think of him? How much did she love him? How did Sita react when Rama lost his status and was exiled by his enemy? Did she decide to stay behind while Rama was in exile or go with him? How long did the exile last, and how did Sita deal with this exile? Was Sita in danger from Ramas enemies? If so, what happened? What role did Sita play in Rama finally returning from exile and returning to power? How did she help him do this, and how did she sacrifice for Rama? In the end, many years did she spend with Rama in happiness? How did Sita die? Finally, Ill ask what her story and her personality symbolize for people today and what it symbolized for Indians and others then. What qualities or values does she embody? What can people today, in America, learn from Sitas famous story? Is she the symbol of the perfect mate and wife? Did she have to submit her own ego and desires to his? Is this a theme which modern American women can really relate to, or is it out of step with modern American womens beliefs? Monica Sone: I'll first ask where and when Monica Sone was born, and when her parents came to America from Japan. I'll ask if she felt any discrimination or awkwardness growing up as a Japanese-American--were there any events in which she had to face her differences? Did she have grandparents or other relatives back in Japan? If so, did she visit them? Did her parents urge her to learn Japanese culture and customs? Did she go to a Japanese-language school? What did her parents do for a living, and when Pearl Harbor happened, how did she feel? Was she just as shocked and saddened as any other American? Did she also feel some sympathy for the Japanese as the war began? Did she feel afraid because she was Japanese-American? When did she and her family first get the news that they must move to a camp? How did that make her feel? Did she and her parents ever consider fleeing or going back to Japan? Which camps did she go to, and how long was she there? How did she and her family adjust to conditions in the camp?

Did they have work to do and plenty of chances to socialize? What were their living quarters like? Did they have enough heat and clothing? Were there armed guards and barbed wire around her camps? Did she have a chance to meet other young people in the camp? Did she continue her education in any way in the camp? When and why was she let out, and what did she do when she got out? How long did her parents have to stay? Were they able to pick up their lives and keep their business? Did her family ever get an apology and money from the American government? Was she bitter and angry after the camp experience, or was she able to forgive and move on? When did she start her autobiography? If there's time, I'll also ask about her life after the war, her work as a psychologist and her marriage. Finally, I'll ask if she's still alive and what we can learn from studying her experience. Solomon: I"ll first ask when and where Solomon was born, and then I'll ask about how he became king after his father David. Did King David choose Solomon to be the next king, or did Solomon have to compete with his brothers or against others to win the throne? What kind of education did Solomon receive as a young man? When did Solomon become king of Israel? I'll then focus on three main topics: Solomon's building of the temple to Yahweh in Jerusalem, Solomon's great wisdom, and Solomon's legendary meeting with the Queen of Sheba. Why did Solomon decide to build a temple to Yahweh in Jerusalem? Did other leaders of the Israelites urge him to do it, or was it his own idea? How long did the construction take, and what kinds of materials did Solomon use to build it? About how big was the temple when it was finished? What did it look like? (Here, you'll have to base it on what scholars think it looked like, since nothing of the temple remains.) What kinds of sacrifices and services to the Hebrew god Yahweh were practiced in the temple? How did Solomon pay for this great temple--did he tax his subjects? Was he considered oppressive and cruel in taxing them? What did the prophets, who were the spiritual leaders of Israel, think of this temple project? Then, we'll move to Solomon's reputation for being so wise. How did he gain this reputation? What is an example of his legendary wisdom? Here, you should tell the story of how Solomon had to decide the case of two women who claimed the same child. Which books in the Bible was Solomon supposed to have written? You should talk about Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon. What was the main message of these books? What are two quotations from these books which reveal Solomon's wisdom? You should quote from the first chapter of Ecclesiastes, and also from the Song of Solomon here, and explain the meaning of both quotations. (Historians don't think he wrote these books, but for purposes of your presentation, we'll claim that Solomon did.) Then, we'll get to Solomon and Sheba. Why did Queen Sheba visit Solomon? Where was Sheba's kingdom, and was she interested in expanding trade, or was she interested in marrying Solomon? How did Solomon react to her? How long did they spend together, and how

close did they get during this time? Did Sheba become pregnant with a child as a result? How many wives did Solomon have at the time, and did his relationship with Sheba cause any problems with these other wives? Finally, I'll ask what studying the life of Solomon can teach us to help us in our lives today.

Spartacus: As for Spartacus, I'll start by asking when and where he was born (get as close as you can to the date--it doesn't have to be precise). Then, I'll ask about his service in the Roman legions, and why he went from being a soldier to a slave. I'll then ask about his training as a gladiator--what was the training like, what types of gladiator fighting did he learn? Then, I'll ask about how he escaped, and his plans once he had escaped from the gladiator school. Was he trying to free all the slaves in Italy and plunder the slave owners' plantations? Or was he mainly just trying to get back to his home? How big did his army of slaves become? How many battles did Spartacus' army fight against the Roman army, and how were the slaves able to win these battles? You should talk especially about their first battle with the Romans and how Spartacus and his troops outsmarted the Romans. Then, I'll ask how and why his movement ended and his army was defeated. You should talk about how he tried to buy ships from pirates to sail his army away from Italy and why that didn't work. Then, I'll ask about the final battle against the Romans and what probably happened to Spartacus. How many of his men died, and how many were captured and then crucified? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from Spartacus' life. Harriet Beecher Stowe: I'll first ask where and when Harriet Beecher Stowe was born. Then, I'll ask about her education--did she attend the equivalent of high school and go to college? Or did she learn mostly at home with private teachers? Was her education about equivalent to that which young men could get at the time? What about her feelings toward slavery? Did she grow up a strong abolitionist? If so, why? Was it her parents' teaching? Did she have any experiences which caused her to feel so strongly against slavery? What were her religious views and how did they influence her anti-slavery views? When did she marry, whom did she marry, and how many children did they have? When and how did Harriet Beecher Stowe get the idea to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin"? Did she have any first-hand knowledge of slavery? Had she lived in the South or talked with slaves or slaveowners much? Did she base her main characters on any real people, especially Uncle Tom? When did the story first appear, and in what magazine? When was it published in book form? Then, I'll ask you to tell us the main plot and tell us about the main characters in the novel, especially Uncle Tom but also Eliza running away with her baby so it wouldn't be sold. How devout and honest was Uncle Tom? Why

did Eliza flee with her baby across the Ohio river? I'd like you to quote a passage from about Eliza's escape, several sentences, to give us an idea of her writing style. How and why did Uncle Tom go to the St. Clare family, and what was relationship with Eva like? How did he then fall into the hands of Simon Legree, and what did Legree do to Tom or try to make him do? How did Tom respond to Legree? I'd like you to read from the section in which Legree tries to make Tom whip another slave, but Tom refuses while still remaining respectful toward Legree. Then, I'll ask you to describe why and how Tom died. What were the main messages which Stowe wanted to send through this book? How did people in the North and South respond to it? What was Stowe's response to those Southerners who claimed that she knew nothing about slavery? How many copies did the book sell its first year of publication, and how many total copies have sold over the years? There is a great website titled "Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture", which, along with the novel itself, would be a great place to start your research.

J.E.B. Stuart: You'll be J.E.B. Stuart. I'll first ask you when and where he was born, and about his military education--for example, did he go to West Point? What other schools did he attend? Then, what kind of military service did he see before the Civil War started? Where did he serve for the U.S. army, and was he always in the cavalry, or did he start in the infantry? What was his role in the capture of John Brown at Harper's Ferry in October, 1859? Then, I'll move to his Civil War experience. Why did he choose to go with the Confederacy? Was he a big defender of slavery? Or was it more a belief that Southern rights were being violated? I'll then ask about his Civil War achievements, and I'll first ask about his ride around General McClellan's army during the Peninsula campaign in 1862. Why did he do it? How did it help the rebels? You should know some interesting details about this ride, for which Stuart became quite famous. I'll also ask about his dashing appearance and his relationship with Robert E. Lee. How close were they? How well did they work together? I'll also ask about how Stuart's role with his cavalry in the campaign of Second Bull Run, where he also made a daring raid. What did he capture from the Union general Pope's headquarters? Then, we'll move pretty quickly to his role during the Gettysburg campaign, especially how and why Stuart got cut off from the Confederate army. Some have blamed him for the loss of the Confederates at Gettysburg--be ready to respond to that charge. I'll then move to his father-in-law, who fought for the Union, and ask you how he felt about that. I'll also ask when, where, and how he died. Finally, I'll ask what we can learn from his life?

Suleiman the Magnificent: Ill first ask when and where Suleiman was born. Remember that his name is often spelled Suleyman, too. Then, Ill ask if he was born into a royal and ruling family, and how and when he became the head of the Ottoman Empire. Did he have to fight or struggle to get this title? Once he became head of the Ottoman empire, how far did he expand his empire? More importantly, how did he promote the arts, architecture, and trade and commerce? You should describe the creation of the Suleymaniye mosque in what is now Istanbul. How long did it take to build it, how large was it inside and outside, and what types of architectural style was used in it? What about its minarets and other decorations inside and outside? What kinds of materials were used to build it? What other arts flourished during his time? You should describe items made by skilled craftsmenpottery, carpets and rugs, and objects made of gilted metal, plus copies of the Koran and how they were illustrated. How did the Muslim faith determine some the designs of this art and craft? What about the spread of poetry during his reign? What changes or additions were made to the imperial Topkapi Palace were made during Suleimans reign? How many different rooms, gardens, and gates did this Palace have? Sun Tzu: I'll first ask where and when Sun Tzu was born. Then, I'll ask what China was like during his time--was it mostly peaceful, or was there constant warfare between differing kingdoms? Was there mostly political unity or several smaller kingdoms? Why did Sun Tzu become interested in war and the theory of how to make war? Was he a warrior himself, or did he stay away from the actual battlefield? Did he ever lead troops into battle? If so, how successful was he as a leader? Then, I'll ask about his famous book, "The Art of War"--when did he write it? Why did he write it? Was he trying to gain a position with some powerful ruler, or was he trying to prevent some of the wars of his time? What were his main messages about war in the book? According to him, why were wars fought? What were the best methods to use to win a war? What kind of warfare was most effective? What were some of the biggest mistakes which armies or commanders made during a war, according to him? Did he also write about how to avoid wars? If so, what was his advice? At this point, I'll ask you to read a couple of short quotations from his book (2-3 sentences each) which you think express his wisdom. Then, I'll ask how popular the book was, and if Sun Tzu became well known or remained obscure after it was written. Finally, I'll ask what we could learn from his book. Mary Surratt: As for Mary Surratt, I'll also start with when and where she was born, and I'll then ask how she felt about the issues of slavery and secession in the years leading up to the Civil War. Was she an ardent South patriot? If so, why? If not, why not? When the war broke out, where was she living? Was she married and with children

or single? I'll ask you about her boarding house and if that was her main occupation. Then, I'll ask how and why she got involved with the plot of John Wilkes Booth to kidnap and then later kill the president. How did she meet him? How was her boarding house a key place where the plotting occurred? Was she deeply involved in the plot at all? Did she know what was being planned, and did she attend the meetings? Or was she simply the person whose boarding house was used to plan things? What did she think about Lincoln and how the war went bad for the South? Was she bitter about it, like Booth and others, or was she ready to accept defeat? Then, we'll move to April, 1865 and the day Booth shot Lincoln, and his conspirators were supposed to kill Andrew Johnson and William Seward but failed. Did she know it was happening that day? Did she play any role in helping Booth and the others get away? How did the Union authorities trace her to Booth and the plot? What was the specific charge or charges against her? What kind of a trial did she get (civilian or military court), and what was the evidence presented against her? And, then, I'll ask you about her being hanged--did she communicate her feelings about her impending execution in letters or other writings? Do we know how she felt--like an innocent victim who got pulled in by a net? Had any other woman ever been hanged before for a crime like this before? Finally, I'll ask why we should still study her life and what we can learn from it today. Symmachus: I'll first ask where and when Symmachus was born, and then I'll ask about his political career and which political offices he held before he became the prefect of Rome. What was his job as prefect? What political office today would most compare to his job then? Then, I'll get quickly to his dispute with Bishop Ambrose of Milan over the Altar of Victory and whether it should be brought back into the Roman Senate house. What was this altar and why was it so important to pagans like Symmachus? When was it taken away and why did the Christians want it removed? Why did Symmachus ask the emperor to bring the Altar of Victory back? You should talk about his famous letter to the emperor Valentinian and i"d like you to quote a couple of passages from that letter, especially the part where Symmachus says that there are many roads to the truth and they may go in different directions but they end up in the same place (I'm paraphrasing, of course). Ambrose will be there and will be describing how he wanted the Altar of Victory kept out, so I'll ask you to interact with him and we'll have some fun with it. Who won this argument? Was the Altar of Victory brought back? Why or why not? How does this conflict or controversy reflect the rise of Christianity and the decline of paganism in Rome? Can we learn anything from Symmachus' viewpoint today? Tammuz: First, Ill ask where and when Tammuz first began to be worshipped, and what his name means. Then, Ill ask what Tammuzs main role waswhat parts of nature or

natural forces did Tammuz symbolize? What were the stories about his origin? What was his personality like? What kinds of rituals were involved in his cult? According to myth, how and why did Tammuz become the lover of Ishtar, and what kind of relationship did they have? How did their relationship symbolize the fertility of the land and of women? You should know the story of how Ishtar went to the underworld to rescue her lover Tammuz. How and why did Tammuz die and go to the underworld? Once Ishtar rescued Tammuz, how did he lead a split life, and what did this symbolize? Was Tammuz linked to any other goddesses in Mesopotamian myths, and if so, who were they? What did Tammuz look like and how long was he worshipped by the cultures of that area? What were the names by which he was known among other peoples who worshipped fertility? When and why did the worship of Tammuz begin to decline? Finally, Ill ask what we can learn today from the story of Tammuz and Ishtar, and how he can teach us the importance of the power of fertility.

Elizabeth Taylor: First, I'll ask where and when Elizabeth Taylor was born, when her family came to America and where they settled. Then, I'll ask about why she became interested in acting, and how she got into the movies at such a young age. How old she was when she made her first movie, and what was the name of the movie? Then, I'll ask about her role in the movie "National Velvet", which was her first big hit. What role did she play, and what was the main plot or story of the movie, and how big of a star did it make her? How many movies did she make as a child star? Then, I'll ask you about one of her first big movies as an adult, called "A Place in the Sun". When was the film made, what character did she play, who was her leading man, and how popular was the movie? I'll also ask you the same questions about her movie with Paul Newman called "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". What were the qualities which Taylor successful as an actress? What did the critics think of her acting skills? Then, we'll move to her relationship with Richard Burton--when and where did they meet? How long did it take before they became a couple and developed a serious relationship? Was she married at the time she met Burton, and when were they married? How many movies did they co-star in? What characters did they play in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", and what was the main story of this movie? I'd like to show a clip from this movie--you should be able to find clips of it on You Tube, and I'd like you to pick out one for us to see, only 2-3 minutes long, which can give us some idea of how they worked together in this film. Did Taylor get nominated and win any Academy Awards, and if so, for what movies and roles? How long did their marriage last the first time, and why did it break up? When did they get back together and how long did their second marriage last? How many children did they have together? How many other times did Taylor marry and why did she marry so often? Finally, I'll ask what the cause of her recent death was.

Tchiakovsky: I'll first ask where and when he was born, and then I'll ask how he became interested in music. Was his family musical? Did a particular person or event turn his attention to music? When did he start music lessons and with what instrument? Then, I'll ask about his education? Did he get formal education in music, or did he prepare for another field? How did his mother's death influence his education and his eventual work as a composer? I'll then move to his greatest ballets: "Swan Lake" and "Nutcracker". When did he write them? What were the main stories in both ballets? When were they first performed and how did audiences react to them? How unique was the format was a story with music and ballet at that time? I'd like to show a part of "The Nutcracker" being performed at this point. Then, I'll move to his composing of what some would consider more "serious" works of classical music--his concertos and symphonies. When did he write these, and how many of them did he write? I'd like play a part of his famous "1812 Overture"--we can pull it up on You tube pretty easily. After we play it, I'll ask you to comment on the meaning of the music, the story behind it, and explain why it's considered one Tchiakovsky's greatest. Finally, I'll ask you why we should still listen to Tchiakovsky's music and what we can learn from it. Theodora: I'll first ask when and where Theodora was born, and kind of family she grew up in. Was she poor or wealthy? Did she have an easy life or was it a struggle? How did she make a living? Was she a prostitute, and if so, where and for how long? Then, I'll ask how she met Justinian, and what his position was at the time they met. What did he see in her, and what about him was attractive to her? How long was she his mistress? When did they get married? Did she become the empress of the Byzantine empire when she married him, or did this happen later? As the queen of the empire, how did Theodora help her husband rule it? How much political power and responsibility did she have? What was her role in helping to deal with the Christians of her time and their disputes? How did she influence the laws and the collection of laws under Justinian? Did she influence the great architecture of this time, especially the Church of the Haghia Sophia in Constantinople? Was she an equal partner to her husband Justinian, or was he always in charge with her assisting and helping? When did she die, and when was why was she made a saint in the Greek Orthodox Church? Finally, I'll ask what her life can inspire us today, especially women. Thomas: I'll first ask about when and where Thomas was born, and then how and why he became a follower of Jesus. Then, I'll skip ahead to the "doubting Thomas" incident after Jesus' crucifixion. Who told Thomas that Jesus had risen, adn why didn't Thomas believe

it? What did Thomas say about wanting to confirm the event? What happened when Jesus appeared to Thomas? Where did Thomas preach the gospel after this, according to tradition? Then, I'll ask about the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas--historians doubt whether Thomas wrote much of it, but I want you to assume that Thomas did write it, and I'd like you to read 2-3 sayings of Jesus from that gospel and then interpret and explain them for us. What are the major differences between this Thomas gospel and the 4 gospels in the New Testament? I'll also ask you, as Thomas, if you think your gospel should be added to the 4 already in the New Testament, and why. Harriet Tubman: After asking when and where she was born, I'll ask you what her life as a slave was like, and how difficult it was for her. I'd like you to tell at least a couple of stories about how she was treated; I think there was an episode during which she was whipped and received a head injury. We'd like to hear about that. What about another key event from her days in slavery? I'll leave the choice up to you. Did she learn how to read and write? Then, I'll ask about how she escaped from slavery, and whether she escaped along or with a group of others. Where did she go when she was free? When did she begin to go back and help other slaves escape? Did she set up much of the "Underground Railroad", and if not, who did? Did it already exist when she used it to lead slaves to safety? About how many slaves did she lead to freedom before and during the Civil War? What was the closest she ever came to being caught and how did she escape capture? What was her famous nickname? Then, I'll move to her life during the Civil War--how did she help the Union cause? Was she a nurse? What about being a spy for the Union? Was she married and with a family by this time? Was she part of the push to get Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation? If there's time, I'll ask about her work to help African Americans and women after the Civil War. Finally, I'll ask why we should still study her life today and what we can learn from her.

Mark Twain: I'll first ask when and where he was born, and what his real name was. I'll then ask what life was like growing up: did he go to school or was he skipping school like Tom Sawyer? Was he carefree and mischievous like Huckleberry Finn or did he behave himself? What got him interesting in writing--was it part of his schooling, or did it come from his days working on a newspaper? What types of jobs did he take before he started making a living by writing, and how did he get the name "Mark Twain"? Then, we'll move to his first stories--what was first really successful story, what was it about, and why was it successful? What were his first books about? You should talk about "Life on the Mississippi" and "Innocents Abroad". Then, we'll turn and focus on "Huckleberry Finn", which is his best known book--when did he start to write it, and why? Who were

the main characters and what was the main storyline or plot--what happens to Huck and Jim and why do they end up on a raft floating down the Mississippi river? What are the major messages or themes in this book, especially about white and black relations? You should quote one or two passages from the book which show how Huck was struggling with the issue of race and how his own attitude was changing toward Jim and black people. One good example would be the scene in which Huck wants to turn Jim in as a runaway slave because it's the law, but he cares about Jim and can't do it. I'll also ask you how people responded to the book, and how successful it was. If there's time, I'll ask you about Twain's later career and how his writing became darker and pessimistic--one good story you should talk about is "The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg"--great story! Also, I'll ask you to share a couple of Mark Twain's witty and funny short sayings. Finally, I'll ask why we should still read Twain's work and what we can learn from him. Oliver Twist: For Oliver Twist, I'll first ask who wrote the book and when and where it was first published. Then, I'll ask if Dickens used any particular living person to create the character of Oliver Twist, or if he invented the character based on children in general at that time and what they had to go through. Or maybe he borrowed the character of Oliver Twist from another earlier story? I'll ask how he got the idea for the book and what his main message was in writing the book. Then, I'll ask you to tell your story, as Oliver Twist, by summarizing key events in the book--you wont' be able to go into great detail, but you should describe the major events and characters whom he meets and how he moves to a happy ending. I would like you to choose 2 or 3 quotations from the book which illustrate some of the important events and moments in Oliver's story--make these quotations fairly short (3-4 sentences at most) and try to find dramatic events which reveal Oliver's character, being so good and true when so many around him are not very honest. After you've covered the events in the book, I'll ask you how the reading public responded to the book--was it popular right away? Were there stage plays and other versions of the story which were created? Finally, I'll ask why we should still read the book today and what we can learn from it and from Oliver's character. Clement Vallandigham: First, I'll ask where and when Clement Vallandigham was born. Then, I'll ask about when and how he became interested in politics? What party did he belong to, and what were his beliefs about secession and slavery. Was he ready to let the South go their own way and secede? Or did he want the Union to stay together at all costs? What was his first political office, where did he serve, and when was he elected to it? When the Civil War began, was he holding political office, and if so, what office was it? Did he support the Union war effort against the South? Was he against the war from the start? What did he think of Abraham Lincoln and did he think Lincoln had violated

the freedom and liberties of Northerners? What was the "Copperhead" movement in the North, and why did Vallandigham become one of their champions? What did he think of the Emancipation Proclamation and the goal of freeing the slaves? Then, I'll ask you to tell us about the speech which Vallandigham gave in May, 1863 in Ohio--what was his message in that speech? Was he urging Union soldiers to leave the army or to become deserters? How did the Union general in that area respond to this speech, and what happened to Vallandigham because of it? You should talk in detail about how he was arrested and then about his military trial. What were the charges against him, and what was the verdict? Why was this case so controversial? What were the main issues in the trial, especially about free speech and criticism of the government during a war? What was Vallandigham's punishment? How did he try to get back into politics even after this punishment? Was he successful? If there's time, I'll ask you what career he followed after the war, and how he died (interesting and strange story!). Finally, I'll ask what we can learn today from studying Vallandigham's life--you should talk about the issue of free speech during war and how important it is for us still today. Vanzetti: First, I'll ask you when and where Bartolomeo Vanzetti was born. When and why did he come to America, and where did he settle in America? What kind of job or profession did he pursue? How and why did Vanzetti become interested in Anarchism, and what did the anarchists believe? What were their political goals and their attitude toward big government and big industry? How active was Vanzetti in the Anarchist movement, and who was his main teacher? Did he take part in strikes, rallies, and was he ever involved in more violent protests? Did he marry and have children, and if so, how did he manage to support his family? Then, I'll move ahead to the accusation of murder against Vanzetti--when and where was he arrested, and which murders was Vanzetti accused of? Why did police suspect Vanzetti of the crime? When the trial began, what was the main evidence used against Vanzetti? What was Vanzettis defense? Were there any eyewitnesses to testify against him, or was the evidence all circumstantial? What was the jury's verdict on the counts, and did Vanzetti get a second trial? In this second trial, was Vanzetti able to offer any additional defense, and did the prosecution make the same case as before, or did they introduce new evidence? What were the main reasons why the jury found Vanzetti guilty of murder? Was the evidence really so persuasive, or could it have been mainly because he was a member of the Anarchist movement and perhaps also because he was Italian and an immigrant? How widespread were the protests against Vanzetti's conviction and the imposing of the death penalty? How did prominent people try to get him yet another trial or to get the guilty verdict thrown out? How far did Vanzetti appeal his case, and what was the outcome when it reached the Supreme Court? Did any new developments happen to cause even more doubt about Vanzettis conviction? In the end, when was he executed and buried? Was there a

review of Vanzettis case after his execution? If so, who did this review and what were the findings? What are the most important lessons which we can learn from his story?

Andreas Vesalius: First, Ill ask when and where Vesalius was born. Then, Ill ask about his educationwhat did he study as a young man? Was he educated in the Greek and Roman classics and in sciences? What or who got him interested in studying anatomy and the way the body worked? Then, Ill ask about his study of the bodyhow did he get access to bodies, and how long did he dissect them? What did he learn about the position of human organs and the way the body worked? What did he learn about muscles and the human skeleton? How did his findings contradict what the ancient Greek authority Galen had taught? What was the name of Vesalius ground-breaking work on human anatomy, and when did he publish it? How did people react to it? Did he get into trouble with Church authorities? How influential was his book? Did it influence artists, doctors, teachers, and other scientists? Did Vesalius work help break down the opposition to dissection by the Catholic Church? Id like you to pick out at least two illustrations of the body from Vesalius book, show me which ones before class that day, and Ill put them up on the screen, and then you can describe and explain them. Virgil: First, Ill ask when and where Virgil was born, and what his full name was in Latin. Then, Ill ask about his social status and his educationwas his family wealthy or poor? Where did he study, who taught him, and what were the main topics which Virgil studied? What were the earlier works of poetry and literature in Latin or Greek which influenced Virgils work? What was the title of his first major collection of poems? Was it the Eclogues, or do most scholars now think someone else wrote them? If Virgil is considered the author, you should be able to talk about the main themes or topics in the Eclogues. If Virgil is no longer considered a probable author of the Eclogues, why not? Then, Ill ask you about Virgils collection of poems titled the Georgics. When did he write these, for which powerful Roman did Virgil write these poems, and what were the main themes or topics of these poems? What kind of life did Virgil praise in these poems? How successful were the Georgics and how well known did Virgil become as a result of them? Then, well focus in detail on Virgils greatest workthe epic poem called The Aeneid. When and why did Virgil write this poem? What was the political purpose of this poem? What was the main topic or story which Virgil told in the Aeneid and who was the hero of the epic poem? What are the main events in this poem, and how does Aeneas eventually go from Troy to Italy and become the founder of the city of Rome? What was the important symbolism in this story for Romans during Virgils time, and why was this poem important to the Roman ruler Octavian Augustus?

Id also like you to quote a few lines in English from the beginning of the poem, which are very famous . Then, Ill put up the first couple of lines in Latin and read them (I wont ask you to do that, but we just want to hear the poem in its original language). How successful and popular was the Aeneid, and how did Virgils powerful patron Octavian react to it? Was there any actual history in the events in the poem, or was it all mythology and symbolism? Did Virgil have a wife and/or children? When and where did he die, and how important was his Aeneid in the literature of Europe for centuries after his death? Vitruvius: First, Ill ask when and where Vitruvius was born, and what his full name was in Latin. Then, Ill ask you about his social status and his educationwas his family wealthy or poor? Who taught him, for how many years did he study, and what were the main topics which he studied? How long did Vitruvius serve in the Roman army, what was his job in the army, and which Roman generals did he serve? In which provinces did he serve and was he ever wounded? When he left the army, did he marry and have a family and where did he live? Then, well move to his famous and important work on architecture: what was the title of his work in Latin and how does it translate into English? About when did he write his books on architecture? What were the main teachings of Vitruvius about how to build structures and how to make them both beautiful and useful? What were the names of these building principles or theories in Latin? How many public or private buildings did he design himself, and are any of them still standing for us to study today? How can his influence in architecture still be seen in buildings today, especially important public buildings and monuments like those in Washington, D.C.? Then, Ill ask how Vitruvius devised the proportions by which humans should be drawn and carved in stonewhat were these mathematical ratios or proportions? You should give us specific examples of them (these are in your textbook, but find more detailed sources about them). How did Vitruvius mathematical view of beauty influence Leonardo da Vincis own work many centuries later during the Renaissance? Finally, Ill ask about the Roman machines and structures which Vitruvius wrote about or designed: aqueducts, catapults, and a device for lifting water into fields from irrigation ditches. Lyons Wakeman: I would like you to be "Lyons Wakeman" for the first part of our conversation, with your hair up and covered by a hat or cap--then, about the middle of our talk, you'll reveal yourself as a woman actually named Sarah Rosetta Wakeman by taking off your hat or your cap. So, I'll address you as "Lyons", and I'll first ask where and when you were born, and what led you to volunteer for the Union cause. What were the motives for joining up? Money, adventure, or a combination of these? Then, I'll ask

you, as Lyons, where you were stationed first, and what your daily duty was like in Washington, D.C. Then, and this will be your cue for revealing your true identity, I'll ask you: "What was the greatest challenge in being a Union soldier"? And then, you'll tell us about how you dressed as a man and concealed it, and if you can find any stories about this from her letters, that would be great, though I'm not sure if she wrote about that to her parents. I'll also ask why she dressed like a man which really was forbidden in that time. Also, did she ever come close to being discovered? Then, we'll move on to the Red River campaign in 1864--I'll ask you what fighting in a battle for the first time was like and how she felt. I would like you to quote at least one or two passages from her letters home to let us hear her first-hand voice. Also, I'll also ask about her illness, and when she got sick and how long she spent trying to recover before she died. Finally, I'll ask you why we should still study her lie and what we can learn from her. Thanks, and I hope you're finding her letters, one other primary source, and two good secondary sources (there's one good book on her in our library which I hope you've found). Dr. Mary Edwards Walker: I'll ask you first where and when she was born. Did she have strong political views on issues like slavery and states' rights, and what did she think of those issues? How did she become interested in being a doctor? Were there events or people in her childhood or youth who influenced her to go in that direction? In a time when almost all doctors were men, what gave her the determination and strength to go for a medical degree? Was she a nurse first before becoming a doctor? Where did she study medicine, and when did she earn her M.D.? Was she practicing medicine when the Civil War broke out? When and where did she first try to become a doctor for the Union? How did the army generals and other doctors and surgeons react to her? Did she face opposition or discrimination? What were the terrible wounds she saw, and what kind of surgeries did she perform? Did she travel with one particular Union army or work in one particular area, or did she move with different armies to different battles? Did she do a lot of amputations, or did she try to avoid them? Did she only work on Union wounded soldiers, or on Confederates, too? I'd like you to describe at least one experience which she had which was very interesting to you. Was he paid a regular salary by the army for her medical work? After the war, how long did she continue to practice medicine? Finally, I'll ask why we should study her life today and what we can learn from it? Stand Watie: First, Ill ask where and when Stand Watie was born. Which tribe did he belong to, and what was his occupation or profession as he grew up? Was he a political or military leader of the tribe before the Civil War? What was Waties attitude toward the North and the South and their positions about the expansion of slavery and the right of secession? Did Watie and tribe get promises from both the North and the South in

return for joining their cause? Why did Watie decide to support the Confederacy? When did he enlist in the Confederate army? What was his rank and his position? Which battles did Watie fight in, and what was his role in these battles? How effective was he as a military leader? What were his best qualities as a leader? What was the most important battle in which Watie and his fellow Cherokees fought? Who won this battlethe Union or the Confederacy? What was Waties role in the battle? Did Watie help the Confederates hang on to Indian Territory, or did the Union eventually capture this territory? Was Watie ever wounded in battle? After the war, how was Watie and his tribe treated by the United States government? Did Watie or his people suffer loss of land because they took the side of the Confederacy? What can we learn about leadership from studying Stand Waties experience in the Civil War? Sam Watkins: I'll first ask when and where Sam Watkins was born, and then I'll ask how old he was when the Civil War started, why he enlisted in the Confederate army, and what regiment he served with. Did he own slaves? Was he a poor or rich man? What motivated him to fight for the Confederacy? Was he excited and anxious to see fighting at the start of the war? Did he have a wife or sweetheart whom he left back home? I'll then ask about the major battles in which he fought, too, but we won't have time to go into all of them, so I'll ask you about his experiences during the battle of Shiloh in 1862, the campaign for Atlanta in 1864, and then the battle of Franklin in late 1864, where his army was all but wiped out. You should be able to describe his role and the role of his regiment in these battles and also quote a couple of short passages from his book to give us a first-hand account. What was it like to be in battle for Sam? What was his most frightening moment in battle? Was he wounded at any battles? If so, where did he get wounded and how serious were the wounds? Did Sam have enough food, clothing, and ammunition at the start of the war, and how much did this change as the war went on? Toward the end of the war, in 1864, what condition was his equipment and clothing in, and how much did he get to eat? I'll also ask what life in camp was like for Sam, since most of the soldiers' time was spent in camp, not in battle. Did he get bored in camp? Did he suffer from diseases like so many other soldiers? I'll also ask about his attitude toward the war--was he confident of Confederate victory at the start? How long did his confidence last? When did he begin to realize that the Confederacy couldn't win? Also, I'll ask when he decided to write his book and why he wrote it, and then, if there's time, I'll ask you how long he lived after the war and what he did for a living and whether he had a wife and children. The last question will be why we should still read about his experiences and what we can learn from them. John Wayne: First, Ill ask where and when John Wayne was born, and what his real

name was. When and why did he take the name John Wayne? Then, Ill ask about his education: where did he go to college, and what sports did he play? Did he think about a professional sports career at one point? How did he get involved in acting, when did he make his first movie, and what was it called? What kinds of minor roles did he get in his early movie days, and did he get work or did he have to take other jobs to make ends meet? Then, Ill ask about the 1939 movie Stagecoach, which was a big breakthrough to his career. What character did he play and what was the main story or plot of the movie? Ill then ask you to summarize his some of his main movies over the next years: The Sands of Iwo Jima, The Searchers, and True Grit, for which he won an Oscar for best actor. Id like you to show us a short clip of him in True Grit to give us an idea of his acting style. Why did he become so popular? What type of character did he specialize in playing? In real life, was John Wayne interested in horses and being in the countryside? Was he as tough as the characters whom he portrayed? Then, well move to his view of the Vietnam Warwhy did he support our war in Vietnam? How did she show his support? How did he use the movie Green Berets as a way to explain what America was doing in Vietnam? What did John Wayne think of the anti-war protestors, and is there any evidence that his view was persuasive, or did the American public pretty much reject his view of the war?

Ida B. Wells: I'll first ask you where and when Ida B. Wells was born, how many siblings she had, and how much of a struggle growing up was for her. Was it hard for her family to make ends meet? How did she feel about the fact that her parents had been born slaves? How did Ida help her family and siblings when she was still young? Which schools did she attend, what did she study, and did she feel that she got a good education for that time? Then, I'll ask you about what it was like for her growing up in a society dominated by white people and increasingly segregated. What kinds of discrimination did she personally face? Did she have to use "black only" facilities or ride in special sections on trains? Did she face physical intimidation or violence, and did she witness this, such as lynchings? You should talk about how some of her friends were lynched, and how she once refused to move from the "white" section of a train to the "colored" section. Then, I'll ask why and when she started running her own newspaper, and where she was publishing it. What was the name of the paper, and how did she use it to call for an end to discrimination and violence against black Americans? What causes did she champion in her paper? Was she able to change any laws or improve conditions for black people? Did she face threats and push back, and even violence, because of her newspaper? How did she deal with these challenges? What about the boycott against certain white businesses which she started--how did it work and was it effective? What did Ida B. Wells want the federal and state governments to do to help black people and

protect them? What changes did she think needed to be made in education, jobs, and other basic needs for black people? Where did she move so she could keep writing and publishing? Then, I'll ask about the civil rights groups and organizations which she helped to form and to which she belonged--what were the names of these groups, and what were their main activities to promote civil rights for black Americans? What did she think of Booker T. Washington and his ideas for helping African Americans? Finally, I'll ask what we can learn about race in American today from her example. Henry Wirz: I'll first ask where and when Henry Wirz was born, and then when and why he came to America, and where he settled once he came to America. I'll then ask about his medical education and when he became a doctor. Then, I'll ask why he became so sympathetic to the South that when the war began he volunteered to fight as a soldier. As someone from Europe, why didn't he want to stay neutral? I'll also ask you in which battle he was wounded, and what part of his body was wounded--you should wear a bandage or sling over the arm where he was wounded, and I'll ask you to demonstrate how much you can move it (which shouldn't be too far). Then, I'll ask how long it took Wirz to recover from his wounds, and how he became the commander of the Fort Sumter prison camp or "Andersonville". I'll ask you how many prisoners the camp was designed to hold, and how many it eventually held in 1864 when all the prisoners flooded in. I'll ask you what he did to help the prisoners with the horrible conditions there: the foul and polluted water, the lack of latrines and the fact that prisoners relieved themselves in the creek flowing through the camp; the lack of proper shelter (no huts or barracks of wood), the poor food, the constant disease and rapid deaths of prisoners, the shooting of prisoners who got close to the "dead line", and the way some prisoners, the "Raiders", beat up and robbed other prisoners. Did Wirz know how bad things were? Why did he let them get worse and worse? How often did he go inside the camp to inspect it? How often did he allow prisoners to come to him with complaints? What did he do or try to do to improve conditions? Why didn't he let small groups of prisoners out to forage for food or to cut wood to build huts? Did Wirz try to dig wells for fresh water? And why didn't Wirz do anything about the "Raiders"? Did he experiment with a smallpox vaccine on prisoners which eventually went bad and killed many? Did he try to get more food, doctors, and medicine from the Confederate government? Did Wirz ever shoot or order the shooting of any prisoner? I know this seems like you'll be on trial, but there were so many deaths in Andersonville and Wirz was naturally a target for much anger and rage. You should defend yourself as best you can--don't roll over and admit guilt--be strong and put up the best defense you can. I'll also ask if Wirz thought he got a fair trial for war crimes, or if he thought it was rigged and that he was a scape goat. Finally, I'll ask why we should still learn his story and what we can learn from him.

Sir Leonard Woolley: I'll first ask when and where Leonard Woolley was born. Then, I'll ask why he became interested in archaeology--who were the people or events which motivated his interest in this topic? Where did he receive his higher education in archaeology, and on what archaeological digs did he learn the principles of archaeology? Why did Woolley want to dig in Mesopotamia? How much did he already know about ancient cities like Ur? How much of a mystery was ancient Mesopotamia before Woolley began to dig there? When did he get the chance to dig at Ur, and how did this happen? Was he invited to dig there, or did he want to dig there and work hard to get the right to do it? Which government gave him permission to dig, or did he start working without permission? How did he determine where to start digging? How long was it before Woolley's team began to find artifacts, and what kind of artifacts did he find first? When did he find the royal tombs of Ur, and what were some of the most valuable and important artifacts which his team found in the tombs? How many tombs did he find, and from what time in history did Woolley date them? Did he find much evidence of daily life for less powerful people at Ur, like houses, utensils, pottery, and other daily objects? How long did Woolley dig at Ur? What happened to most of the artifacts which he found? Were they taken to museums in England or elsewhere in Europe or did they stay in Iraq? Did Woolley dig at other tells or sites in Iraq or Mesopotamia? Did he go on to other high profile digs, or did he spend most of his later life writing and/or teaching? Finally, I'll ask how Woolley popularized and promoted the science of archaeology and what he taught the world about this great and ancient civilization. Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton: Ill first ask where and when Wriothesley was born, and how wealthy and important his family was. As he was growing up, what kind of education did he receive? Which schools did he attend, and when did he begin to show interest in the theater and in literature? When did he take the title Earl of Southampton, and how wealthy was he? What political or military positions did Wriothesley perform for King James? How well did he perform these duties? Then, Ill ask about his relationship with Shakespeare. When did they meet, and under what circumstances did they come to know each other? How much money and support or patronage did Wriothesley give to Shakespeare and to other writers and/or actors and acting companies? Did Wriothesley arrange performances of Shakespeares plays? If so, when did this happen? How close were Wriothesley and Shakespeare? Were they good friends or were they even closer? Did they spend much time together? How many sonnets did Shakespeare write about Wriothesley and when were these written? What is the evidence that these sonnets were written about Wriothesley? In the sonnets, what was Shakespeares main message to Wriothesley, and how did Shakespeare describe the physical appearance of Wriothesley in these sonnets? At this point, Id like you to read

one of the sonnets written about Wriothesleyyou can pick it. Ill put it up on the screen, and after you recite it, Ill ask you to explain its meaning and message. Make sure that you pick a sonnet which clearly expresses this main message, which is in more than one sonnet. When the sonnets were published, did people know they were dedicated to Wriothlesley? How did Wriothesley respond to them? How long did their relationship of patron and writer continue? Did Wriothesley marry and have children? If so, how did Shakespeare respond to this? Frank Lloyd Wright: I'll first ask when and where he was born. Then, I'll ask why he was interested in design and architecture--who or what events influenced him to study this field? Where did he get his formal training in architecture, and which architects did he study with? When did Wright begin to design his own buildings, and what was one of his early structures? I will let you pick this one, and I'll put up a picture of it. What was the prevailing school of architecture in America when Wright began his career, and and when and how did Wright break ranks with that tradition? What made his designs new and different? How did he feel about modern steel and glass buildings? What was the "Prairie" movement about, and what ideas did it emphasize? I'd like to show the Hillside Home school in Wisconsin and describe how it was part of the Prairie movement and explain why it was unique. Then, I'll ask you about his trip to Japan and how this influenced his design ideas--how did he re-think his view of how nature and architecture should work together? I'll then ask you about his famous house "Falling Waters"--when did he design this, for whom did he design, and what were the most unique and interesting features of it? How did he build the house right into the landscape? Then, I'll ask about his own work as the head of his own studio--where was this studio complex, and what kind of teacher was Wright? What were the controversial and scandalous events of his personal life, and did this hurt his work? Then, I'll ask about his design of the Guggenheim museum, and we'll show both external and internal photos--how did Wright get this commission, and what was his basic idea in the design? How did people react to it when it opened to the public? When did Wright die, and how big was his influence on the designs and architecture of the late 20th century. Alvin York: I'll first ask when and where Alvin York was born, and what his family life was like while he was growing up. Did he behave as a boy, or was he trouble, and, if so, why? As he grew older, how did Alvin become more rowdy, drink more heavily, and get into trouble? Was he interested in working hard and making a living, or was he mostly how to have fun? What were some of his exploits? What about his reputation as a marksman and a hunter? How good was he and how many shooting contests did he win? Then, I'll ask how and why his life changed dramatically--what caused him to change his

ways? What happened to make him a devout Christian who went to church? How did Alvin feel about violence and war after he became a Christian? Whom did he marry, and did they have any children? What did Alvin do for a living? I'll then move to World War I and America's entry into the war. Did Alvin think about volunteering for the army, or was he against going to war? If so, why? How did he respond when he was drafted? Did he apply to be a conscientious objector or did he go willingly? Once he became a soldier in Europe, how did he become a hero? You should tell us all about the story of his saving his fellow soldiers by capturing a large group of Germans and killing others. Where and when did this happen, and what did Alvin do? How many Germans did he kill or capture? How did he do it, and how did his expert markmanship help him? Did he win decorations for his bravery? When he returned from the war, how did Alvin feel about being hailed as a hero? Did he consider himself a hero? How did having this celebrity status change his life, or did he just go back to farming in his home? Was he still alive when the movie about him was made in about 1940, and if so, how much influence did he have on the movie and what did he think of it?

Shen Zhou: Youll be portaying the Shen Zhou from the 15th and 16th centuries, the forerunner of landscape art for the Europeans, the one mentioned on page 13 of the Fiero book. Theres another Shen Zhou painter from centuries later, but youre not him. Ill first ask where and when Shen Zhou was born. What kind of education did he receive, and how and why did he become interested in art? Did Shen Zhou study as an apprentice under a master, and if so, who was it? What was the dominant tradition in Chinese painting when Shen Zhou was learning art? Was landscape painting already established and popular, or were other topics more popular for Chinese painters? When did Shen Zhou begin to produce his own landscapes, and what did they depict? Here, Ill put a couple of his best known paintings up on the screenPoet on a Mountain top and Lofty Mt. Lu. Then, Ill ask you when he painted them, where in China these places were, and why he chose them. Ill also ask what messages about nature and humans he was trying to express through this art. Did he see nature as divine, like the later Romantics in Europe? Did he regard nature as more powerful than humans? How popular were these types of paintings? How many paintings were in his Landscape Alum and when did he complete this collection? How widely in China or other lands did Shen Zhou travel, and were mountains his favorite place to go and his favorite topic for landscape art? What other parts of nature did he enjoy painting? How long did Shen Zhou live and paint, and how important was his influence on later Chinese painters and on later European landscape painters?

Le Zun: First, Ill ask about when and where the Buddhist monk Le Zun was bornhe is something of a legendary figure, so you may have to estimate the year and place of his birth, but you should find some legends about it, so use them. Where was he a Buddhist monk, and what is the story of his vision of the Mogao Caves? You should tell us the story of how he was traveling and saw a sunset while on Sunwei Mountain, leading to a vision. What did he see in the vision, which cave did he find afrer the vision, and what did he paint on its walls? How did this cave painting of Le Zuns draw attention from other monks, and how did it lead to the painting of many other caves at Dunhuang or Mogao? How many caves were eventually painted, and where would we find these caves along the Silk Road? How long does this gallery of art caves extend? What were the dominant themes or scenes depicted on these cave walls? Over how many years did it take to paint the caves and how many different main styles of painting can we see there? How do different caves depict the Buddha differently and how do they show influences from both China and India? How do they show influence from as far away as Europe? You should put up on the screen scenes of the Buddha from at least three different caves these can be paintings or carved statues in the caves. The three Buddhas should illustrate three different painting styles and different aspects of Buddha. You should also show images of demons and angels from the caves, which are famous for their unique style and beauty. How many people, especially Buddhist pilgrims, came to worship and admire the Magao caves, and for how many centuries were they a popular pilgrimage site? How big was the town which grew up alongside the caves? When did the caves stop being a popular pilgrimage site, and why did this happen? Which nation do they belong to today, and who takes care of them?