Novel Insights Guide To

The Bronze Bow

by Elizabeth George Speare


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Jump to table of contents Jump to Chapter 1 & 2 Review Jump to Suggested Activities

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TABLE OF CONTENTS


Author Biography ..................................... 1
Background Information ..................................... 2
Chapter 01 - 02 ..................................... 5
Chapter 03 - 04 ................................... 11
Chapter 05 - 06 ................................... 18
Chapter 07 - 08 ................................... 25
Chapter 09 - 11 ................................... 33
Chapter 12 - 14 ................................... 41
Chapter 15 - 16 ................................... 48
Chapter 17 - 19 ................................... 56
Chapter 20 - 22 ................................... 63
Chapter 23 - 24 ................................... 71
Vocabulary Tests ................................... 78
Test Questions ................................... 95
Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle ................................. 102
Selected Bibliography ................................. 118


Chapters 01 - 02

Daniel bar Jamin, a Galilean youth of eighteen who has spent the last five years living with a robber band in the caves above his former village, is confronted with a dilemma when two young people his own age venture onto their mountain, and Daniel recognizes them. Overcome with a longing for contact with those from his village, as well as news concerning his grandmother and sister, Daniel approaches the two and speaks with them. The two are Joel, the son of the village rabbi, and Malthace his twin sister. Daniel asks Joel to deliver a message to Simon, who had been a blacksmith's apprentice with him. From Joel, he learns that Simon now has his own shop and is known as Simon the Zealot. Joel and his sister share their food with Daniel, and he relates to them how he came up to this area to escape his brutal master, and was discovered by Rosh, the leader of a local robber band who had been kind to him. As some Roman legionaries pass on the road below, the boys discover they share a hatred for the Roman conquerors. Daniel points out to Joel and Malthace the plain where Joshua defeated the Canaanite kings. The children speak excitedly of God sending another Deliverer, and how they thought if they came up to this place, they would be able to see Him come. Daniel offers to see the other two safely back to the road, and as they walk Joel asks if Daniel has met Rosh the outlaw. When Daniel tells him he has, Joel looks at the other boy with envy. As they are going, Daniel suddenly spies Rosh on the road.

Daniel instructs Joel and Malthace to stay where they are while he goes to meet Rosh's men, discovering they are to ambush a caravan in order to seize a slave they have in their custody. Joel insists his sister hide, but he makes it plain he intends to participate in the raid on the caravan. Since it is approaching, there is no time for Daniel to argue, and Joel joins him. As the caravan comes into view, the signal is sounded, and the hills come alive with Rosh's men. As Daniel disables the man assigned to him, the others in the band free the oversized slave Rosh has requisitioned. The attack is over quickly, and their prize is recovered. Daniel notices that Joel has a bruised shoulder, and Joel explains he received the bruise from one of the mules as he tried to help Daniel. Rosh approaches and Daniel introduces Joel as a new recruit. At first Rosh tells Joel he will have to live in the caves and not return to the village, but Joel refuses, explaining he must take his sister home and go with his parents to Capernaum. Rosh consents, admonishing him to keep his eyes and ears open, and when the time comes, he will be able to be of service to him. Daniel volunteers to lead the slave, dubbed Samson, back to their camp, and spends most of the night releasing him from his shackles. As he works, he talks to him about Rosh, his fearlessness against the hated Romans, and his growing band of followers. When the man is freed, he kneels in front of Daniel, placing his forehead on Daniel's foot. He finds a cover for Samson, then lies down to sleep, the giant man at his feet.


Suggested Activities - Chapters 01 - 02

  1. Assign research into the history of Israel and particularly Galilee in relation to Rome at this period of time. If possible, have some students research from the Roman point of view, and some from the Galilean point of view, and have them report on their findings. Particularly cover the rebellion of Judas, because this is an actual historical event and Judas is a real person.
  2. Talk about the character of Rosh. Daniel and some of the more idealistic young men believe Rosh might be the Messiah promised to deliver Israel from their oppressor. Read some of the Messianic prophecies. Could Rosh fit the "resume" of the Messiah?
  3. Find pictures of the area used for the setting of the book, and show them to the students, or invite someone who has visited this area to bring in pictures or slides to show.

Review Questions - Chapters 01 - 02

  1. The setting of a story is the time and place in which it takes place. What is the setting of this story?
  2. Describe Daniel.
  3. Why has Daniel been living in the caves above his village? How long has he been living here?
  4. Who invades his world to remind him of his previous life?
  5. What family members did Daniel leave behind in the village?
  6. Who else does Daniel remember as a friend?
  7. What do Joel and Malthace do that Daniel has not thought about doing for five years? What emotion does he feel as he joins them in this act?
  8. Who is Rosh? What did he do for Daniel five years earlier?
  9. What interrupts their time together?
  10. How are Joel and Daniel different? In what way are they alike?
  11. What unexpected knowledge does Daniel demonstrate to Joel and Malthace?
  12. Why does Daniel offer to walk part of the way with Joel and Malthace?
  13. As they are walking, what does Joel confide in Daniel?
  14. What conflict does Joel feel when Daniel invites him to join the band?
  15. How are they interrupted?
  16. What assignment is Daniel given?
  17. What does Rosh tell Joel? Why does he say this? What are his final instructions to Joel?
  18. How does Daniel feel after Rosh has talked to Joel?
  19. As Daniel works to free the giant slave from his manacles, what does he do to pass the time?
  20. Once the man is freed, what does Daniel discover about his attitude?

Review Question Answers - Chapters 01 - 02

  1. The story is set in Galilee during the time of Jesus - about 30 AD.
  2. Daniel is eighteen years old, tanned, tall, lean and muscular with dark eyes, black hair, and a perpetual scowl on his face.
  3. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith who was abusive, and ran away to escape the abuse five years earlier.
  4. The twin daughter and son of the village rabbi, Joel and Malthace, who are his age, come to the mountain for a picnic.
  5. His grandmother and sister
  6. There was another apprentice who worked with Daniel and was kind to him; his name was Simon. Joel tells him Simon now has his own shop, and is known as Simon the Zealot.
  7. They wash their hands. He feels embarrassed - hoping none of the men who are part of the robber band he lives with will see what he is doing.
  8. Rosh is the leader of a band of robbers who live in the caves above the village where Daniel used to live and where Joel and Malthace still live. Many in the village hold out hope that Rosh will lead an insurrection against the Romans because he participated in the uprising led by Judas and was able to escape. Five years earlier, he found Daniel when the boy could go no further, and carried him into the caves where he helped him to heal and made him a part of the band.
  9. They see some Roman Legionaries.
  10. Daniel is poor, barely educated and has lived for five years as an uncivilized heathen. Joel is from a wealthy family, is well educated and is a strict observer of the law. They both are filled with anger toward the Romans, and desire to see an army raised by Israel to overthrow their oppressors.
  11. He shows them the plain where Joshua defeated the Canaanite kings, describing the battle in graphic detail.
  12. He wants to make sure they are safe.
  13. One of the reasons he had wanted to come up to the mountain was that he had hoped to be able to see Rosh. He tells Daniel that Rosh is the hero of all the boys at school.
  14. He is torn because of his desire to follow Rosh, which conflicts with his sense of love and duty for his parents and sister.
  15. One of Rosh's men shows up, blocking their way down and telling Daniel he is needed for an ambush on a caravan.
  16. When the signal is given, Daniel is to jump one of the guards and disable him without killing him in order to allow the men to grab a particular slave that Rosh wants.
  17. Rosh tells Joel that he will not be able to go back to the village, but will have to stay on the mountain with him. He does not want Joel to go back and talk about what he has seen. Once Joel assures him he will not talk, he tells him to go with his family to Capernaum, and await Rosh's instructions.
  18. He is jealous of Rosh's attentions to Joel.
  19. He talks to him about Rosh, what he is doing and what he plans to do.
  20. The man virtually worships Daniel, bowing down and placing his forehead on Daniel's foot. When Daniel goes to sleep, the man sleeps at his feet.