Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Who were the major powers/countries involved in World War I? What events precipitated the conflict? What weaponry and technology came into use in conjunction with World War I?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may have widely different levels of knowledge about World War I, depending on their history curriculum. It may be that they are more familiar with World War II; to avoid any confusion, it may be helpful to distinguish the two conflicts before having students attempt the above questions.  

• This interactive global WWI map from the World War I Museum’s resource site offers accessible, informative overviews of the alliances of European countries during the war. Users can zoom in on the map and click on individual countries for a brief summary of their role and significance during the war.
• This 9-minute video from The Imperial War Museum explores the causes the war.

2. What are some elements of the historical fiction genre? What are some elements of the science fiction genre? What do you think a book that combines elements of both would look like?