Day 5

Billy Budd Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    Does it matter that Claggart hated Billy?

    When the members of the drumhead question Billy about Claggart's animosity toward him, Vere dismisses the idea as irrelevant. Do the readers agree? Should the false accusation be taken into consideration with Billy's trial? The discussion should make students aware of the conflict within Vere. He believes that only Billy's action is on trial and not the reason behind it, but he dislikes Claggart and likes Billy. He knows that his convictions will cost him what could be a great sailor.

  2. 2

    Is duty more important than individual morals?

    This question will be far too large to answer here, but it is one of the novel's key...

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