The Spanish-American War

Question 1

Who are the “idols of our hearts” that Twain refers to in the prayer?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

the country’s soldiers

Question 2

What does “be Thou near them” mean in the first sentence?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

“Protect our soldiers.”

Question 3

What point is Twain making in the prayer’s second sentence, “With them – in spirit – we also go forward from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe”?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The citizens don’t want to do any actual fighting themselves.

Question 4

Which of these statements might express Twain’s antiwar message? Check all that apply.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

“tear their soldiers to bloody shreds”; “lay waste their humble homes”; “a hurricane of fire”; “little children to wander unfriended”; “their desolated land”

Question 5

What basic message is Twain sending his readers by writing this prayer?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Praying for victory is also praying for death and destruction.

Question 6

Check each of the outcomes this prayer is asking God for.

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victory; destruction

Question 7

Which of these outcomes indicates Twain’s opposition to war? victorypeace✔ destruction

Revolt · Accepted Answer

✔ destruction

Question 8

What is an example of Twain’s use of sarcasm in “War Prayer”?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

asking God, “in the spirit of love,” to bring destruction

Question 9

Here are the reasons for declaring war on Spain that were discussed at the start of this lesson. Think about “The War Prayer” and its message, then click on the reasons that Twain would have supported as a cause for going to war.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

none of the above

The Spanish-American War Answers

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