The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

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The Bronze Bowby Elizabeth George Speare

• This PowerPoint was done by Ben Ware

He trains my hands for war So that my arms can
bend a bow of bronze
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Daniel

• Daniel is a tall, rebellious eighteen year old
  Jewish Galilean with brown skin.
• In the beginning of the story, Daniel is a rebel
  in a band of outlaws that are fighting against
  the Romans. He is angry and vengeful for his
  fathers death. I came to this conclusion
  because he is sabotaging the Romans. For
  example, he almost destroyed a Roman caravan.
• At the end of the story, Daniel is forgiving and
  kind. He had a major change of heart later in the
  book and let a Roman into his house. Youll have
  to read the book if you want to see why he had a
  change of heart.
• My graphic is a chrysalis, the stage between
  caterpillar and butterfly. I used this picture
  because it is a symbol of transformation.

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Joel

• Joel has dark skin and dark hair. He is in his
  late teens. Joel is Jewish like all of the other
  characters in the book.
• Joel hates the Romans like Daniel but not as much
  as Daniel does. Joel is kind, smart, and
  rebellious at the same time. He is against Rome
  but kind to everyone else. My reason for
  thinking this is that he helps Daniel by letting
  him sleep in his storage room whenever it is
  needed. However, he hates Rome and hopes someday
  someone will drive the Romans out.
• My graphic is a pen because Joel will probably
  grow up to be a Rabbi.

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Thacia

• Thacia has semi-long dark hair and dark skin.
  Thacia is in her late teens but the book doesnt
  say exactly how old. She is Jewish.
• Thacia is helpful but doesnt care about the
  Romans, while most of the other main characters
  do. I think this because she didnt care when
  Roman legionnaires came up the mountain, and she
  helped Lea (Daniels sister who is afraid of the
  outdoors and most people) get over her fears.
• The picture I used is a peace sign because she is
  not as angry at the Romans as most of the other
  characters.

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Rosh

• Rosh is short and sturdy with a weathered face.
  Rosh is Jewish (but not religious in any way
  shape or form). I think Rosh is in his thirties
  or forties.
• He is a cruel person. Rosh thinks that kindness
  is a flaw. He steals from farmers and hopes to
  destroy everything in the Roman empire.
• The graphics I used are some evil looking clipart
  because Rosh is portrayed as evil.

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Jesus

• Jesus, in the story, is ordinary looking with
  knotted arms and shoulders because he had been
  working since childhood. Jesus is Jewish and the
  book isnt specific about age.
• Jesus is kind and not violent contrary to
  Daniels hopes in the beginning. One of my
  reasons for thinking this is that he says Free
  the oppressed and not, like Daniel was hoping,
  Destroy the oppressors. Another reason is that
  he preaches about everyone being Gods children.
  When Daniel asks Even the Romans? he responds
  "Yes, even the Romans.
• The graphic I used is a picture of him (for
  obvious reasons).

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Summary

• The story takes place in Galilee in the time
  of Christ. Daniel is living with outlaws that are
  against Rome in a cave in the hills when he meets
  two others, Joel and Thacia. He finds out that
  Joel hates the Romans too. Later, an old friend
  from the time he was still in the city goes up to
  the mountain and wants him to see his
  grandmother. On the following Sabbath his friend
  wants him to go and see Jesus.

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Summary

• After he saw Jesus, he went to see Joel and
  got angry when Joels father didnt hate the
  Romans. He was attacked by a legionnaire who had
  asked him for water because he threw a water bowl
  at his face. He went back to Joels house and
  collapsed. Luckily, Thacia dragged him into a
  warehouse. When Joel came, they took an oath to
  attempt to break free from Rome. Joel read a
  scripture about the bronze bow and they decided
  their group should be based around it.

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Summary

• After Daniel goes back to the mountains he
  finds out that his grandmother is dying so he
  goes home. When he gets back home, his
  grandmother dies and Daniel moves into his
  friends house. He assembles a small group of
  other rebellious kids. When he finds out that
  Joel has been captured by the Romans, he goes to
  see if Rosh will help. Rosh says he wont help
  Joel, so Daniel needs to rescue him with a small
  band of other kids. What happens next? Youll
  have to read The Bronze Bow to find out.

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Theme

• I think the theme of this story is that fighting
  isnt the only option.
• Daniel is learning that hating the Romans wont
  do anything but get you angry and possibly hurt.
• This lesson can be applied to life and the world
  in two ways. One way is that wars are hugely
  devastating to both sides and most people hope
  for them to stop. The other way is your hatred
  makes your life miserable more than it hurts the
  people who you are hating.