Study Questions

1. At the time the story begins, how old is Scarlett?

2. Why could Stuart and Brent Tarleton not go home yet?

3. How do the twins know of Ashley’s engagement?

4. Why does Jeems accompany the twins?

5. Why is Ashley considered “different” from other young men?

6. Why are the officers of The Troop elected by the members?

7. Why is there no need to teach the members of The Troop to shoot?

8. Why doesn’t Jeems want to be sent home by himself?

9. Why are the Tarleton twins considered to be desirable husbands?

10. Why doesn’t Scarlett want to hear any more talk of the war?

Answers

1. Sixteen is considered the age for being “the belle of the ball,” the time to flirt with the young men of your own class in order to attain a proper husband. Scarlett is in all her glory now, enjoying the flirting, the clothes, the intrigues, the parties, and the attention.

2. After being expelled from their fourth college in two years, the Tarleton twins know their mother will not only deny them the Grand Tour of Europe but will be considerably angry since their brothers, Tom and Boyd, left school with them feeling it would not be honorable to stay in a college which expelled their brothers.

3. Pittypat is Charles and Melanie’s aunt as well as Ashley’s cousin. While at the train station in Atlanta, after being expelled from the University of Georgia, the twins encounter her and she tells them of the engagement.

4. Body slaves are given to children to be their playmates. As they mature, the body slave accompanies them, waits patiently and silently while they visit, holds their horses, and are in all ways responsible for their masters and mistresses.

5. In pre-Civil War Georgia where plantations are dependent upon slave labor, young gentlemen are expected to enjoy horses, liquor, young ladies, and guns. While Ashley does enjoy each of these somewhat, he much prefers poetry, paintings, and travel.

6. Originally, The Troop was a gentlemen’s outfit but did not raise enough men. Soon small farmers, hunters, swamp trappers, and even Crackers, were admitted. They elect officers placing much value on the possession of a cool head and both good marksmanship and equestrian skills.

7. Since Southerners usually hunt, they already know how to shoot. Each household has its own assortment of guns, ranging from the horse pistols of The War of 1812 to the new English rifles.

8. Body slaves are responsible for their owners. Therefore, Jeems feels he will be blamed for allowing the twins to be expelled again and for not bringing them home the night of their visit to Scarlett.

9. “Raising good cotton, riding well, shooting straight, dancing lightly, squiring the ladies with elegance, and carrying one’s liquor like a gentleman were the things that mattered,” according to the custom of the area at that time. Since the twins could do all of these exceedingly well and prefer doing them, they are desirable as husbands.

10. Scarlett’s world consists of barbecues, balls, clothes, elegant dinners, and horseback riding. All of these are considered the realm of a plantation belle; Scarlett prefers to concentrate her energies in these areas.