General Content Knowledge
Margaret explains this game origin to friends while they are doing hair/makeup.
What is the Underground Railroad Game?
"Do you see what I mean, Tina? Do you see where all your foolishness has gotten her?"
Who is Cuthbert?
Margaret's sister who she loves to tease.
Who is Jo-Ann?
The game helps Zulma cope with this personal struggle.
Homesickness/Longing for home/Abuse
Name 3 things/elements needed to play the game.
What are: slaves, slave-owners, dogs, guides, safe houses, 'Freedom'
These documents Margaret introduces symbolize proof of freedom for escaped slaves.
What are free papers?
"Why don't we draw names from a hat; that way no one has to volunteer..."
Who is David Shaw?
Is jealous of Margaret.
Who is Ti-Cush?
Margaret demonstrates this trait, revealing this theme when she creates, organises and executes the game.
What is leadership?
These are the 2 rules for playing the game.
What are:
1. Anyone can be a slave
2. The game must be a secret
After 6 weeks, tensions rise, someone tells and they change this key location
What is ''freedom''?
Said she had to babysit her little brother and wanted to take him to the games.
Who is Pina Francesconi?
Never comes to Margaret's defense.
Who is Vashtina?
This technique gives hints of future 'betrayals' or the end of the game. (Tells us something might happen/is going to happen before it does)
What is foreshadowing?
Explain the reason Ti-Cush is the main suspect of wanting to ruin/end the game. Give evidence.
She has been negative about the game from the start (did not want to be a slave-owner)
She kept trying to influence the others to not play the game
Did not like the attention Margaret got from the game
Was always the main objector to new ideas/additions to the game
Chapter 14 ends with her admitting she hated the game and is glad Margaret got caught.
She does not deny being the one to write and send the note to Mrs. Chalmers. Indirectly confesses
Cuthbert's punishment for Margaret, threatening "good West Indian discipline."
What is sending her to Barbados?
"Who d'you think you are anyway, with your new name and your stupid game?"
Who is Ti-Cush?
Suspects Ti-Cush as the antagonist to the game's existence.
This theme is evident in the friendship between Margaret and Ti-Cush
What is betrayal?
Give two reasons the game ultimately came to an end.
What are parent suspicions and complaints?
Children started having nightmares/talking about the game in their sleep
Sandro attempting to use 'free papers' to get out of school
Namecalling (dogs, slaves)
They met on this day of the week to play the game.
What is Saturday?
"I don't want you to go to Barbados, even though we don't get along."
Who is Jo-Ann?
Has to be bribed the keep the game a secretly and ultimately becomes one of the main undoings of the game
Who is Sandro Francesconi / Pina's little brother
A symbol of liberation, resistance and identity in the novel.
It is also a re-enactment or reimagining of historical events.
What is the Underground Railroad Game?
The game is innocent child fun, yet they go to great lengths to keep it a secret. Explain why it was important that the game remain a hidden activity. Use evidence.
The game needed to remain secret because
The adults would not have approved or understood the motive behind the game (eg. Cuthbert's reaction to finding out, running the risk of being caught at night by police, their encounter with the parents where they weren't permitted to enter to the homes to hide)
Addressed an aspect of American history that many people shy away from/wanted to forget (eg. the namecalling was a sore point for the Browns who were descendants of maroons and did not want their daughter Pat referred to as a slave. Cuthbert's concern that it would reflect poorly on them as "Coloured People"