Questions About The Great Train Robbery

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Answered Questions (4)

Who is the boy who dies in the beginning? What is his relation to Pierce? And why is the first scene important in the book? I don't know yet if I am going to read the book but we worked in class on the first two chapters and I am wondering.

M The boy's name was Spring Heel Jack. On page 8 of my copy Agar says to Pierce, "I heard...that on this train he was doing some some crow's peeping for…moreThe boy's name was Spring Heel Jack. On page 8 of my copy Agar says to Pierce, "I heard...that on this train he was doing some some crow's peeping for a particular gent that it putting up....I also heard that you are putting up." Being an American, I only speak the president's English, so I found the slang a little difficult, but I think it means that Pierce hired him to case the joint. The literary purpose of it was to show that Pierce is ruthless and didn't even care that he had gotten the boy killed for no reason. (less)

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Are the historical info about Victorian age based on true facts? Or are they just made up for the story?