Winning His Spurs 7

Study Guide Questions for Ch. 13-14

If you are looking for the beginning of the study for G. A. Henty’s Winning His Spurs then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Despair, Hate, Providence, Religion, Appearance vs. Reality, Battle of Wits, Prudence

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What issues kept the crusaders from immediately proceeding to Jerusalem?

2. What circumstances led to Cuthbert being captured by the Saracens?

3. According to him, why was the Sultan not disposed to be merciful towards the English knights he had captured?

4. What caused Cuthbert’s execution to be “postponed?”

5. Where was Cuthbert taken to be a slave and what responsibilities was he given?

6. Who took an interest in Cuthbert’s situation and why?

7. What plan was determined upon in order to aid Cuthbert in escaping?

8. What happened instead of what Cuthbert had counted on?

9. Describe how Cuthbert outwitted his captors and escaped.

10. How did Cuthbert come to be captured a second time?

11. Where did Cuthbert end up by the end of this reading?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. What kind of things might be inferred about Saladin from the way in which he is described in appearance, speech, and action?

2. Why would Saladin spare Cuthbert because of his age? What about this made him think it was better to let him live?

3. Why would the sight of Jerusalem cause Cuthbert’s Moslem (Muslim) captors to shout with joy?

4. Why did Cuthbert decide to work hard in the garden and be a model slave?

5. Cuthbert made use of the stars to help him navigate on his journey. What makes stars useful for gaining the direction one wants to go?

6. Why might Cuthbert have rushed his second escape rather than repeat his former tactics?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Jerusalem is a very important place in this story. What does it mean for a place (e.g. a city or a building, etc.) to be sacred? Do you think there are locations in the world which are more sacred than others? If so, how should this affect our behavior towards them? If not, why do you think places are not (or cannot) be sacred? Explain your reasoning carefully.

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Ephesians 6:5-9 and Colossians 3:18-25. In what way might we liken these passages to Cuthbert’s situation in this present reading? In what way might we say there is a significant difference between Cuthbert’s situation and that which the apostle Paul is speaking of?