Shiloh

Do you think Marty was right in his decision to keep Shiloh secret, and lie to his parents and others? Why or why not? Do you believe it is ever right to tell a lie? Discuss.

How does Judd Travers feel about Marty at the beginning of the novel? Do you think that Judd feels differently about Marty at the end of the story? Give evidence to support your answer.

Compare and contrast David Howard and Marty’s family backgrounds. How are the two boys similar? How are they different? What makes them good friends? 

Describe Marty’s rural community. What are some positive aspects of living in Friendly? What are some drawbacks? How do community traditions influence characters’ behaviors? Consider Doc Murphy, Mr. Wallace, Dad, and Marty.

In Chapter 6, Judd tells Marty not to feel sorry for him because, “Nobody ever felt sorry for me, and I never felt sorry for nobody else. Sorry’s something I can do without” (55). Why does Judd feel this way? How does this attitude inform Judd’s actions? Does this comment make Marty feel differently about Judd? Why or why not?

Marty’s parents help keep Shiloh a secret: Ma agrees to keep Marty’s secret for one night, and Dad agrees to let Shiloh heal before he tells Judd about the beagle. How do Marty’s parents feel about lying? Why do they agree to lie for Marty?

When Marty gives Judd his word that he will not tell anyone about the deer, he thinks that his promise “…didn’t seem like it amounted to much. It did, though” (120). What does Marty mean? Give examples of Marty showing integrity throughout the novel, despite his frequent deceptions.

How does Marty change and grow over the course of the novel? How does Shiloh influence these changes?